Teflon Don - Rick Ross
Teflon Don Image
Metascore
79 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.4 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 17 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Summary: Losing none of the momentum put in motion by his 2009 effort, Deeper Than Rap, Rick Ross keeps a very good thing going on Teflon Don, arguably his best album to date. You want rap-style luxury? Then Deeper is the better fit, but Teflon plays up the chilled and soulful elements of its predecessor, meaning Ross has graduated to a level where words like “organic” and “poignant” come into play. The former is best represented by “Mayback Music III” and it’s swirling, ‘70s-flavored dreamscape created by the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League production team. Ross allows guests T.I. and Jadakiss to go first on the cut, then grabs his cigar for an uplifting story of ghetto triumph that goes from pushing to pleasing the folks (“Parents never had a good job/Now it’s black American Express cards"). When it comes to “poignant,” the evidence is dotted throughout the album with the rapper reflecting on where he’s been, and he often questions his own lust for fame. He chants the title to the opening “I’m Not a Star” as if it was a remindful mantra, but it’s his new love of contrasts that’s really interesting, following Kanye’s swaggering on “Live Fast, Die Young” with “Seems to me we gettin’ money for the wrong things/Look around, Maseratis for the whole team/Look at Haiti, children dyin’ round the clock/I’d send a hundred grand but that’s a decent watch”. The familiar party and thugging tunes work too with “B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast),” “No. 1,” and the mixtape favorite “MC Hammer” -- now with added Gucci Mane verse -- all coming correct. Add all the Illuminati references in the Jay-Z team-up (“Free Mason”), a decent smoking song (“Super High”), and a track where Cee-Lo’s performance just might make you misty (“Tears of Joy”), and it’s obvious Ross’ albums are no longer just vessels for his singles. ~ David Jeffries… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Billboard.com
    90
    Ross raps unhurriedly, encouraging listeners to mull over his every word. Teflon Don is one of this summer's blockbusters.
  2. All Music Guide
    80
    Rick Ross keeps a very good thing going on Teflon Don, arguably his best album to date.
  3. Pitchfork
    80
    Ross knows his lane and stays in it on Teflon Don.
  4. NOW Magazine
    60
    Even though the production is immaculate, featuring amazing work by Lex Luger, and the guest list is impressive, the album falls flat. The problem: Ross takes himself too seriously.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Baous
    10
    Best album of 2010, tremendous work. BMF was a classic, so was MC Hammer. Free Mason was tremendous, Im Not A Star was even better. Ross cemented his status as the best in the biz with this one… Expand
  2. rollingstone82
    8
    A surprisingly well done fourth album.

    I never thought much of Rick Ross. Port of Miami was average and Trilla was horrible. Deeper Than Rap     was ferocious but still lacking. Teflon Don though represents his peak. It feels lavish, luxurious, and soulful. The production is carefully mixed and crafted to perfection in a very alluring manner. It feels like a billionaire's club. The leisure, the success, the danger.

    Take for example, Maybach Music 3, a orchestral masterpiece that enchants as well as warns. And Super High feels like a jazzy rich guy song that feels supreme with the Ne-Yo's flavor of contemporary R&B in the chorus. Blowin Money Fast is a pounding beat that resonates not as a part track but as a siren that even rich dudes know how to play bad.

    Rick Ross himself is a reason for the album's high rating. Lyrically, he gives more punchlines and has become funnier adding to the album's level of interest. He has become more focused and more diverse in his themes. One of the best lines is "My top back like JFK/They wanna push my top back like JFK!". It's funny at the same time serious.

    However the album still has weaknesses. The guest spots once again outshine the main star. Kanye West comes in on Live Fast Die Young and rips it to millions of pieces before Rick Ross can come back with a good chunk. Another problem is the repetitiveness of the album. MC Hammer and BMF are basically the same beat (Ross should have combined them both as one track). And the rich thug raps get too weary. After all, we are way past the age of gangsta rap (no offense to Ice Cube) and the "I-used-to-sell-crack" rap. It seems like everyone has done it.

    But Teflon Don is still a good listen and it is proof that it stands against shots coming from Ross' detractors because it emphasizes on musical quality.    … Expand
  3. NJR
    8
    Ricky without doubt wins 2010's "Most Improved" award! His albums have been getting progressively better, I really wasn't a fan of the first three LP's but this CD is up there with the best this year, I could name less than 5 Hip Hop albums better than Teflon Don so far. The best feature of the album is definitely the production and the Collaboration with Cee-Lo is brilliant. The only reason that the album doesn't deserve to be more than an 8/10 is Rick's lyrics, not awful but they could use a bit of work, this album has (Shockingly) made me excited for his next attempt.… Expand
  4. thugnificent2
    6
    the first half of the album is great, while the other half is not quite. the beats on the first half are not like mainstream rap and feature people like kanye west ceelo green, t.i., jadakiss, and jay-z. while the last half contains diddy, drake, gucci mane, and other mainstream artists, just listen to the first 6 songs… Expand

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