- For good or bad there's not really anyone else like Rick Ross in the music world right now. A surreal Cinderella story, Ross' credibility hit an all time low when a photo surfaced of him working a previous job as a corrections officer, something that many took very personally, figuring the up-and-coming MC was firmly on the wrong side of the bars This was something that should have buried Rozay, who was already looked like a bit of a dingus thanks to appropriating his moniker from an actual convicted drug trafficker. On a side-note the other guy wasn't all that happy when, after spending 13 years in jail, he came out to find the new Rick Ross taking the world by storm. While it's a little tricky to pinpoint exactly when and why the tide turned for the just about literally larger than life Ross, about two years ago he suddenly stopped being hip-hop's little in-joke and against all the odds any bookie would have given him, became one of the most influential, powerful and wealthy people in hip-hop today. It's weird, he comes on as that kind of fearless slash mentally-under-performing dude that has two heart attacks on a private jet, then posts a photo of himself indulging in fried chicken one hour later: a man who either doesn't fear death or really likes chicken. Fifth studio record and appropriately over-the-toply titled, God Forgives, I Don't is probably the first record that Ross has brought out with any real expectations of greatness, and despite having it's flaws, it's still totally badass. I mean it's not quite Ross' version of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, but it does see the teflon don continue to grow musically, only undone by his unwillingness to totally take things to the next level. It's understandable but I wouldn't hate it if he'd venture outside his comfort zone a little more, like he does on God Forgives' strongest track, the 8 minute epic, "Sixteen". It's a spaced-out, gorgeous jam that puts Ross together with my usual second favourite Outkast, Andre 3000. Andre is a living legend even if he has become a little elusive in recent years, never quite getting around to that solo album. Hey it's only been 6 years since that last Outkast record, which was itself this weird pseudo soundtrack for a film that I don't think anyone actually saw. Regardless, the dude has been killing it with guest verses, popping up sporadically over the years and adding his genius then slinking back into the shadows. Here he basically takes over, with Ross acting like some Big Cat-esque facilitator, the glue that both brings and holds together all the majesty in the world. The song has Andre lamenting about how 16 bars just ain't enough bars to make your darn point, proving it almost instantaneously by spitting at least 32 bars before I lost count. Oh, and if that wasn't enough he takes the track to climax with a Fred Durst-esque guitar solo, which seems nothing but appropriate considering Andre was recently given the nod to play Hendrix in an upcoming film. If this is anything to go by Jimi will be smiling in his grave. PS. Rick Ross is sitll deeper than rap you fooliyones.

- Jay Edwards.