Search - Rick Ross :: Trilla

I know Pablo, Noriega, the real Noriega, he owe me a 100 fav

J. Highsmith | Mitchellville, Maryland United States | 03/16/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Although he may have been known by many in the 305 before he released the track "Hustlin'", that's when I was introduced to Rick Ross. The Runners crafted some nice production and Rick Ross introduced you to the rap style of the life that was glorified by the former drug dealer of the same name. At the time there was also an unofficial remix that featured Busta Rhymes. Rick Ross was also featured on various remixes and collaborations at the time, most notably "Holla At Me Baby" that also featured Lil Wayne, Pitbull, Paul Wall & Fat Joe and was produced by Cool & Dre. The official remix of "Hustlin'" was released and featured Jay-Z and Young Jeezy. This track definitely had me anticipating the release of Port of Miami.



When the CD was released, it remained in my CD rotation for awhile. Although Rick Ross' tales of hustlin', drugs, sex and obtaining money wore off on you after awhile, the production by The Runners, JR Rotem, Cool & Dre, Akon, DJ Toomp, Jazze Pha, etc. was the strength of the CD. "Port Of Miami" also served as a 2006 rap soundtrack of the movie "Scarface". This was clearly evident on the CD's 2nd single "Push It" which even contained the "Scarface (Push It To The Limit)" from Scarface. My favorite tracks included both versions of "Hustlin'", "Push It", "I'm Bad", "Cross That Line" w/Akon, "It's My Time" w/Lyfe Jennings and "Prayer".



Once Port of Miami ran its course, Rick Ross kept his name out there on various collaborations, most notably "We Takin' Over" w/TI, Lil Wayne, Birdman, Fat Joe, & Akon, "I'm So Hood" w/Trick Daddy, T-Pain & Plies and "Cocaine" w/UGK. In September of 2007, I began to hear a track named "Trilla" that featured Dre of Cool & Dre on the chorus and while the track wasn't comparable to most of the tracks on "Port Of Miami", it was still decent. "Trilla" was originally supposed to be released in December of 2007, however it would be pushed back to March of 2008.



Trilla's 1st single was "Speedin'", which was produced by The Runners and features R Kelly on the hook. The beat will definitely get you energized in the club as Rick Ross once again continues to talk about the almighty dollar and the benefits of having it. R Kelly continues his string of collaborations with Def Jam artists and the track was a nice choice for the 1st single. "The Boss" is the 2nd single and is produced by JR Rotem and features T-Pain on the hook. Eventhough, he already had a track entitled "Boss" that was produced by Cool & Dre on "Port Of Miami", you will forgive Ricky Ross because "The Boss" was a nice choice for the 2nd single. Once you hear the nearly 3 minute long title track intro, you'll just wish that Rick would have just used the original title track as Track 1. No intro needs to be almost 3 minutes long. That's not an intro, that's an actual track. Mannie Fresh, who surprisingly had no production credits on "Port Of Miami" joins Rick Ross on the hook and produces "All I Have In This World". The track is decent but you will wonder why the same All I Have In This World sample that the rapper Scarface used in his Scarface trilogy was used as part of the hook. That shows no originality whatsoever. Rick redeems himself on the Bink produced "We Shinin'". Bink usually works with Rocafella artists like Beanie Sigel and Freeway but he saved a nice beat for Rick on this track. Trey Songz, who is 3 videos deep into his 2nd CD Trey Day, joins Rick Ross on "This Is The Life". The track is decent, you'll just wish that Rick would have stepped up his lyrical content on the track.



The best 2 moments on "Trilla" are clearly "Luxury Tax" which features Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy and Trick Daddy and "Maybach Music" which features Jay-Z. Even if you end up not being a huge fan of the entire CD, these 2 tracks will prevent you from putting "Trilla" on coaster status. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League produced both tracks and Ricky Ross & the collaborators take care of the rest. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League also did some production work on Young Jeezy's The Inspiration and Young Buck's Buck The World.



The problem with "Trilla" is that 1) Rick Ross talks about the same thing on every track. It definitely sounds redundant after awhile. You forgave him for doing that because of the production on "Port Of Miami" but the production, while decent, doesn't measure up this time overall. 2) this CD clearly has more of a commercial edge to it. "Port Of Miami" clearly had a street edge minus a couple of tracks and that is one of the reasons why I liked the CD. 3) If you are going to push a CD back almost 3 months, you expect the results to represent that. 4) Rick and Rodney absolutely "butcher" the sample of the track "Human" that was originally performed by The Human League. "I'm Only Human" is clearly the worst track on "Trilla" and "Money Make Me Come" is a close 2nd.



If you were a huge fan of "Port Of Miami" then you should atleast have this CD for "Luxury Tax", "Maybach Music", "Speedin" and "The Boss". While there are other noteworthy tracks, if you thought that "Port Of Miami" was just OK then you should leave "Trilla" alone.





