French Montana sings the hook, itself a sample of Biggie’s classic “You’re Nobody Til Somebody Kills You”, and the beat samples the song as well. Rozay doesn’t dwell on him being shot at early in 2013, instead through the skit “Shots Fired” and “Nobody” he seems to feel emboldened by the incident and even raps “New Mercedes as it peels off/nothing penetrates my steel doors.” The song itself is maybe the most interesting on the album. Does he actually have 92 million dollars in a Bank of America account? Who knows, but the point is that he’s in this kingpin character that would have that amount of money. We’re so far past the point of what he raps about being conceivable, that it’s endearing when he has the intro on “Drug Dealers Dream” read out his bank account status that says he has over 92 million dollars. But because he is (literally) unbelievable and over-the-top, I love the unstoppable, unbeatable Rick Ross. For nearly any other artist, I prefer the former- introspection and deep thought usually allows for a better listen because the artist is being as honest as they can. While God Forgives saw Ross contemplate his mortality and had internal questions about his life, Mastermind goes the other way and sees Ross return to his invincible, Teflon Don persona. I won’t go so far to say it’s what God Forgives, I Don’t should have been, but it impacts and demands more attention then GFID’s music ever did. Because even though I had negative expectations going into listening to it, Mastermind is a definite comeback album for Rozay and allows him to regain his footing. Both songs are absent from the album though, and the album is much better for it. “Box Chevy” and “No Games”, both promo singles released for Mastermind, failed to gain traction and honestly made Ross seem like he was in a commercial and critical rut. Since last summer I’ve thought the Rozay ship was sinking and that MMG’s best days were in the rear view mirror. Looking back, the warning signs were there that God Forgives wouldn’t be the blockbuster we all were expecting (the singles were lukewarm, and sonically there wasn’t anything new being offered), and saw a promising beginning of 2012 kind of go down the drain by the time 2013 rolled around. Just the title alone meant that the album was going to be epic, and many Rozay fans, myself included, thought this would be the album to solidify him as the hottest rapper in the game. Although Rozay had suffered multiple seizures in the Fall of 2011, his Rich Forever mixtape, released right after New Year’s Day 2012, was a smash success and had whet hip hop fan’s appetite for God Forgives, I Don’t. The trajectory of his career had trended upward since his 2006 debut Port of Miami. French Montana, K Kutta, Torch & Iceberg (Produced By The MeKanics)ġ6.Until the summer of 2012, Rick Ross had never really slipped up musically. Rick Ross & Lupe Fiasco (Produced By Jake One And Swish)ġ5. French Montana, Yo Gotti & Louie V Gutta (Produced By DJ Spinz)ġ4. Gunplay & Fabolous (Produced By Jake One, Co-Produced By Swish)ġ3. 'Say Don't Go' - Omarion (Produced By John '$K' McGee)ġ1. Fabolous & Pusha T (Produced By Rock City & The CoCaptains)ġ0. 'Coupes & Roses' - Stalley (Produced By Kebu & Childish Major)ĩ. Wale, Whole Slab & Birdman (Produced By Beat Billionaire)ħ. Lil Boosie & Young Breed (Produced By Schife, OhZee & Brian Nunez)Ħ. 'Levels' - Meek Mill (Produced By Cardo)ĥ. Omelly & Young Breed (Produced By D Rich)Ĥ. Rick Ross & Yo Gotti (Produced By A One)ģ. 'Lil Snupe Intro' (Produced By Lil Lee)Ģ. Never afraid to cause controversy, that one.ġ. What will most likely garner attention, though, is Ross putting a “100 grand” on Trayvon Martin’s killer. Over hard piano keys, the track takes portions of Snupe’s “Happy I Made It” and repurposes it with lines such as “I finally made it out the gutter/Made a way my momma and granny don’t gotta struggle” and “I’m the product of the Boot/Free that nigga Boosie Boo.” The album’s other highlights-aside from Gunplay’s “Gallardo” and Meek Mill’s “Levels” singles (which the latter created a new slang for moving up)-is Ross’ “Lay It Down.” Saluting another Louisiana legend, Ross unearths an unreleased Lil Boosie verse that was pre-recorded before his incarceration.

3 opens with “Lil Snupe (Intro),” an ode to the 18-year-old late Baton Rouge rapper who was a promising artist on Meek Mill's Dream Chasers label. 2 was “Power Circle” that featured every member delivering excellent verses and shined a light on Gunplay. One of the better cuts from last year’s Vol. The album is meant to showcase the upcoming talent in MMG’s roster.

Rick ross mastermind intro