Customer Reviews

Port of Miami

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I wanted to like this release. Some people may complain about the emergence of rappers whose only subject matter consists of cooking, chopping, and selling cocaine; I don't find it too troublesome. In fact, this crack-rap is more appealing to me than the likes of the bling-bling rappers who only talk about how their 'chain hangs low.' Yeah, these guys are glorifying horrible things, and never expose the consequences; yeah, these guys are also materialistic. At the same time, rhyming about coke can get tedious, but as long as it's done with style, it can never get old. Just look at Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... - that album was based around the drug-trade, and it managed to be one of the greatest hip-hop releases of any era.

Unfortunately for Rick Ross, where Raekwon and Ghostface were able to succeed with that classic album is an area Rick certainly can't touch; lyricism. Rae and Ghost had tight rhymes, and their views were far less linear than Rosses. They exposed the penalties of the dope game, even more so than they glamorized the lifestyle; for Rick Ross, it's all fun and games. Now, we all know Rosses story; he's a former crack peddler. He knows the ires of the trade from personal experience, so why does he have such a one-dimensional way of expressing his past?

Where Young Jeezy succeeded last year, Rick Ross fails. Jeezy at least has an undeniable charisma in his style; Ross seems to drone on, and on. Jeezy also at least switched up his adlibs; yeah, they got annoying, but not nearly as much as Ross says his own name, or the title of the song. I can't even remember anything from White House, because out of a four-minute song, Ross repeated the name of the track for nearly three minutes of the song. When he's not going along with his repetitious acts, his rhyming skills are average at best; and quite often, below average. He's not anymore complex as a lyricist than another rapper who shouts his name all the time(Who?), and he's got even less of said rapper's quirky charm.

I've read that Ross has been in the game for about a decade, but he still raps like a complete rookie. There's some hot production on here, yeah, especially on the "Hustlin'" single, and that's why I've given this album two stars instead of one. At the same time, Ross is clearly green, and needs much more seasoning. Could he get better with time? Of course. He has potential, he just needs to tap into it. He doesn't neccessarily need to expand his subject matter too much, but it'd be nice if he could get out some introspective tracks amongst the coke ordeals. Also, he needs to delve deeper into exposing the dope game, and reveal more of its ills than the glamor. Hustling maybe required for some people just to live, but no one wants to hustle forever; and no one wants to listen to someone rapping about one-sided hustling forever, either.

Rick Ross's album has officially showed me that the genre "rap" is officially dead. This guy claims that Notorious B.I.G., Tupac and Ice Cube inspired him to become a rapper. Well, from listening to his garbage of an album, you wouldn't think so. Now, I don't want to sound too negative, but I can't help but be negative when I listen to this LP. "Port of Miami" is just like any modern "rap" album. All the lyrics are about cars, bitches, alcohol and drugs, and all of the lyrics sound like some six year old kid could have wrote. Jay - Z was noted to have discovered Rick Ross. I must say that I have lost a little respect from Jay - Z for bringing this crap into the public. While respected artists like Notorious B.I.G., Tupac and Nas tried hard to make people understand and appreciate black culture, Rick Ross has spitted in all of their faces and adds his name on a list of other artists that cripple and reinforce negative stereotypes of black people today. You should be ashamed of yourself Rick Ross. You have shown the world that it's okay to stereotype your people as drug dealers who don't respect women and who would rather have nice rims on your car then pay your child support. Lady's and gentlemen, rap is dead.

Hmmmm....a Miami guy saying "I'm a Boss" in a Texas accent biting off Slim Thug, the real boss. Hmmmm....calling your click "Triple C Mafia".....sounds kind of like Triple 6 Mafia. Hmmmm.....your name is Rick Ross....sounds kind of like the old school producer Rick Rock. Hmmmm......rappin with the same voice and same subject matter (pushin coke) as another artist, Young Jeezy. This is a perfect example of what you call a cookie cutter MC. I give this guy another year before he drops off the map. I gave two stars because at least the beats on this album are super hot. It's just a shame a cookie cutter MC had to rhyme over them.

The two stars are only on the strength of "Hustlin". I've had this album for a week and I can't bear to listen through to its no doubt dreadful end. I am vastly disappointed and reminded of why I usually download mixtapes these days. To be truthful, if I had known that he had anything to do with Slip-n-Slide, then I would have passed. They don't make good albums. Word to Rick, stick real close to Cool & Dre and The Runners, then jump ship as fast as you can. You're to talented to be with SNS.

Def Jam is the hot spot now. Jay-Z has found new acts to sign up to his label such as The Roots, Young Jeezy, and more. One new act would be a Miami rapper named Rick Ross. I don't know too much about this guy, although I heard a few songs with on a few Trick Daddy albums and what not. So he makes his mainstream debut called "Port Of Miami".

Now lyrically, Rick Ross is borderline horrible. When I heard his first single "Hustlin", he didn't make a good first impression to me, with vulgar lyrics and bad rhymes like "I caught a charge/ (You caught a charge?)/ I caught a charge/ whip it real hard/ whip it, whip it real hard..." It seems like he rhymes about the same few things over and over, selling drugs and making money, his hustlin tales. I don't mind that, but that flows through about 90% of the album. He also has some flat falling songs on here such as the fast paced song "I'm Bad". Dre comes on the song "Boss". I'm feeling the beat to that song, but lyrically it's wack. Also some of the beats are repetative. Doesn't "Where My Money (I Need That)" sounds almost identical to "Hustlin"? And speaking of "Hustlin" the remix that features Jay-Z and Young Jeezy is a little better than the origonal (although they outshine Rick Ross), but it's not as good to me as everyone hyped. And if you listen closely, you'll notice that he doesn't ride the beat half the time.

