Nothing if not consistent, with Rather You Than Me Rick Ross shows little artistic growth while making a convincing argument for why he’s come to be ranked within today’s elite.
While most of Hip Hop’s leading figures have fused fantasy and reality for the past two decades, few have outperformed expectations and escaped falling off like one Rick Ross. Able to boast surviving 50 Cent’s once lethal mockery amongst his laundry list of accomplishments, his extensive string of releases showcase him as a womanizing, codeine-addled brute with pure intentions despite the criminal ties that exist outside of leading his Maybach Music Group regime. Glimpses of remorse and humanity in his songs aside, Ross has become engulfed in this frenetic lifestyle and its ongoing instability, given he performs for a culture endlessly intrigued by dysfunction. Rather You Than Me represents a new beginning with Epic Records and an extension of the groundwork he’s laid thus far.
Putting his trademark of starting songs with self-reflective spoken word to good use, “Apple of My Eye” opens with Rick Ross realizing lavishness pales in comparison to making his mother proud. R&B virtuoso Raphael Saadiq feels out of place here as a more subdued Rozay rattles off a number of concepts speaking to his complex identity: a predisposal to suffering seizures, having good friends amidst trespassers, the joys of promiscuity, killers on his payroll, visions of his funeral, a silver lining of Trump’s presidency and his advice for benefactor Meek Mill to be wary of former flame Nicki Minaj. Opting to keep a safe distance from his soldier’s personal affairs, Ross goes on to make it clear he actually has an axe to grind with the head operations at Cash Money Records.
As every A-list rapper aspires to reach Jay Z’s stature, with “Idols Become Rivals”, Rick Ross pays double homage: its title stems from Drake’s famed Michael Jordan/Allen Iverson analogy and the production rehashes Dynasty: Roc La Familia deep cut “Where Have You Been.” Continuing the theme of lashing out at a deadbeat father figure, Rap’s self-proclaimed biggest bawse takes menacing music executive Bryan “Baby” Williams to task for grievances not limited to fake jewelry, rented cars and most of all mishandling the careers and finances of those under his wing. Egged on by the comedic commentary of Chris Rock whose shtick lightens the mood here and on “Powers That Be”, the irony is our real life MC Gusto has never backed down or feared repercussion for his gangster talk. Standing up for personal comrades DJ Khaled and Lil Wayne in particular, Rick Ross goes so far as to compare Birdman’s corrupt publishing practices to a Catholic priest harming children, but the overall tone behind his sentiment is one of disappointment rather than the intention to disrespect.
Nonetheless, he continues poking fun on “Scientology”, noting “All my friends went to prison/Nothing like Bryan Williams, but when they come home I kiss ‘em” (not to mention, another jab taken in a now viral tweet to a stranger.) Without the aid of a hook, Renzel’s delivery builds to a crescendo over a majestic Bink! production as he ends offering Wayne a record deal with MMG. Unsurprisingly, the Virginia heavy hitter is behind all of the arguable highlights on Rather You Than Me; from the soulful “Santorini Greece” where Rozay refers to himself as “Michael Jackson to the rich niggas” and the cinematic jazzy “Game Ain’t Based on Sympathy” which contains perhaps the LP’s funniest and most offensive quip on conservative points of view: “A pretty chick, she resembles Stacey Dash/if it was her she’d have to kiss my feet and lick my ass.”
Depending on your vantage point, Rick Ross was either lazy or simply not fixing what wasn’t broken as he dabbled in familiar territory throughout Rather You Than Me’s less inspired songs. “Dead Presidents” is almost a literal repetition of highly acclaimed Teflon Don’s opener “I’m Not a Star” that can’t be saved by everyone’s favorite mindless drone Future, while “Trap Trap Trap” could double as a metaphor for being stuck running in place catering to fans mesmerized by the sound that former flash in the pan sensation Lex Luger perfected years ago. Guests don’t improve matters here as Young Thug’s appearance falls short of compelling and Wale’s linguistic approach is too advanced for what’s required. The most entertaining selection of dope boy karaoke comes by way of teaming up with Gucci Mane for “She on My Dick”, but this also fails to live up to the greater potential Rick Ross has to elevate his craft elsewhere on the album.
Having developed into a mogul who answers to no one, Rick Ross goes full throttle towards glory with the sense his reign could end at any given instance, whether due to his own vices or unnamed enemies he speaks of. Neither timeless nor immediately disposable, Rather You Than Me is an above average outing that displays why he’s steadily remained within the public eye without having a long line of record-breaking hits. Between his determination being set on proving naysayers wrong and leaving a strong legacy behind, Ross has once again proven he deserves consideration as one of Hip Hop’s all-time great orators.
The most bias BS review of this album i have read. You guys are not HiphopDX, you guys are HiphopDDR. Drake Dck Riders!
Real shyt dude these fools be promoting this wack shyt all day
Big Boy Rap
Garbage
Ass
Rozay best work in years. I still think Deeper Than Rap and Teflon Don are his best. Top classic. But RYTM definitely is a Rozay Classic. Didn’t skip a track.
