Rick Ross - Teflon Don
 (Def Jam)

- reviewed by Danitha Jones

Teflon Don is another narrative album where Rick Ross speaks of carrying weapons, moving kilos, and mentions well-known kingpins. The story behind his music is somewhat fictional but at the same time based on fact. Maybe he was a street soldier at some point but most of it seems to shadow legends, many of which are still living. This includes the gangsters whose names Ross frequently drops like: the real Rick Ross, Albert Anastasia, Big Meech, Larry Hoover, Black Mafia Family and a shitload more. He speaks on a successful drug trafficking experience and does a great job at selling this persona he created.

And while hip-hop embodies such storytelling as one of its main components, there is a better way for him to go about it rather than to blatantly build his career off of the lifestyle of others. Take Jay-Z’s American Gangster for an example. The album was inspired by the movie based on Frank Lucas’s life yet on his album, he rapped about growing up in Marcy and his come-up because it coincided so well with the film. He didn’t jack Frank Lucas’s street-cred or speak of having any connection to him. Fans of the bawse don’t seem to mind the fraudulent tales and the possibly stretched truth at all because music matters more than the context nowadays. And all characters are welcomed in hip-hop.

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- reviewed by Danitha Jones

Teflon Don is another narrative album where Rick Ross speaks of carrying weapons, moving kilos, and mentions well-known kingpins. The story behind his music is somewhat fictional but at the same time based on fact. Maybe he was a street soldier at some point but most of it seems to shadow legends, many of which are still living. This includes the gangsters whose names Ross frequently drops like: the real Rick Ross, Albert Anastasia, Big Meech, Larry Hoover, Black Mafia Family and a shitload more. He speaks on a successful drug trafficking experience and does a great job at selling this persona he created.

And while hip-hop embodies such storytelling as one of its main components, there is a better way for him to go about it rather than to blatantly build his career off of the lifestyle of others. Take Jay-Z’s American Gangster for an example. The album was inspired by the movie based on Frank Lucas’s life yet on his album, he rapped about growing up in Marcy and his come-up because it coincided so well with the film. He didn’t jack Frank Lucas’s street-cred or speak of having any connection to him. Fans of the bawse don’t seem to mind the fraudulent tales and the possibly stretched truth at all because music matters more than the context nowadays. And all characters are welcomed in hip-hop.

The release of Ross’s latest album Teflon Don just goes to show that he is a musical force that can’t be stopped. If the lyrics were as real as his talent then there would be no opposition against him. The collaborations and scenic production enhances his strong delivery and creative way with words. On “Free Mason” both Rick Ross and Jay-Z deny rumors of being illuminati. Cee-lo’s powerful voice makes “Tears of Joy” an instant favorite. The album comes to life when Ross steps away from the drug talk and speak of the wealth he acquired from this persona that has made him successful, which could possibly be his reality. “Live Fast, Die Young” boasts of first-class seats, bottles, ice and women. “Super High,” which features Ne-Yo continues with tales of his extravagant lifestyle but is more for the ladies. The topic of being rich and famous gets repetitive because Ross speaks of drinking Rozay, riding with his top back and blowing through cash on almost every track. On “B.M.F.” he raps “Self-made, you’re affiliated/ I built it ground up, you just renovated/ Talking plenty papers, nothing’s been authenticated,” lyrics like these are questionable. If you switched the ‘you’s’ and ‘I’s’ around in these lines it would read the story of Rick Ross’s music career thus far. But despite the deception, the album is a quick listen and easy on the ears.

‘Til this day Rick Ross’s hustle can’t be knocked. He survived several blows to his credibility including the exposure of his past as a corrections officer and a recent lawsuit against him for the use of the name Rick Ross. And while 50 Cent may have worn himself out trying to bring Ross career to an end, the Teflon Don is still going strong in the rap game.

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Track By Track

-- Degrees --	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100
1.  I'm Not A Star
2.  Free Mason
3.  Tears Of Joy
4.  Maybach Music III
5.  Live Fast, Die Young
6.  Super High
7.  No. 1
8.  MC Hammer
9.  B.M.F.
10. Aston Martin Music
11. All The Money

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