Rick Ross Album: “Port of Miami [PA]”

Rick Ross's album has officially showed me that the genre "rap" is officially dead. This guy claims that Notorious B.I.G., Tupac and Ice Cube inspired him to become a rapper. Well, from listening to his garbage of an album, you wouldn't think so. Now, I don't want to sound too negative, but I can't help but be negative when I listen to this LP. "Port of Miami" is just like any modern "rap" album. All the lyrics are about cars, bitches, alcohol and drugs, and all of the lyrics sound like some six year old kid could have wrote. Jay - Z was noted to have discovered Rick Ross. I must say that I have lost a little respect from Jay - Z for bringing this crap into the public. While respected artists like Notorious B.I.G., Tupac and Nas tried hard to make people understand and appreciate black culture, Rick Ross has spitted in all of their faces and adds his name on a list of other artists that cripple and reinforce negative stereotypes of black people today. You should be ashamed of yourself Rick Ross. You have shown the world that it's okay to stereotype your people as drug dealers who don't respect women and who would rather have nice rims on your car then pay your child support. Lady's and gentlemen, rap is dead.

The two stars are only on the strength of "Hustlin". I've had this album for a week and I can't bear to listen through to its no doubt dreadful end. I am vastly disappointed and reminded of why I usually download mixtapes these days. To be truthful, if I had known that he had anything to do with Slip-n-Slide, then I would have passed. They don't make good albums. Word to Rick, stick real close to Cool & Dre and The Runners, then jump ship as fast as you can. You're to talented to be with SNS.

Most upsetting about PORT OF MIAMI is that being a big fan of the organ-filled "Hustlin'", I was hoping that quality-wise the entire album would stand up to that brilliant for single. Unfortunate for the somewhat fortunate debut (#1 on the Billboard 200 with 187,000 copies sold), the album to put it bluntly stinks. Sure "Hustlin'" along with a generic repeat of Young Jeezy's massive "Soul Survivor" hit ("Cross The Line" which features nobody else by Konvikt Akon), are fine, but otherwise, Ross has more inhabitions than attributes. While idealy Ross should compete with new standouts such as Southern rapper Young Jeezy or T.I., or even more less known names such as Slim Thug or Bun B, he doesn't make the cut against any of those artist. In fact, Ross's gravely vocals tend to grate rather than inspire, all except on the opening tracks such as the above par "Push It", "Hustlin'", "Cross The Line", or "I'm Bad". Otherwise, Ross unfortunately falls on death ears.

It makes you wonder that if Ross were to ever release a sophomore album, would it be successful? With such boasts made of him by Diddy and Jay-Z, mega hip-hop stars and talent-searchers, you wonder who dropped the ball with the excution of this star's album, which is terrible to say about any new artist. And without a true single tall enough to stand against the incredible but minor radio cut (it never did really well despite fan support) "Hustlin'", you wonder if after an impressive debut and support if the only way for Ross is down instead of up?

No, I'm not putting Ross down, but I can't help but to say that I was expecting a meatier, Grammy worthy debut from Ross instead of the rather hit-absent PORT OF MIAMI. Does he rep good for Miami? Sure, but hopefully a second round will make Ross more mature and more likeable than a rather bland debut. 2 stars for the album, 4.5 for killer single "Hustlin'", a sure to be rap classic!

Please do not waste your money on this CD. The entire CD is nothing that we have not heard a million times "I use to be a drug kingpin, I got money, I've got bling bling, don't mess with me or I'll kill you, my childhhood was hard, so I had to sell cocaine to make it, I've got a different girl for everyday of the week-b/c I sold coacine, hey!!!! Look I've got $5,0000 to waste on 26" chrome spinning wheels, b/c I had one hot song on my CD that tricked everyone into thinking my whole CD would be hot." If you're some big time dope dealer then this is the CD for you, b/c the whole thing is just a about selling cocaine & how great your life is when you sell drugs.

Here we go again gotta lot of haterz... i=It just seems like the hate wont stop. You got this 'Chini's girl' Basically Blowing the Carter Admin, and realistically Jay-z spit one of the weakest verses ive ever heard. you cant get on another artists song and try to sound like him when youre SUPPOSED to by more lyrically inclined. meaning jeezy and rick ross verses blew jays out the water but hes the 'god mc' right... yea OK. Back to the Album if you say you cant listen to one song all the way through youre hating and lying cause everyone who is a scarface (the movie) fan loved 'push it' then and after hearing a bassline and some kicks and snares behind it I love it more. this is a cool album to ride to got some nice beats and ross does show some potential on the lyrical tip. standout tracks are push it, cross that line, hit it from the back, its my time and prayer.