One factor from the album that has caused a lot of controversy is Ross’ claims that he is worth almost $100 million. This is another example of Ross promoting his apparent gangster lifestyle but it is again called into question when no bullet holes are found on his car, and only leads to more questions over the relevance of his lyrics. Ross also features calls and news clips from an apparent assassination attempt made on him in a drive by shooting on the track Shots Fired. Ross’ recurring references to his false drug past become wary at times as he claims of ‘stacking bricks to the sky’.
With this background to Ross noted, I find it very difficult to take much of the tracks’ content seriously. These claims were furthered as it was accused that Ross had previously worked as a prison guard, and although Ross initially denied these claims, they were eventually proved. 50 Cent, who was notorious for his role in the world of drugs, disputes Rick Ross’ persona, claiming that he had never played a serious role as a drug dealer.
It appears that the persona that Ross has built in recent years has revolved around a drug king pin who has a sense of ghetto royalty about him. His consistent references to his past and being associated with drugs are a key flaw in the album that really bothers me. Upon first glimpse of Mastermind, I was hopeful that Rick Ross would at least make some form of effort to progress from his ‘Boss’ raps to something more relevant. The album sold surprisingly well despite date changes with a total figure of 328,000 copies being sold in the US as it debuted at number one on the US chart.
Although the album was repeatedly pushed back from its original date of December 17th, Mastermind was finally released on March 4 th.
The enigma that is Rick Ross continued with the release of Mastermind, which has seen the Florida based rapper notch his fifth number one album on the Billboard 200.
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