James' Top 5



1) Luxury Tax w/Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, & Trick Daddy

2) Maybach Music w/Jay-Z

3) The Boss w/T-Pain

4) Speedin' w/R Kelly

5) We Shinin'



Honorable Mention:



This Me

All I Have In This World w/Mannie Fresh

Here I Am w/Nelly & Avery Storm (unless you despise Nelly)"

2'5 - A Trilla Without Excitement

Josephll | CET | 03/14/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"William Roberts AKA Rick Ross took his name from the infamous Californian druglord and claims he's been hustling aswell before chosing Hip Hop (so much for the street credability). The imposing 300 pound Ross, with his slow husky voice resemble Notorious B.I.G in many ways. But Ross Is much more one sided then the late Rap legend. His hitsingle "Hustlin" from debut album "Port of Miami" pretty much sum up what Ross is about. The Young Jeezy of Florida they say, and Ross is indeed a remarkable figure and easily recognizable. He ended up becoming a in-demand rapper and made several guest appearences, most famous was on Dj Khaled's "We Takin Over". Other reviewers pointed out the problems with Ross debut album, he's one of a kind but he's too repetitive. Apart from Hustlin, there's mostly songs about money and women and he's not exactly the only rapper with such unique visions. My hope for this sophmore effort is that the themes will be more diffrent with more substance or will Rick Ross follow the same path as his debut album did?.



After listening through this album, I'll start by giving credit to the producers that made an excellent job on making this album better then it is. Ross on the other hand proceeds on simular territory like on his debut. There's alot of worthwile cuts here but Ross is at times getting repetitive saying the same things and playing a role game with his alter ego Rick Ross (druglord) and you wonder if there is any truth in what the rapper is saying. But being the "Boss" is undoubtly his gimmick and he does a good job playing that. The album starts with a 3 minute title track "Trilla" a play on the classic MJ song. It's actually not the same song that leaked a half year ago. That one from Cool & Dre was the better then this one from, Justice League. Despite it's 3 minutes this one works as a intro to tell listeners what Ross is about, if it wasn't already obvious. Mannie Fresh produce and appears on the next song "All I Have In This World (Japanese Denim)" with a repetitive orchestral beat. A skilled producer per se, but his songs are always about the same thing. J. R Rotem produced "The Boss" his new single is next up and feature T-Pain. There was already a song called Boss on his last album! but this one is better with standard Rotem beats, T-Pain on the hook and Ross saying "I'm The Biggest Boss That You See Thus Far", in simular style like he did on "Hustlin". The Runners frantic electro beat on "Speedin" is one of the highlights, it feature R. Kelly and was the first single. Ross see speedin as a methaphor for success. Bink! provides the beat for "We Shining", very retro soulish. It celebrates the good life of a filthy rich rapper. A strip club anthem called "Money Make Me Come" got a very good beat from Drumma Boy. The lyrics are redundant though. Halfway, Dj Khaled makes a interlude talking of Rick Ross. This guy takes the price as being more repetitive then Rick Ross though.



More bragadocio and money talks on "This Is The Life" with Trey Songz. Dj Toomp provides the beat for "This Me" which is very retro soulish, the song is about himself obviously. A more commercial song for the radio called "Here I Am" with Nelly and Avery Storm alos got some soul to it. Don't think this one is anything special though. A highlight is the Justice League produced "Maybach Music" that feature Jay-Z, the man that brought him to Def Jam. The production is very stripped down and could have been something that Jay-Z put out back in the "Reasonable Doubt" days. The same producers continue with "Billionaire" and "Luxury Tax" (Trick Daddy, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy). At this point it's getting very exhausting to listen to Ross talking of his money. These two cuts are also retro soul sounding which feels kinda old skool itself in 2008. "Reppin My City", is basically Hustlin Part 2, but the electro beat to this one from producers Carlos & Dado is really fresh. I could live without guest appearences from Triple C's & Brisco that don't add much. Some kind of remake of Human League's "Human" closes the album and it's the only personal song on the album. Rick Ross talks about what he's been through in life, that he isn't perfect and his rough childhood growing up without a father and living on various motels. Why not more songs like this?.



Overall, Rick Ross is an interesting Mc but there's too much of the same to the point that it's gets repetitive and un-interesting. He deals with topics that have already been said and done a trillion times before and he doesn't do it with a lot of credability or personality either. I'd like to hear more then about his bank account, strip club visits and his hustling. But "Port of Miami" was a jackpot so it isn't strange that he follows the same path once more. What makes the album worthwile though is the splendid production, the catchyness and the long guest-list. If that's enough for you, give it a try but don't expect anything more then what was mentioned above.

"

Rick Ross MI YAYO - 5 Stars

Christian Anderson | 04/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I liked this album, although have to agree with other reviewers that it got monotonous towards the end and that Devin the Dude's latest albumSmoke Sessions, Vol. 1is pure dope and a must buy"