'Teflon Don' is the perfect name for Rick Ross' fourth outing. After an exhausting feud with 50 Cent, his former corrections officer employment being exposed, and a recently dismissed lawsuit brought against him by Freeway Ricky Ross, Miami's native son is still standing. With that being said, we find The Boss improving his rhyme skills and continuing to pick some of the best beats of the year. All of this adds up to a great body of work. While not a classic, it does come close.
It could never be mistaken, Ricky loves being wealthy and can't wait to gloat about it. Most of the songs feature themes of frivolous spending, fast and expensive cars, and faster women. Ross only strays away from that formula on the stellar cuts, "Tears Of Joy" and "All The Money In The World". Both feature Rick examining his feelings about his father and the hardships he's faced in order to get to where he is today, respectively. 'Teflon Don' also pictures Rick Ross as the leader of a gang of guest artists. Jadakiss, Erykah Badu, Drake, and a slew of others are wonderful foot soldiers carrying out The Don's
vision. Yet, Jay-Z plays Castellano to Ross' Gotti on "Free Mason". Only this time Castellano's verse murders Gotti's. Diddy and Gucci Mane's appearances have them looking like they were allowed in the crew because Ross owed some people a favor. They bring nothing to the table.
Ross proves with his composition that style and constant rhyme improvement takes precedence over authenticity. We know he's never sold drugs in his life, yet he still raps about having done so. But who cares? As long as the story is told creatively, flights of fantasy can be fun. 'Teflon Don' is fun and soulful. You can't beat that.
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