Album Review: Rick Ross - Black Market
By Van Williams, Contributor
[Maybach/Warner Bros., 2015]
Rating: 3/5
Key Tracks: “Free Enterprise,” “Ghostwriter,” “Can’t Say No”
Rick Ross has been making quality hip-hop since far before most of us (that is, college-aged people) were listening to it. Albums like Mastermind and Teflon Don are undisputed classics, full of the signature Rick Ross grunt and smooth production. Now, in 2015, he’s back with another full length, and Black Market doesn’t cover a lot of new territory for Ross. It’s full of more of a classic and signature style, and whether or not that’s a good thing is to be debated. One thing is for sure, though--Rick Ross hasn’t lost it.
The album starts with one of its strongest tracks, “Free Enterprise,” which features a strong beat and good lyrics. The thing that really makes this song shine, though, is the guest appearance from John Legend. That is one of the common themes for this record--it’s good, and most people will vibe to it, but it relies heavily on strong features from other artists. Legend’s feature adds his signature R&B voice, and it works well on the track.
Black Market features many of the things that made Ross listeners fall in love with his music in the first place: catchy hooks and lyrics about drugs, women and money. The thing is, however, it’s all been done before. About halfway through the runtime there is a sign of hope, found in the track “Ghostwriter,” which features a beat as smooth as silk, and lyrics that prove Ross is not someone to forget about: “Ghost writer, blunt lighter / Write a rapper’s song then go buy a home…Every album that I made; I did it on my own.” Ross smoothly pours these lyrics over the soft beat in his deep voice, giving the listener the type of affair they expect from a Rick Ross record.
The record continues churning, with solid hip-hop you could put on in the background of any house party, or just while driving around with not too much on the mind. “Can’t Say No” is a highlight, featuring a strong guest appearance from Mariah Carey, but that’s about it.
Rick Ross has made another fine hip-hop album, but there’s nothing here that couldn’t be found somewhere else, if not on an earlier Rick Ross album. This is a fine album, but in terms of 2015 hip-hop, any fan of the genre would find much more satisfaction in the strong showings seen from A$AP Rocky and Earl Sweatshirt instead. Rick Ross may still have it, but unfortunately not like he once did.
