Rick Ross - Port of Miami: Album Review
Rick Ross, Port of Miami (Def Jam, 2006)
Straight out of Miami, Florida, Rick Ross is Def Jam's new Young Jeezy, except older and fatter, with a shitty-looking beard. Only thing is, both of the dude's singles so far have been nails, gay-ass Jay-Z remixes notwithstanding. Will this, his debut album on Def Jam, be the new Thug Motivation, or will it suck balls?
INTRO
One of those fake news report intros like, I think, Niggaz4life(?) and probably a million other rap albums.
PUSH IT
Sample's "Push It to the Limit," from the soundtrack to Scarface, every rapper's favorite movie. It's actually kinda amusing in a Grand Theft Auto: Vice City sort of way.
BLOW
Featuring Dre of the Miami production duo Cool and Dre. I reviewed this the other day. I like it.
HUSTLIN'
The epic first single.
CROSS THAT LINE
Def Jam is obviously intent on replicating that Young Jeezy album. This would be the Rick Ross version of "Soul Survivor." It's not as good, but it'll probably be a single anyway.
I'M BAD
It's LL Cool J's "I'm Bad" meets the theme song from long lost '70s cop TV show. In a good way, if you can imagine.
BOSS
This album's version of that song Young Jeezy ripped off from T.I. and David Banner. "Rubber Band Man" > the Young Jeezy version > this.
FOR DA LOW
This song would be notable if only because it contains what could very well be Jazze Pha's most ridonkulous introduction yet.
WHERE MY MONEY (I NEED THAT)
Does that Houston rap thing where the chorus is one line from the song repeated ad nauseum. Call me a hater, but I could do without hearing that again in life.
GET AWAY
Featuring Mario Winans, the jig that did that fruity-ass Enya song with P Diddy, I'd say this is R&B rap done right. It could end up a single.
HIT U FROM THE BACK
From the sublime to the ridonkulous. A really nasty sex rap.
WHITE HOUSE
The chorus to this one goes, "I'm in the White House, I'm in the White House / I call the shots, I could get yo' ass wiped out!"
POTS AND PANS
The requisite Malaco Records-sounding number. Lil' Wayne had one of these on his album.
IT'S MY TIME
Featuring grating R&B singer Lyfe Jennings (probably his real name).
STREET LIFE
Def Jam must be attempting to kick-start former Murder Inc. would-be teen idol Lloyd's career. I mean, I can't imagine Rick Ross just saying, You know who I should get on my shit? Lloyd!
HUSTLIN' (REMIX)
The gay-ass Jay-Z remix of the epic first single.
IT AIN'T A PROBLEM
New Rule: You can't have a song with your weed carriers on your own debut album.
I'M A G
Speaking of weed carriers, this features Lil' Wayne and someone calling himself Brisco. The Wayne verse is brief and decidedly lackluster and the beat should've been rethought.
PRAYER
I suppose it makes sense that Rick Ross is a Christian.
COMMENTS: Port of Miami is the poor man's Thug Motivation 101, an album I've actually come to enjoy in the past year or so. The best moments on it are as good as anything on the Young Jeezy album, but there's only like three or four of them on a 19 track album. Fans of "regional" hip-hop might like this quite a bit, but everyone else would best be advised to steer clear.
BEST TRACKS: "Blow" "Hustlin'" "I'm Bad" "Get Away"
