Rick Ross dropped his second LP of the year this week, the unsurprisingly titled ‘Hood Billionaire’ serves as a follow up to ‘Mastermind’ with Rozay putting his stamp on 2014 saying before the launch “It’s gonna feel like a full year from the boss.”. Opening with a spoken word section from Ross and an accomplice as they dig up a stash of 32 million dollars, the album doesn’t deviate from what we’ve come to expect from the Hood Billionaire himself and his over the top, almost cartoonish hustler outlook on life.
Highlights of the record include ‘Trap Luv’ with Yo Gotti which features a euphoric flip of Donny Hathaway ‘Tims High’ (also sampled similarly in Pusha T’s ‘I Am Forgiven’ from last years Wrath of Caine mixtape). ‘Coke Like the 80’s’ opens with a classic reference to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America’s ‘This Is Your Brain on Drugs’ advert before Ross flaunts his chemical prowess over a Three 6 Mafia-esque beat. ‘Neighbourhood Drug Dealer’ showcases Metro Boomin on fine form as usual with a sample from Roland’s M-DC1 module, probably more recognisable as the high pitched “aaaah” vocal sample from Nelly’s Dilemma.
‘Movin Bass’ with Jay Z and produced by Timbaland sounds like a recipe for success but the results are disappointingly bland compared to the Tink original which unfortunately never made it as a final version. Snoop Dogg‘s lacklustre contribution on ‘Quintessential’ is again forgettable but other moments like ‘Phone Tap’, which takes a classic crime thriller loop from Sharky’s Machine (The Soundtrack Music From Burt Reynolds Sharky’s Machine), come correct with Ross’s classic style. Other features including: K. Michelle, R. Kelly, Boosie Badazz, Big K.R.I.T., French Montana, Whole Slab and Project Pat flesh out the second half of the album but bring little value until ‘Family Ties’ which samples Jackie Moore’s With Your Love and picks things back up in the second half.
Much lighter on guests than some of his previous offerings, this feels like more of a straight-forward street rap record from Ross covering much of the same ground as usual (Coke, money, girls, coke, money etc) and production duties coming from familiar names: Lex Luger, Beat Billionaire, Metro Boomin, Timbaland, DJ Toomp again land in familiar territory, but ultimately fails to reach the levels previously attained on monumental trap anthems B.M.F and Hustlin’. Altogether this feels like an unnecessary addition from the Teflon Don and feels like more of a throwaway mixtape than a second studio album, but it still satisfies an itch in a year that’s been disappointingly devoid of quality Rap LPs.
Words – Ethan Illingworth (@illersss)
