After laying relatively low for the last couple of years, Rick Ross is back with another full-length album, Richer Than I Ever Been. This is his 11th full length studio album since he first broke out on the scene in 2006 with "Hustlin’" off of Port of Miami. Over the past 15 years, Rick Ross has formulated a recipe for music that he uses time and time again because of really only one reason I can think of – it works. While this project doesn’t kick down many creative walls, it’s the same formula of the finest production, soulful melodies, R&B features, masculine bravado, visual tales of the rich life, and an obnoxious over-the-top use of adlibs that we all expect from a Rick Ross project. Clocking in at 42:09, Rick Ross delivers 12 tracks reminding us of who the biggest boss in the game is. Let’s jump into a few of my highlights.

The first joint on this project is "Little Havana" (feat. Willie Falcon & The Dream). I always feel like listening to a Rick Ross album scratches the same itch as watching one of The Godfather movies. This track was no different. Willie Falcon, former South Florida cocaine drug kingpin is the first voice you hear on the album. He spends the first 45 seconds of the song introducing himself as the undisputed king of the cocaine industry in South Florida’s from the 1970s through 1990s and praises Rick Ross for keeping his name and legacy and life alive in his music. Assisted by The Dream, Rick Ross mashes braggadocio raps and feel-good tunes that is reminiscent of Ashton Martin Music and Diced Pineapples.

"Wiggle-wiggle-wiggle-wiggle". Another highlight for me was the song, yep you guessed it – "Wiggle". When I first heard this hook, I thought oh wow – this album is about to take a cringey left turn. I was quickly proven wrong as Rick Ross swagged his way through the beat flexing his net worth, mansion on the beach, and the sea of women who overcrowd his crib. Expecting a second Ross verse, I was surprised to hear DreamDoll follow up with what could be my favorite feature off the whole project. I’ll admit, this song sent me on a detour away from Richer Than I Ever Been down the Dreamdoll wormhole on Youtube. I know she pulls her own weight in the scene already, but this feature is going to do numbers for her career – just watch. 

A few of the other standout tracks for me are "Made It Out Alive" (feat. Blxst), "Outlaws" (feat. Jazmine Sullivan & 21 Savage), and "Hella Smoke" (feat. Wiz Khalifa). Assisted by this star-studded line up of features, Rick Ross packages a great project of bangers for your trunk as you cruise your local freeway. He may not be the best rapper by any means, but he rides a beat in ways the most technical lyricist can’t and takes us on an inspirational journey as he claws his way to the top. If you’re looking for a feel-good, motivational album to jam out to; this is the one.