There are some good points on here though. Akon hooks up with him on the song "Cross That Line" that I actually was feeling for. Mario Winans comes up for the song "Get Away", as Rick Ross was able to ride the beat smoothly (for the first time on this album), but they're aren't anything special. Rick Ross lyrics finally shine on "Pots and Pans" as he rhymes about how he comming up and overcomming his obsticales although J Rock's singing sounds like something from a Field Mob album or so. Lil Wayne pulls the best verse on the song "I'm A G".

Overall Rick Ross needs to step his rhyme skills up. It seems like he does a decent job whenever he hooks up with guest appearances on verses and hooks, but he fails when he carries a song by himself. If you like up beat mainstream music, you will like this. To me, it doesn't standout enough for me. Feel free to disagree.

Lyrics: D
Production: C+
Guest Appearances: C+
Musical Vibes: C-

Favorite Tracks: Cross That Line, Get Away, I'm A G

Honorable Mention Track: Pots and Pans

Most upsetting about PORT OF MIAMI is that being a big fan of the organ-filled "Hustlin'", I was hoping that quality-wise the entire album would stand up to that brilliant for single. Unfortunate for the somewhat fortunate debut (#1 on the Billboard 200 with 187,000 copies sold), the album to put it bluntly stinks. Sure "Hustlin'" along with a generic repeat of Young Jeezy's massive "Soul Survivor" hit ("Cross The Line" which features nobody else by Konvikt Akon), are fine, but otherwise, Ross has more inhabitions than attributes. While idealy Ross should compete with new standouts such as Southern rapper Young Jeezy or T.I., or even more less known names such as Slim Thug or Bun B, he doesn't make the cut against any of those artist. In fact, Ross's gravely vocals tend to grate rather than inspire, all except on the opening tracks such as the above par "Push It", "Hustlin'", "Cross The Line", or "I'm Bad". Otherwise, Ross unfortunately falls on death ears.

It makes you wonder that if Ross were to ever release a sophomore album, would it be successful? With such boasts made of him by Diddy and Jay-Z, mega hip-hop stars and talent-searchers, you wonder who dropped the ball with the excution of this star's album, which is terrible to say about any new artist. And without a true single tall enough to stand against the incredible but minor radio cut (it never did really well despite fan support) "Hustlin'", you wonder if after an impressive debut and support if the only way for Ross is down instead of up?

No, I'm not putting Ross down, but I can't help but to say that I was expecting a meatier, Grammy worthy debut from Ross instead of the rather hit-absent PORT OF MIAMI. Does he rep good for Miami? Sure, but hopefully a second round will make Ross more mature and more likeable than a rather bland debut. 2 stars for the album, 4.5 for killer single "Hustlin'", a sure to be rap classic!

this album... ugh where do i begin... *puts beer on the CD* well at least I'm doing something right. this album is worse than bad. It shouldn't even be an album, its just horrendous. As general as i sound, there really isn't much of detail to go into this. He has one single on here "Hustlin" that is supposedly popular, but i live in Miami and this song is still hardly popular. Pitbull is more of fame down here than this Mr. T lookalike. Stay clear of this album, in fact if you're thinking of downloading it, think twice and don't bother. Grinding forks and knives on a plate has never sounded so soothing compared to this crock of garbage. I guess i should be grateful that this CD was given to me instead of me stooping as low as buying it, but i feel more insulted than grateful... i would have rather had the previous owner just leave burning dog doo at my doorstep instead of giving me this nonsense, because this CD is really that bad.

for the record, "hustlin" is probably the most ruined cliche that these rappers can continuously mention. in fact, any rapper that coins this "hustlin" under their belt you can assume safely that its not worth the time.

if you were expecting a fresh hot rapper, look somewhere else. Decent Miami rappers are sporadic. Pitbull is a horrible rapper, but his nonsense is marketable, along with his background. hopefully this is the last idiot rapper coming out of this city in a while.

Please do not waste your money on this CD. The entire CD is nothing that we have not heard a million times "I use to be a drug kingpin, I got money, I've got bling bling, don't mess with me or I'll kill you, my childhhood was hard, so I had to sell cocaine to make it, I've got a different girl for everyday of the week-b/c I sold coacine, hey!!!! Look I've got $5,0000 to waste on 26" chrome spinning wheels, b/c I had one hot song on my CD that tricked everyone into thinking my whole CD would be hot." If you're some big time dope dealer then this is the CD for you, b/c the whole thing is just a about selling cocaine & how great your life is when you sell drugs.

Overall, the album is ok. The production is what stands out on the album. His Lyrics are basic and his lyrical content is tiring after awhile. Rappers who preach that their album is a classic, does not make an album a classic. Fans dictate what album is a classic or not. This album is ok, but will never be on the level of "Reasonable Doubt, The Chronic, Illmatic, or even Common's BE", The songs that stand out are the Hustlin Remix, cross the line, Push It, and Blow,

You want a hip hop classic, wait for Papoose Album to drop!!! Than you will have a hip hop classic. YOu heard it hear first!!!

Everything else, the songs did not move me at all.

Here we go again gotta lot of haterz... i=It just seems like the hate wont stop. You got this 'Chini's girl' Basically Blowing the Carter Admin, and realistically Jay-z spit one of the weakest verses ive ever heard. you cant get on another artists song and try to sound like him when youre SUPPOSED to by more lyrically inclined. meaning jeezy and rick ross verses blew jays out the water but hes the 'god mc' right... yea OK. Back to the Album if you say you cant listen to one song all the way through youre hating and lying cause everyone who is a scarface (the movie) fan loved 'push it' then and after hearing a bassline and some kicks and snares behind it I love it more. this is a cool album to ride to got some nice beats and ross does show some potential on the lyrical tip. standout tracks are push it, cross that line, hit it from the back, its my time and prayer.