RICK ROSS - Port Of Miami Review

A blustery hip-hop antihero, barrel-size Miami rapper Rick Ross uses his molasses-thick voice to tackle basically a single subject: cocaine. On Port of Miami, Ross turns the minute details of drug distribution and dealing into ominous, slow-rolling songs, like the hypnotic, organ-driven hit single ''Hustlin''' and the Scarface-goes-South Beach stomp of ''Cross That Line.'' In general, the whole ''crack-rap'' trend (see: Young Jeezy, Clipse) is a disheartening one, but Ross' pulpy debut manages to enthrall despite the drug-centric lyrics....full text Miami has had its share of hip hop exposure, but Dade County seems to have a new swag these days. Easily the United States’ premier vacation & real estate playground for hip hop royalty (Diddy, Jay-Z, Russell Simmons, Dr. Dre, Will Smith and several other A-listers own homes in Miami) Miami boasts world-class shopping, nightlife, and culture. If Rick Ross has his way, Miami, FL will be the next major city to make waves in the industry....full text Of all the things one could say about Rick Ross (that he has excellent drug-dealing bona fides, for one, or that he's really into saying his own name), one thing's for sure: The dude has a serious work ethic. The Miami rapper boasts, "Every day I'm hustlin' " on his massive radio hit "Hustlin' " -- remixed here with verses from Def Jam boss Jay-Z and fellow Dirty South MC Young Jeezy -- and that striving sentiment is all over his debut CD, Port of Miami....full text