Rick Ross/Deeper Than Rap Maybach Music/DEF JAM Ross’ third album is without a doubt one of 2009’s most anticipated albums, and with a well-produced, 14-track effort, the Boss does not disappoint. “Mafia Music,”“Maybach Music Pt. 2,”“Magnificent” and “Usual Supects” lead a long list of standout tracks that feature guest spots from T-Pain, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, John Legend, Nas, Trina, The-Dream, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke, Foxy Brown and others, not to mention beats most rappers would kill for. Although the album has one too many songs aimed at female fans and too much emphasis on his beef with 50 Cent (Bang Em Smurf should not be the last voice that listeners hear), Ross does his best to keep a balance between commercial and street music. Deeper Than Rap is arguable the best album of Ross’ career. Randy Roper
Gorilla Zoe/Don’t Feed The Animals BLOCK ENT/Bad Boy South/ Atlantic Clearly, on his sophomore album, Zoe was looking to expand his sound from his “Hood Nigga” origins. On his single “Lost,” along with album cuts like “Dope Boy,”“So Sick” and “Echo,” listeners will find Zoe singing more than rapping. As you’d expect, those songs are hit and miss. On “Shit On ‘Em,” Zoe takes the title too literally; this might be the shittiest song I’ve ever heard. “Talk Back” is another song that borders the TMI line, when Zoe, Ebonylove and Roxy Reynolds take sex talk past a XXX rating. Overall, Don’t Feed Da Animals isn’t a bad album, but you get the feeling Zoe is still trying to find his sound and figure out which lane fits him best. - Randy Roper
Slim Thug/Boss Of All Bosses Boss Hogg Outlawz/E1 Music Boss Of All Bosses marks Slim Thug’s return to a more Houston-sounding album, thanks to the majority of production coming from Mr. Lee. The Boss is more introspective on this album, using his characteristic deep Houston drawl to give us more insight into who he is and what he’s thinking. Slim Thug lets loose on “I’m Back,” which features Devin the Dude, and proves to be one of the album’s strongest efforts. “Thug,”“Leanin’” and “Associates” all help propel the album. It’s worthy effort from the Boss of All Bosses. Slim Thugga, muthafucker! - Rohit Loomba
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Flo Rida/R.O.O.T.S./POE BOY/ATLANTIC After the success of “Low,” it’s clear that Flo Rida’s new music has been following the “apple-bottom jeans, boots with the furs” blueprint. More than likely, you’d hear most of the songs on Flo Rida’s new album on pop radio before a Hip Hop station. While that’s not a bad thing in terms of crossover success, an urban audience would be hardpressed to find many (if any) songs to relate to on R.O.O.T.S. His entire album sounds like one long “Low” remix. - Randy Roper
Capone-N-Noreaga/ Channel 10/Thugged Out/Fontana Capone N Noreaga’s latest offering, Channel 10, is firmly rooted in the style of their classic War Report. The few tracks that veer from the formula are the weakest links. CNN delivers triumphant QB finesse on “Grand Royal” and “Follow the Dollar,” but lose the magic with “Rotate” and “Channel 10.” While this album will make CNN fans happy, it’s hard to argue that most of it is anything beyond mediocre. CNN brings us closer to the Iraq they once showed us, but still doesn’t get us back. - Rohit Loomba
The-Dream/Love vs. Money Radio Killa/Def Jam There are things in life that are better than sex, at least just average sex, and The-Dream’s Love vs. Money is one to add to the list. Equate TheDream’s discography to sex and Love Hate is the foreplay, Love vs. Money is the intercourse, leaving us to hope that his next album, Love King, will be the thunderous, musical orgasm. But with tracks like “Love vs. Money” and “Fancy,” some may argue that this is already a manifestation of a musical climax. Impeccable songwriting set over Tricky-produced soundscapes makes Love vs. Money another classic delivered by the R&B gorilla himself. - Rohit Loomba Jadakiss/The Last Kiss Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam/Ruff Ryders One of Hip Hop’s most heralded lyricists, Jadakiss, returns with The Last Kiss. Jada doesn’t miss a step, getting back into the lyrical onslaught expected from him from the first bar. “One More Step” finds Jadakiss and Styles P rapping back and forth in a way only they can and “What If” featuring Nas marks yet another Jada track with the soul purpose of posing questions. While there aren’t necessarily bad tracks on this album there are some that just aren’t good. But by no means do they make this an album to miss. - Rohit Loomba Jim Jones/Pray IV Reign/ Columbia Surprisingly, the fourth solo album from Dipset Capo Jim Jones is a solid release that deserves burn in any iPod. More credit can be given to the album’s production (with beats by No I.D., Chink Santana, Ron Browz, Ryan Leslie and a few others) than Jim Jones’ actual talent as a MC, but Jones’ rhymes have improved over the years. And his storytelling holds attention on the album’s intro, “Pulling Me Back,” “Let It Out” and “Frienemies.” The Ron Browz-assisted hit “Pop Champagne,” along with cuts for the streets and the ladies, gives Pray IV Reign a balance. It’s a winning formula that Jones can feel free to pop champagne and fly high about. - Randy Roper
Asher Roth/Asleep In The Bread Aisle SchoolBoy/SRC/Universal Motown Seen appearing on the scene, Asher Roth has been assaulted with countless white rapper jokes and Eminem comparisons. Fortunately, his debut album should solidify him as a respected artist in his own lane. Whether he’s rhyming about school days (“I Love College”), shrugging off life’s woes (“La Di Da” produced by Don Cannon), living the single life (“Be By Myself” featuring Cee-Lo), or stepping out of the Slim Shady shadows (“As I Em”), Roth comes off as a cool white kid who enjoys rapping and is just happy to be here. Bread Aisle is one of the better debut albums to be released in the last couple years. Hopefully it’ll make Hip Hop fans forget all about that White Rapper Show on VH1. - Randy Roper
Mims/Guilt American King/Capitol Back with his second album to break Hip Hop’s so-called sophomore curse, Mims brings music to express emotion with Guilt. He shows his versatility on “Love Rollercoaster,” where Letoya Luckett also holds her own. “Rock N Rollin” is an electrifying record with Tech N9ne. Guilt has a few tracks that don’t show Mims’ true potential, like the “A Milli” knockoff “Makin’ Money,” and “On and On,” where he attempts a Fabolous-style ladies record. Guilt has enough quality records to make it worth a listen. - Quinton Hatfield