Rick Ross - God Forgives, I Don't

First things first, this is the first Rick Ross album I have listened to. Ross has steadily become a big player in the mainstream rap game and was named 'Hottest MC in the game' by MTV in 2012 and this is underlined by the heavyweight guests he has attracted to God Forgives, I Don't.

Ross' rap persona is almost cartoon like as the self-styled Florida drug kingpin, especially when you consider his correctional officer background. Although far from the greatest rapper to ever grace a mic you cannot deny that his husky delivery has a certain style to it that can make for enjoyable listening. Except plenty of references to bricks, keys and triple beams, Pirates and Triple Beam Dream, as Ross depicts the lifestyle of character while enjoying the fruits of his labour, So Sophisticated and 911. Ross, the character, also spends some time looking back at where he came from on Ashamed and Ten Jesus Pieces.

Ross refers to himself as 'the Christopher Wallace of my time', which if meant as comparison of technical ability may well be most delusional line of the year. What he may mean is Biggie's storytelling ability which although inferior to Biggie, Ross is at least in the same ballpark as.

Production is handled by J.U.S.T.I.C.E League, Cardiak and Jake One among others and provides some cinematic style landscapes (Triple Beam Dream and Ten Jesus Pieces) along with some typical heavy Southern style tracks (911, So Sophisticated and Hold Me Back) for Ross and his guests to work with. Helped by Ross' stories in places but let down by the tracks, vocally and production-wise, that fall flat God Forgives, I Don't ends up as a mixed bag. The mixtape style 'Maybach Music' voice-overs are a seriously unnecessary annoyance.

The eight minute duet with Andre 3000 Sixteen is definitely worth checking out.  

Best guest: Andre 3000

Stand-out track: Pirates

Best bars: (Rich Forever):
Big face Roley, rose gold cost 40
Platinum 21, it's time to go and spoil shorty
You only live once I'm screamin YOLO in the V.I.
Time flies fast balling with my n**** T.I
Ciroc, no glass, smilin women in my presence
Tall supermodels always fall in my possession
Atlanta housewives takin pictures in my section
But I only got a thing for young bitches with aggression
Show me that affection that a D-boy craves
Rich forever in my D-boy ways
So dope, blue jeans, new J's
Sold dope by any means all day

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