The Phoenix Network:
 
 
 
About  |  Advertise
Adult  |  Moonsigns  |  Band Guide  |  Blogs  |  In Pictures
 
CD Reviews  |  Classical  |  Live Reviews  |  Music Features
Best of Boston 2009

Rick Ross

Trilla | Def Jam
By BEN WESTHOFF  |  March 25, 2008
2.5 2.5 Stars
Rick-Ross_Trilla_inside
It’s easy to hate on Rick Ross for his sub-standard flow and tired materialism (he drives German automobiles and wears Japanese denim, don’t ya know), but he’s easier to appreciate if you think of him not as an artist but as a vessel for some of the best mainstream pop out this year. On Trilla we get “Speedin’,” a mindless-but-ecstatic romp buffered by an R. Kelly hook and a frantic beat courtesy of the Runners. “The Boss” is the first top-down anthem of the spring, and we mostly have J.R. Rotem’s beat and T-Pain’s chorus to thank for that. Solid J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League productions anchor the middle of the album: “Maybach Music” (featuring Jay-Z), “Billionaire,” and “Luxury Tax,” with Lil Wayne, Trick Daddy, and Young Jeezy. Nearly all of Ross’s guests outshine him, but the boss deserves credit — without him we wouldn’t have this album in the first place.
Related: The Big Hurt: Jacko solvent! Boyle swelling! Lupus dissed!, The Big Hurt: The week in beef (in brief), Fabolous, More more >
  Topics: CD Reviews , Celebrity News, Dirty South, Entertainment,  More more >
  • Share:
  • RSS feed Rss
  • Email this article to a friend Email
  • Print this article Print
Comments

--> -->
ARTICLES BY BEN WESTHOFF
Share this entry with Delicious
  •   SAY WHAT?!  |  September 02, 2008
    East Coast Avengers wrong the right with ‘Kill Bill O’Reilly’
  •   THE CALL OF THE WILD  |  July 28, 2008
    Wolf Parade get instinctual
  •   THE SILENT RAPPER  |  July 21, 2008
    What the hell has Rakim been up to?
  •   GREEN INITIATIVE  |  July 21, 2008
    Hip-hop’s heads go on Wale watch
  •   WOLF PARADE  |  June 24, 2008
    At Mount Zoomer | Sub Pop

 See all articles by: BEN WESTHOFF

MOST POPULAR
RSS Feed of for the most popular articles
 Most Viewed   Most Emailed 



  |  Sign In  |  Register
 
thePhoenix.com:
Phoenix Media/Communications Group:
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
Copyright © 2009 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group