Rick Ross

TEFLON DON is more than just the title of the new fourth album by Def Jam recording artist Rick Ross – it’s a title of respect earned the hard way by the man who ruled Miami’s underground rap scene, and then came out of the shadows to make the three biggest scores of his career – when his first three albums all entered the Soundscan chart at #1 in 2006 (Port Of Miami), 2008 (Trilla), and 2009 (Deeper Than Rap). 

 

            In the heat of the summer, the 12-track TEFLON DON arrives June 29^th on the Boss’ Maybach Music label, bringing some serious fireworks to the Independence Day blow-up.  The album’s first single pick, “Super High” featuring fellow Def Jam artist Ne-Yo, debuts at radio and across the Internet today – it will officially impact at Urban radio formats on May 3^rd and at Rhythm radio formats on May 10^th. 

 

            In addition to Ne-Yo, and members of the Miami-based Triple-C (Carol City Cartel), the A-list guests featured on TEFLON DON include Jay-Z, Kanye West, Chrisette Michelle, Drake, T.I., and Raphael Sadiq.  “Super High” was produced by DJ Clark Kent, who leads a squad of producers including J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, the Runners, the Inkredibles, (all of whom worked on Deeper Than Rap) and the Olympics.  The players all come together on Teflon Don: The Movie, a documentary film that probes the making of the new album.

 

            TEFLON DON is the hotly anticipated follow-up to Deeper Than Rap, which was named the #4 top-selling hardcore hip-hop album of 2009 by Interference.com, in the company of releases by Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Lil’ Wayne.  Deeper Than Rap got a big jump out the gate with its first single, “Magnificent” featuring John Legend, produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Top 5 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Tracks chart and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

 

            Rick Ross rose from ruling Miami’s underground rap scene, to become 2006’s buzz-worthiest hip-hop artist with Port Of Miami, his #1 Pop/#1 R&B/#1 Rap major label debut album.  Its unstoppable single “Hustlin’” became the first mastertone ever certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of 1 million copies before the associated album had even been released.  A remix was subsequently issued, featuring Jay-Z and Young Jeezy.  Port Of Miami’s second single was “Push It,” whose movie soundtrack excerpts (circa 1990) from Giorgio Moroder’s “Scarface (Push It To The Limit),” evoked the gritty soul of a city that is always on the edge of exploding.

 

            Six-foot-two, 300-pound Rick Ross – a “hip-hop heavyweight,” as described by the New York Times – came into his own on Trilla, whose second single release, “The Boss,” featuring T-Pain, rose to #2 on the Billboard Hot Rap chart, #5 R&B, and Top 20 on the Hot 100.  The next single, “Here I Am” featuring Nelly and Avery Storm, also hit inside the Top 10 on the Rap and R&B charts.  Trilla got off to a fast start with a release week performance on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live.  “The Boss” video went into rotation on MTV, MTV2, and MTV hits, along with BET and FUSE.