Garbage like his last 3, teflon don was his best album ever
Fucc this fat slob of bacon how do ppl still listen to this fuckery
RYTM was wack af
How long can an actor play one character before u clowns get sick of his a dog performance
Bad performance*
As long as the audience enjoys it xo
Not Teflon Don but a great album way better than these new rappers today well all but Marqus Clae he is dope Getto Poet may be a classic!!
Straight fire
i thought it was very solid lp
Who reviewed this joint…..fire that mutha fucka
Besides the m.c gusto reference(getting old) this is a good album.
Can people stop calling him a fraud and a liar? Roberts has always made it clear that Rick Ross is just a stage persona. Eminem plays slim shady and yet no one claims he’s a liar for not killing his wife.
SHUT UP GUNPLAY!!!! GO GET YOUR MMG CHAIN!!!!
IF 50 WAS IN HIS PRIME WHEN HE WAS GOIN’ IN ON THIS CLOWN, THIS FAT SORRY SACK OF SHIT WOULD’VE BEEN FINISHED!!!! FUCKIN’ FRAUD!!!! WE DON’T BELIEVE YOU FAT BOY!!!!
Very accurate review if you read the whole thing.
If you read the whole thing you get to the last sentence, which is “Ross has once again proven he deserves consideration as one of Hip Hop’s all-time great orators”, which is completely laughable. If there is something he is great at, it is picking good beats to rhyme over. The only signs of any growth as an artist over the last 5 years is when he steps on the bathroom scales. I’m not knocking him for sticking with a successful formula, but let’s be honest, it’s predictable and getting a little tired.
LMFAO @ the “everyone’s favorite mindless drone, Future.” line
some of these commenters are major haters. This album was slapping. You don’t have to like his persona or what he stands for, but there’s no denying that this was a solid record.
Solid album. Bawse of rap.
5/5
Solid album top to bottom. Best production in the game.
i like the beat on “Powers that Be”
5/5
Dopest rap album so far this year… solid..
It’s a banger!!!!
Nope!
best album ever
This guys a rat
Dudes career been over since 50 exposed em lol after that I’ll never listen to dude
Career over yet 50 hasn’t made a good album in over a decade…ok.
50s last album was before I self destruct in 09 and he snapped lyrically on that joint so go fuck urself! 50 made too rich for a bitch within the last year 50s a legend this cop will nvr even be mentioned u fuckin phony
A c.o is far from a cop 50 couldn’t make a come back if he wanted to get off his nuts
Hope he uses ghostwriters to help him with verses, coz if his raps aint real who gives a f whether he wrote them himself. Entertainer.
More mediocre fairytale raps on above average beats. No growth. Way too many half assed features. Guess he can’t carry a record himself
I love this album… shit is solid from start to finish … most people commenting negatively didn’t buy this album .. or listen to it … this shit rocks.. Raekwon, Ross and Fat Joe/Remy is all I’m listening to …with a touch of Migos a.. Real music…
“the irony is our real life MC Gusto has never backed down or feared repercussion for his gangster talk”…. YES HE HAS. The Gangster Disciples made him cancel his whole damn tour! Trick Trick and them goons ran him out of Detroit. He went all the way back to Miami before he started with his gangster tough talk again!
The only thing I don’t respect about Rick Ross is the fact he lied about being a C.O. other than that I feel dude is pretty official. The guy had a regular 9 to 5 at one point in his life SO DAMN WHAT!!! He covered it up because of small minded people like the ones in these comments wouldn’t understand. Ross music can’t be fucked with at all. He raps about more than just the gangsta lifestyle. He focuses on delivering lyrics about my people (African Americans) being bosses in their own right by owning property, real estate, having more black owned businesses etc. Some of y’all need to open your minds and ears because just like Ross once said this shit is DEEPER THAN RAP!!
Keep them locked up and fake it till you make it is what his actions speak.
WHERE THE FUCK IS THE DC4 REVIEW
?
Great album smooth as heck, might be his best legit
Trash
if you’ve heard 1 album from william then you have heard them all
The funny thing is dx starts deleting comments lol fuckin phonies
Ross went hard on this one !!!
Brazy!!!
Probably the hardest album out
??????
Not a ross fan, but fkn loved this album
Dope album front to back. Ross stepped up his lyrics over lush beats.
Dope album not quite as dope as Black Market but I under-Digg
DOPEST ROSS ALBUM to date RUH!
Ross can pick a beat though, he should rhyme over some trakmasters/poke and tone type ish
All time orators pretty much nails it. His cadence is on lock.
Great body of work.
King album!
idk how its rated 3.9 its alot better than that. this the ross ive been waiting for
Fairytale? You think rappers are actively doing the illegal activities they rap about??? music is like movies its entertainment. PS don’t call anybody fake unless u personally know them.
Few hot tracks, and really dig the Nas collab. Why does it sound like Wale gohstwrote most of the album though?
i liked it especially triple platinum, maybach music v and of course apple of my eye