I'd be lying if I told you that I enjoyed this record even a little. Perhaps if I boiled Mastermind down to a couple verses and the song "Supreme" I might ... (might!) like it. I mean, not everything is horrible, I suppose. I think the best way I could encapsulate this album is bloated. Really bloated. Like everything Rick Ro$$ does, it purports to be grandiose and game-changing and is/does neither.
I'll begin with the highlights: I actually don't mind a couple of the spoken-word interludes, maybe because they're breaks from the "music" - "Shots Fired" into "Nobody" for example. Some of the beats are pretty good: "Devil is a Lie" and "Supreme" are pretty great. In fact, "Supreme" as a song is great - sounds like a good version of N.E.R.D. production if it existed (it doesn't). "Supreme" is one of two times on the album that I enjoy Rosay's spitting ... at all. The other time is on the Weeknd produced/written track "In Vein," which is trite and terrible for the exception of Rick's rapping. Sidebar: by second listen, I actually don't completely hate this song, but still, if I had to listen to this song twice in a row I very well might hate it more. At least "In Vein" doesn't go on for too long.
The biggest surprise on this entire LP is Lil Wayne's sick verse on "Thug Cry." Next to "Supreme" this is my second favorite song on the album - the beat is pretty great and damn is Lil Wayne's verse is AWESOME. That's the first time I've ever said that, and it feels weird. The vocal cut here is really cool and well done in the context of the subject matter. Lil Wayne sounds heartfelt and it's dope. Other than that, JAY's verse on "Devil is a Lie" is above average, especially considering his recent work. It's nice to know that he doesn't always have to dumb down his flow when he raps alongside Ross (cf. "FuckwitthmeyouknowIgotit"). Jeezy's verse on "War Ready" is sick. I think it might be the most I've ever looked forward to Jeezy rapping on anything ever - not because Jeezy is a bad rapper, but rather because "War Ready" is otherwise an unspeakably terrible song.
Besides the highlights, the album is so bad. I am absolutely certain that I will never listen to this thing again. Most of these songs should not exist. "Dope Bitch Skit" is a good example of why I support the Death Penalty. I don't even care if the whole thing was a joke: fuck these people. The sample of the 92 million dollar bank account balance is obnoxious, along with every god damn time Ross mentions some type of car that he bought someone or drives along with every single time Rick makes a reference to how hard he is. Trust me, Rick, I don't give a fuck. On the Kanye produced song - it's some of his worst work. A couple of his lines are okay. But why is Big Sean a thing? Why? Finally, I don't think I've ever heard a more comatose trifecta as "Mafia Music III," "War Ready," and "What a Shame." Those songs are so horrible. Please French Montana - stop doing your "music." Everything he does is total shit, always. I would rather listen to Limp Bizkit than French Montana - for real, though.
Hits - "Devil is a Lie," "Supreme," and "Thug Cry."
Misses - everything else. Big misses.
Rating: 2.5/10
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