CD Reviews: Rick Ross

The sixth album from former corrections officer Rick Ross once again sees him run his gangster shtick into the ground, to the extent he appears to be channelling the spirit of The Notorious B.I.G.

In fact, the Biggie-aping extends as far as not only employing Puff Daddy to oversee the mixing, but also infuses a limp reworking of hood classic You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You).

Yet when Ross rises above hollow homage, there's an intoxicating impetus to the tar-like bass and woozy funk which drives In Vein, and the Kanye-produced Sanctified buzzes with defiant menace.

     •  Rick Ross. Mastermind. Def Jam.

     • Three stars (out of five)

Single download: Sanctified

For those who like: Notorious B.I.G., Scarface (the movie and the rapper)

- John Hayden

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