Rick Ross Album: “Trilla”

I liked this album, although have to agree with other reviewers that it got monotonous towards the end and that Devin the Dude's latest albumSmoke Sessions, Vol. 1is pure dope and a must buy

Well another Rick Ross album and like the first album unimpressive except for the 1-2 songs on it. Save your money and download the particular hits or song you like from this album only.

Rick Ross was never great but he had the potential to be great. Before he put out Port Of Miami, he used to put out mixtapes and his flow was a lot better then. True he talked about the same stuff he talks about now but at least his flow was okay. Once Port Of Miami came out he switched his flow around to a slow, lumpy and repetitive rapstyle while conjuring up the most annoying and lazy gimmick of all time: using adlibs to finish every rhyme. He did that on every other track of Port Of Miami plus the production was kind of fishy to begin with. On here he doesnt do that adlibs to finish up rhyme scheme and the production is head and shoulders above the production of Port Of Miami. His flow sounds exactly like it did on Freeway's Lights Get Low off of Free At Last all over this album. There are some songs that are spinworthy: All I Have In This World(produced by Mannie Fresh), Billionaire, Mayback Music feat Jay-z and Luxury Tax feat Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy and Trick Daddy are the best songs on here. This Is The Life feat Trey Songz is surprisingly good and The Boss Feat T-Pain(which samples Beastie Boys' Paul Revere) is okay. That's about it. Besides the repetitive subject matter that are too many missteps to not take notice. Speedin featuring R' Kelly might move some butts in the club but lets be real that song is weak. Here I Am featuring Nelly and Avery Storm is joke. Reppin My City, This Me and We Shinin are as generic as generic gets and Money Makes Me Come featuring Ebony Love is hot garbage. I'm Only Human featuring Rodney has to be the worst song I've heard since Twista's Girl Tonight. Not only does the song mutilate Human League's track of the same name but Rick Ross' attempt at a song of substance is foiled by a terrible beat and constipated vocals by Rodney.

Bottom Line: Trilla is better than Port Of Miami but Trilla is just as forgettable as Port Of Miami was. I dont mind the laid back vibe of the album but Rick's uninspired raps as well as the bad songs mentioned make listening to this album a chore. Give it a few months and this cd will be catching dust right along with the other cds you dont listen to anymore.

Standouts: ALL I HAVE IN THIS WORLD, THE BOSS, THIS IS THE LIFE, LUXURY TAX, MAYBACH MUSIC and BILLIONAIRE.

I am a sucker for good music from back in the day. And listening to rap is a great way to go down memory lane and uncover hidden gems.

THE HIGHLIGHTS are:

STRAIGHT UP SOUL & Funk FROM THE 70's:

Maybach Music - sampled from the 5 Stair Steps "And I Love Her"

We Shinin - sampled from Tower of Power's "Somewhere Down the Road"

This Me - sampled from Jay Z's Politics as Usual who sampled from The Stylistics "Hurry Up This Way Again"

Here I Am - A Nod to Stevie Wonder's "Lately"

Luxury Tax - Sampled from David Oliver's "I Wanna Write You a Love Song"

A NOD TO VINTAGE RAP

All I Have in the World - Thank you Geto Boys for "Mind Playin Tricks on Me".

INTERESTING BEATS

The Boss

The relentless bragging can be tiring, but if you are into that, willing to overlook the lyrics, or able to get the instrumental version, you are in for a treat.

This was my first time buying a Rick Ross CD and I was very suprised!! This cd is really good!! I didn't think it was gonna be this good.. I like alot of his songs on here and I pre-ordered his new album "Deeper Than Rap" because "Trilla" was so good and I'm hoping his new cd is gonna be just as good!!

Here's my top 5 favorite songs:

1)Luxary Tax

2)The Boss

3)Here I Am

4)Maybach Music

5)We Shinin'