The title of Rick Ross? sophomore offering can be interpreted several ways. Is he ?trilla? than his competitors in hip-hop, or is this album ? named, of course, Trilla ??trilla? than his unremarkable but kind of fun debut Port of Miami?
Either way, Ross has evolved in the standard progression seen out of most contemporary rappers: He crafted a single that seemed to get as much play in fraternity basement parties as project courtyards and that featured some decent guest appearances on 100-member posse cuts. Plus, his nearly life-sized, bejeweled replica of his head is one of rap?s greatest chains. As one of the new Def Jam?s flagship artists, Rick Ross gets the all-star treatment of proven beat-crafters and mega-visible guests.
Trilla begins with a handful of tracks featuring familiar voices. ?All I Have in This World? is the millionth song to play off Tony Montana samples; yet it?s somehow saved by producer and featured guest Mannie Fresh?s popcorn snares and non-ironic strings. T-Pain lends the same ol? pitch-corrected tomfoolery over a surprisingly bearable beat from typically cheesy J.R. Rotem on ?The Boss,? Trilla?s second single. Ross? boasts of unparalleled criminal success are laughable, but ?The Boss? is a thoroughly enjoyable, driving jam in the vein of ?We Takin? Over? ? shut up, you loved it. I?m unsure how anyone could resist Ross? awesomely eloquent claim in the chorus: ?I?m the biggest boss that you?ve seen thus far.?
?Speedin?,? featuring R. Kelly, is generic as expected, but Ross surprises with inoffensive wordplay and an energy that will stun those who only know him from the sloth super hit ?Hustlin?.? It?s a shame the song itself comes off as a carbon copy of Young Jeezy?s ?I Luv It.? However, Jeezy ? along with Lil Wayne and Trick Daddy ? stops by with perfectly acceptable cameos on ?Luxury Tax.? Former Def Jam president Jay-Z makes his appearance as well for the very good ?Maybach Music,? though it should be noted that Ross more than holds his own with all the supposed ?Best Rapper Alive? candidates featured.
The real story of Trilla is what a pleasant surprise Ross is as a performer. Lyrically, he?s still proclaiming his status as the Boss, but he really establishes himself as a technically sound MC with a unique voice. Ross is something of a hip-hop rarity in that he?s achieved a distinctive character without being obviously annoying to a sizable fraction of rap fans. In fact, Trilla?s best track is probably the solo effort ?This Me,? on which Ross gets an opportunity to stretch out over a great beat from J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League.
Trilla is unexpected fun but not without its weaknesses. Ross will inevitably alienate folks seeking subject matter other than being the Boss. ?Money Make Me Come? is a highly unfortunate track, as the title would suggest. There?s an inexplicable interlude in which DJ Khaled rambles about Rick Ross being a manifestation of the ghetto and some other nonsensical stupidity, which is to be expected of the new Flavor Flav. ?I?m Only Human? seems a transparent effort to manufacture depth for an otherwise shallow but enjoyable album.
Nonetheless, Rick Ross succeeds for the most part on Trilla, revealing himself as a halfway decent rapper with a good ear for agreeable if not original production.
3 stars out of 5
