Mastermind

When it comes to millionaire-kingpin raps over lushly orchestrated, ultra-grandiose production, few can do it like Rick Ross. The MMG head honcho returns here with his sixth album, generally following the same script that made him one of hip-hop's biggest superstars. Overflowing with A-list features (Jay Z, Kanye, Lil Wayne, Jeezy, Scarface, French Montana, etc.) and overseen by platinum producers like Diddy, Jake One, Mike WiLL Made It, and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, there's no doubt that Mastermind will end up in the same place as his previous five albums: topping the charts. As a criminally minded storyteller, Ross continues to impress, while the beats display a stylistic diversity not generally found in today's pop-rap. "Thug Cry" tweaks Souls of Mischief's classic anthem "93 Til Infinity," while "Supreme" finds Scott Storch pairing rat-a-tat-tat 808s with some absurdly funky horns and flutes. Other highlights include "The Devil Is a Lie" and "Mafia Music III."