Bucc's review of Rick Ross' Mastermind

Overview:

Ross' braggadocios style has its own lane in the game as it stands right now. He's put out a lot of albums in the last 5 or so years that were less than stellar, but he gets back to his rugged style he impressed everyone with in his Port of Miami album.

Tracks:

Intro - a review of his work in radio style ending with the 1st track of this album to bring this album into his catalogue

Rich is Gangsta - This one is sort of a throw away for me. Nice beat with the horns and hi hats just not the same grittiness displayed on most of the rest of the album.

Drug Dealers Dream - Excellent flow on this one working with the beat which isn't a great one but the type of beat Ross works well with.

Shots fired - an interlude track

Nobody (ft. French Montana) - Another great track, great flow over the beat on this one as well. I could do without Montana's singing over some perfectly good female vocalists.

Mafia Music III (ft. Sizzla & Mavado) - This one is a bit messy after Ross' 1st verse, was missing one of HIS own artists who would've fit perfectly on here...Gunplay ?? Yet he gets no love and the end just sort of fades out, probably one that should've been left off.

War Ready (ft. Jeezy) - As much as I like Jeezy, his slow flow style is not a style Ross sounds good on IMO and this track was made for Jeezy not Ross. The beat is pretty nasty and gritty I didn't care for the hook AT ALL. All that being said Jeezy absolutely MURDERS the shite outta the track and saves it. His verse is the best I've heard from him in a long time. Again this beat was probably one Jeezy brought in and it definitely shows.

What a Shame (ft. French Montana) - I like this track even Montana's hook works a lot better on this track. Ross' verses don't stand out but the beat does on this one. A nice track.

Supreme - Everything about this track stands out from Katt William's intro to the horns that fit the style of Ross' flow and he stands out on it as well. This is the type of track I missed from Ross the last couple years. The only thing that needs work is the singing on the hook (seems like a common theme I know). It's his style and he shines on it.

Blk & Wht - Possibly the album's standout track. Phenomenal track, great beat and he rides it well and does a nice job on the hook as well (see Ross you MoFo do your own damn hooks, no need for a bad singing hook or Frenchie humming and whining, do it ya damn self). I REALLY like this track.

Dope Bitch Skit - An Interlude (and a bit annoying)

In Vein (ft. the Weekend) - Anyone who has payed attention to some of my Music Board posts knows I am a fan of these type slower tracks and also love a nicely placed S&C hook on a track (R.I.P. Robert Earl Davis). I like this track even without the S&C but it adds to the style. This track feels like a Weekend track off one of his album but Ross stands out in it enough that it fits on here. It's the perfect combo beat to let Ross come in and lay his verse down and allow Weekend to not be lost in the track also. I like this one as well.

Sanctified (ft. Big Sean & Kanye West) - RIDICULOUS Beat OMG I like Kanye's flow and I'm not a fan of Sean but it is what it is he still fits on here with Kanye. Ross needs a bit of work keeping on beat on this one but I don't blame him since its a bit faster than he's used to but that beat makes it stand out it was a track I liked just could've done without Big Sean.

Walkin' on Air (ft. Meek Mill) - Clearly a banger track but it is a good one. His raw style makes his flow standout on this one and the beat is nice as well. Mill kills the track too but I'm a Mill fan, he is pretty good for a feature to stand out and he does even with a short verse, and again a good hook delivered by Ross.

Thug Cry (ft. Lil Wayne) - Another awesome beat/hook, loved this one and fits Ross again. And where THE frick has Wayne been? Holy shite he has 1 or 2 of these features a year where he kills it and this is one of those tracks. Ross delivers as does Wayne, another standout track.

Deluxe Edition tracks:

Blessing in Disguise (ft. Scarface & ZRo) - Ok so why the frick couldn't this track replace Mafia Music III (1st one I'd replace). Scarface rips it as he always does EVERY beat he is on and a ZRO HOOK and it doesn't make it on the album. Beat is also ridiculous. At least he added it to the Deluxe Edition because its a great track.

Paradise Lost - This one is a bit of a raw beat (seems unfinished) and his flow is lacking a bit on this one. I really like the hook though. I can understand why it didn't make the album though.

You Know I Got It (Reprise) - Hard this track before but a nice addition to the Deluxe Edition.

Overall Grade - B-

Only 2 throwaway tracks on the album and a DE track that should've made the regular album or this one might've made it in the A- range. I'm gonna buy an album to bump in the trunk

Next review coming - Black Milk's new EP