Rap-Up.com || Review Roundup: Rick Ross – ‘God Forgives, I Don’t’

No one can hold Rick Ross back. After making his debut six years ago with Port of Miami, the Maybach Music CEO has steadily risen up the ranks to become one of hip-hop’s most prolific MCs. The Bawse’s fifth album God Forgives, I Don’t arrives this week boasting big-name collaborations with Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, André 3000, and Usher, plus top-notch production from Pharrell, Rico Love, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Cool & Dre, and more. Rozay calls it his best work yet. Do the critics agree? The reviews are in.

Entertainment Weekly: The Miami native embodies his distorted version of the gangsta American dream so completely that he manages to transcend cliché. … Sure, he’s been bragging about his rep since his 2006 debut, but God Forgives is the first album that really feels like it was made by a boss. A-

Los Angeles Times: The new disc extends an over-the-top hot streak that began with 2009′s Deeper Than Rap and includes Teflon Don, from 2010; it’s rooted in the same lush production sound and name-checks just as many ultra-high-end luxury brands—even the Lear jet on which the second of his seizures struck. 3/4

Rolling Stone: There are times when God Forgives is as engrossing and surprising as rap can be. Over beats that alternate between sparkling, decadent string arrangements and assaultive, synthesized blare, Ross pretzels hip-hop’s familiar rags-to-riches arc into a Möbius strip, slaloming around an autobiographical timeline that may or may not be his own. 4/5

USA Today: MTV’s reigning “hottest MC in the game” isn’t bashful about his artistic and entrepreneurial success, though you’re never sure where reality ends and hyperbole begins in his platinum-plated boasts. What is certain, though, is his knack for painting pictures of his bootstraps rise and current luxe life in bold strokes over beats to match. 3/4

The Boston Globe: While not as electrifying as Teflon Don, this 70-minute set deftly mixes grandiose gestures and ominous bravado. He still deals familiar hip-hop tropes, but they are balanced by a new gravitas including references to mortality and the seizures he experienced last year.

The Associated Press: His fifth solo album in six years is loaded with undeniable quality tunes, making his new offering his most well-balanced piece of work to date. It’s clear that the burly, bearded Ross—who normally dons black shades—has made strides as a lyricist and storyteller.

Rap-Up’s Favorite Tracks: “3 Kings,” “Hold Me Back,” “Touch’N You”

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29 Comments

wes
August 1st, 2012 at 8:34 am
teflon don and rich forever were better projects- except for maybe the production on gfid

[Reply]
edison Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 9:21 am
@wes,
SMH THIS IS NO WAY A GOOD ALBUM RICH FOREVER WAS BETTER

THIS WILL NEVER BE UP THERE WITH THE CLASSICS

I JUST CANT BELIEVE THE HYPE HE GETS……..

THIS GUY IS JUST LIKE ANOTHER RAPPER……….

HES NOT SPECIAL LKE JAY OR DR.DRE OR KANYE…………………….

[Reply]
Angger Eka Permana
August 1st, 2012 at 8:44 am
YOU THE BOSS is better than all those track list.

[Reply]
Jay
August 1st, 2012 at 8:57 am
I honestly think its a classic, I stil think Rich Forever should have been a album though, i really lie #GFID cause its a smooth album although u have yo signature Rick Ross cuts like Hold me back, 911, and so sophisticated. Other then that the album is somethin u can bump all day! #NoLie

[Reply]
edison Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 9:22 am
@Jay, SMH THIS IS NO WAY A GOOD ALBUM RICH FOREVER WAS BETTER

THIS WILL NEVER BE UP THERE WITH THE CLASSICS

I JUST CANT BELIEVE THE HYPE HE GETS……..

THIS GUY IS JUST LIKE ANOTHER RAPPER……….

HES NOT SPECIAL LKE JAY OR DR.DRE OR KANYE…………………….

THIS IS NOT A CLASSIC…………..

[Reply]
I3 Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 11:43 am
@edison, U are a h a t e r go find a new life

[Reply]
edison
August 1st, 2012 at 9:21 am
SMH THIS IS NO WAY A GOOD ALBUM RICH FOREVER WAS BETTER

THIS WILL NEVER BE UP THERE WITH THE CLASSICS

I JUST CANT BELIEVE THE HYPE HE GETS……..

