Rick Ross performed with a live band for just the second time in his career in a rocking NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert featuring such beloved hits as “Super High,” “B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast)” and “I’m Not a Star.”
With the four-piece band laying down a thumping beat behind him, the Bawse sat on a gilded throne for “Super High,” luxuriating in a room surrounded by art in the gallery space of Miami artist and longtime friend Rich B Caliente, with background singer and Ne-Yo protege Troy Tyler doing his mentor proud with some silky vocals.
Things get serious on “B.M.F.,” with background vocalist Elijah Blake getting the spotlight as he weaved some soulful runs alongside Rozay’s animated tale of life among the super rich. Lamenting the tours and projects canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ross said, “But guess what? It’s a new year, new goals, same dreams, same hustler, you know what it is.”
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With the familiar lilting intro to “Aston Martin Music” bubbling up, Ross let Blake take center stage again to sing the hook of the track from the 2010 Teflon Don album, before the boss takes over for his iconic “I’m Not a Star.” He growled out the classic intro lines, “I’m not a star, somebody lied I got a pistol in the car, a .45/ If I’d die today, remember me like John Lennon/ Buried in Louie, I’m talkin’ all brown linen/ Make all of my b–ches tattoo my logo on they t–ty/ Put a statue of a n–ga in the middle of the city.”
The high-energy 20-minute set ended with the bouncing “F*ckwithmeyouknowigotit” — with a funny mini-monologue aside from Ross about all these fools who never properly rewound their Blockbuster videos — and the soaring No I.D.-produced Teflon Don track “Tears of Joy.”
Watch Ross’ Tiny Desk show below.