Review Roundup: Rick Ross – ‘God Forgives, I Don’t’

No one can hold Rick Ross back. After making his debut six years ago with Port of Miami, the Maybach Music CEO has steadily risen up the ranks to become one of hip-hop’s most prolific MCs. The Bawse’s fifth album God Forgives, I Don’t arrives this week boasting big-name collaborations with Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, André 3000, and Usher, plus top-notch production from Pharrell, Rico Love, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Cool & Dre, and more. Rozay calls it his best work yet. Do the critics agree? The reviews are in.

Entertainment Weekly: The Miami native embodies his distorted version of the gangsta American dream so completely that he manages to transcend cliché. … Sure, he’s been bragging about his rep since his 2006 debut, but God Forgives is the first album that really feels like it was made by a boss. A-

Los Angeles Times: The new disc extends an over-the-top hot streak that began with 2009′s Deeper Than Rap and includes Teflon Don, from 2010; it’s rooted in the same lush production sound and name-checks just as many ultra-high-end luxury brands—even the Lear jet on which the second of his seizures struck. 3/4

Rolling Stone: There are times when God Forgives is as engrossing and surprising as rap can be. Over beats that alternate between sparkling, decadent string arrangements and assaultive, synthesized blare, Ross pretzels hip-hop’s familiar rags-to-riches arc into a Möbius strip, slaloming around an autobiographical timeline that may or may not be his own. 4/5

USA Today: MTV’s reigning “hottest MC in the game” isn’t bashful about his artistic and entrepreneurial success, though you’re never sure where reality ends and hyperbole begins in his platinum-plated boasts. What is certain, though, is his knack for painting pictures of his bootstraps rise and current luxe life in bold strokes over beats to match. 3/4

The Boston Globe: While not as electrifying as Teflon Don, this 70-minute set deftly mixes grandiose gestures and ominous bravado. He still deals familiar hip-hop tropes, but they are balanced by a new gravitas including references to mortality and the seizures he experienced last year.

The Associated Press: His fifth solo album in six years is loaded with undeniable quality tunes, making his new offering his most well-balanced piece of work to date. It’s clear that the burly, bearded Ross—who normally dons black shades—has made strides as a lyricist and storyteller.

Category: Entertainment, News

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New York City’s “Boy Boy,” is an extraordinary business man, entertainer, and event producer. Born and raised on the lower east side of New York City, Boy Boy is a well-known MC whose management skills, determination and confidence have brought him opportunities young adults only dream of. Boy Boy always had an attraction to music and entertainment and at the young age of 15, started marking his territory by MC-ing and hosting Day Jams all over the city. Although incredibly young, he quickly proved to be far from an amateur. His confidence and poise on stage captured audience members’ attention and prepped them for exciting performances to come. Immediately, promoters and organizers started taking note of boy boy’s skills and began requesting him to host shows, events and parties all across New York City. In 2007, Boy Boy established the Desi American Youth Collaboration, a social-networking organization that provides inner-city South Asian young adults with the opportunity to learn more about their culture while having fun. Since its inception, DAYC has produced many successful events, including street fairs, cultural shows and concerts. Boy Boy personally secured some of the biggest names in music to perform at these events, including rappers Fat Joe, Red Café and Notch and renowned reggae artist Sean Paul. He has also worked with Fabulous, Neyo, and South Asian heavy hitters, Da Bilz and Raghav, among others. Today, he is working harder than ever and constantly strives to do things “bigger and better.” He continues to host and MC shows throughout New York and produces events for DAYC. His future goals include launching his own radio station and television show, while continuously placing the Bengalis and their culture on the map. His unrelenting determination and hard work make it clear that for boy boy, the sky is truly the limit.