It may be the title of his new album, but Rick Ross is not a mastermind by any means. The Mississippi rapper released his sixth studio album on March 3, and, despite the array of talent featured on many of the tracks, it is hard to be impressed by the artist himself.

Ross seems to have had all the known talent he could find in the industry do most of the work for him. Mixed by Sean “Diddy” Combs, “Mastermind” displays collaborations with Jay-Z, The Weeknd, Kanye West, Big Sean, and Lil Wayne, among others. It’s safe to say the only good tracks are the ones with someone else featured on them.

“Mastermind” begins with a minute-long intro full of random samples and ends with the statement, “We all know that you cannot get something for nothing. There is a price tag to everything, even your own success.” Another track, “Drug Dealers Dream,” begins with a sample of a machine reading his account balance, which is apparently $92,153,183.28.

Thirty seconds into this song, and I already want to slow clap. Twelve songs in, and after several minutes of a couple girls and some guy talking about “basic bitches” washing their hair with “champagne” and people throwing rose petals at them when they walk, and I am reluctant to continue on. But I do, and it’s worth it for a second, because the next song, “In Vein,” features The Weeknd and is arguably the best track on the album.

Along with the other sample-heavy tracks, Ross includes a 54-second mix of various reporters and an actual 9-1-1 call concerning the drive-by shooting he was involved in last January.

“Mastermind” is in no way a progression of Ross’s sound, but his collaborations have at least received an upgrade. As far as Ross himself goes, there’s little to suggest that the artist won’t just keep producing albums that sound the same with lyrics and content firmly residing in the familiar, made somewhat exciting by the recruitment of his far more talented peers.

★★★☆☆

arildefonso@mavs.coloradomesa.edu