Music Review: Rick Ross: Deeper Than Rap

Rick Ross: Deeper Than Rap
9/10


Miami native Rick Ross has his feet firmly imprinted in the sand, facing a major beef with 50 Cent (the Goliath to his David if Ross tells it) and a possibly street- cred threatening discovery of his past as a Corrections Officer. Ross, who has built his brand under the character of "The Boss", is in a dilemma that most rappers would crumble under--does the person you used to be overshadow what you are capable of doing? What ever the case may be, "Deeper Than Rap" will surely silence those who doubt his musical prowess, and stand as one of the standout albums of 2009.

The album's sound is more in the vein of Brian de Palma's "The Untouchables" than Ross's previous two LP's and this is mostly in part due to super producers J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League who lace the album with some of the most sonically pleasing beats of the last few years. "Maybach Music II" features Kanye West and Lil' Wayne spitting memorable sometimes hilarious (see: Wayne rapping "all black maybach i'm sitting in the a**hole) lines over a beat that sounds like it could be the beginning of an epic symphony, and the Jamaican influenced "Yacht Club" has crossover potential with Ross exclaiming himself as "the fat Tommy Lee."

"Deeper" also shows Ross' lyrical progression as well, as tracks like "Mafia Music" and "Usual Suspects" (which features a seemingly rejuvenated Nas) can attest. Ross even services hit single friendly tunes such as "All I Really Want" (featuring The-Dream) and Lay Back (where Robin Thicke steals the show, doing his best Justin Timberlake impression) impressively.

Opponent 50 Cent isn't spared on tracks such as "In Cold Blood" ("Got about 50 and keep 50 in my pocket) and "Valley of Death" ("you aint a G and unit means together), as Ross outs 50 as a megalomaniac who is essentially breaking the unity in hip hop. Ross is as self depreciating as he is accusatory, shedding his image in order to detail his past ("I'll shovel s***/I'll C.O./just so my family can bow over the meat loaf).

"Deeper Than Rap" is not only one of the best LP's of the year, but it's also a shining example of not counting someone out when he's down. Time will tell if the Boss will gain the credibility he so desperately looks for, but as long as the music is great, who cares?