THIS GUY IS JUST LIKE ANOTHER RAPPER……….

HES NOT SPECIAL LKE JAY OR DR.DRE OR KANYE…………………….

[Reply]
Tev Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 10:00 am
@edison, how many times r u going to post that

[Reply]
Truth Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 10:28 am
@Tev, lmao hes pressed trying to get his point across the Critics have spoken. A nobody is trying to make his opinion valid lmaooo. Have several seats @Edison

[Reply]
I3 Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 11:43 am
@Truth, truth and nothing but truth lol

[Reply]
Brionna
August 1st, 2012 at 10:03 am
The album is a little too smooth for my liking i was expecting something a little different but nevertheless, it’s a solid album

[Reply]
Agdaking
August 1st, 2012 at 10:29 am
Classic

[Reply]
Truth
August 1st, 2012 at 10:31 am
The critics have spoken Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone both gave it a near perfect score. This album is a classic if you dont think so you better listen to the album again.

[Reply]
_iamjones Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 12:01 pm
@Truth, its no way a classic good features but as far as a ablum it could had been better cause rich forever he went hard on that

[Reply]
StillDaBaddest
August 1st, 2012 at 10:31 am
Just needed an old school 305 grimey Rick x Trina collab, other than that the album is HOT

[Reply]
Barcinho
August 1st, 2012 at 10:36 am
WHHHHHHHHHHHATTTTTTT AN ALBUM. ALBUM OF THA YAYERR!!!!

[Reply]
Dre
August 1st, 2012 at 10:46 am
I Did Feel Like He Should Of Put Trina On There But A Classic In My Hands

[Reply]
Grant
August 1st, 2012 at 11:07 am
Album is good … but because of the features. Not the Officer.

[Reply]
I3
August 1st, 2012 at 11:44 am
this was a very good album

[Reply]
Jay-Me
August 1st, 2012 at 12:59 pm
I’m on Pirates & I’m already in love.

[Reply]
Jay-Me Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 1:00 pm
@Jay-Me, #NoHomo

[Reply]
Young Pereezy YMCMB-MMG
August 1st, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Nobody can’t Hold The Boss Back, don’t care what them Haters say. ‘Real Hip Hop’
But I can’t decide which one is the best Hip Hop album of 2012 ”Tyga’s Careless world or Rozay’s god forgives, I don’t.

[Reply]
DrakeTakeCare
August 1st, 2012 at 1:42 pm
first of all rap-up…drake is the biggest feature on there so don’t let him out …
and “diced pineapples” not a favourite?! ohh okayy

[Reply]
Dan
August 1st, 2012 at 4:13 pm
First off, shame on Rap-Up to name “Hold Me Back” as one of their favorite tracks. Opinions are opinions, but judging by their past history of album favorites, this track shouldn’t be anywhere near this list. Presidential, Diced Pineapples, and Ashamed just to name a few are much better. Hold Me Back, laziest track on the album by far. Lastly, Life is Good>Channel Orange>Unexpected Arrival>Rich Forever>GFID.

[Reply]
manhattan mike
August 1st, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Im a big fan of Teflon Don.To me it was a classic. Keep It real everybody…HE SAYS NOTHING IMPORTANT ON THIS ALBUM.Andre 3000 murdered him on his on s**t.

[Reply]
andthenidied
August 1st, 2012 at 5:47 pm
there’s no sayin ths man can’t make good records on this one. I’ve been a fan and payin attention since early-teflon don era. Ross is tough no lie.. No matter how fake his shit tough

[Reply]
TheDreamer
August 1st, 2012 at 11:01 pm
I give the album a 4/5. Many great songs on there and the features and production were great. The songs 911 and Hold Me Back were in my opinion the worst songs on the album. But there were so many good ones.

[Reply]
AJAY
August 2nd, 2012 at 7:56 am
i dont see what the big deal is in the last year you had a classic mixtape drop and an album that gets a near perfect score either way you love him or hate him Rick Ross is still a talented artist

[Reply]
Roc it to the D to the GLMO
August 4th, 2012 at 2:44 am
Who gonna buy his album, I mean His album gonna Fail

[Reply]