Rick Ross Debuts at #1 On The Billboard Chart

AHSI.......Rick Ross beat out Snoop's "Ego Trippin" and Fat Joe's "Elephant In The Sand" the week ending March 22, 2008. "Trilla" features a lot of collaborations and I think that played a factor with him beating out the other two artists. Maybach Music featuring Jay-Z, The Boss featuring T-Pain are my two favorites. Rick has something for everybody, a unique voice, a down south flow with the wit of a Northerner. The mixture of slow beats, hard beats and mellow beats gives listeners a variety of something to listen to. I give Trilla 3.5 eyeballs.

ASSI – Rick Ross solicited Mannie Fresh, T-Pain, R. Kelly, Eboni Love, Trey Songz, Nelly, Avery Storm, Jay-Z, Lil’ Wayne, Young Jeezy, Trick Daddy, Triple C, Brisco, and Rodney to join forces on his Sophomore album “Trilla.” Ross seems to lack the poetic lyrical content of header hitters like Jay-Z, DMX, and Ludacris who are able to paint pictures that match the beat. Rick has hot beats but he is without lyrical content. If you want to get your dance on “Trilla” is the album for you. “Speedin” featuring R. Kelly sounds like a lot of noise with lyrics shouted at you, but I have to give him credit for securing bomb beats. Even the commercial bubble gum song “Money Make Me Come” that could serve as a female anthem is just to raunchy for Eboni Love for this record to have appeal, he should have solicited Lil’ Kim to give it street creditability.

Lil’ Kim would have spit some super freaky lyrics for this beat that is really hot. The intros are even whack. “Here I Am” caught my attention from the onset, the hook is off the chain, and Nelly and Avery Storm make this track. If you title a song “Maybach Music” you must call in the King of the Maybach, Jay-Z, and even with Jay the track is weak. When Jay spits, the Maybach is bananas peel back is the best line on the track. “Luxury Tax” is radio friendly track that will receive air play just because it features Lil’ Wayne, Jeezy, and Trick Daddy. The last track Ross “I’m Only Human” sounds like Fat Joe but the lack of meaningful lyrics made me pause, but again the hook is appealing enough for radio. As I see it “Trilla” is laced with heavy hitters, catchy hooks, and hot-ass-beats but lyrically missed the boat. I give “Trilla” 2.5 blinks.