Too Good to Be True (Rick Ross and Meek Mill album) explained

Too Good to Be True
Type:studio
Artist:Rick Ross and Meek Mill
Cover:Too Good to Be True.png
Border:yes
Genre:Hip hop
Length:59:45
Producer:
Chronology:Rick Ross
Prev Title:Richer Than I Ever Been
Prev Year:2021

Too Good to Be True is a collaborative studio album by American rappers Rick Ross and Meek Mill.[1] It was released on November 10, 2023,[2] through Maybach Music Group under exclusive license to Gamma.[3] [4] It features a single collaboration with Cool & Dre, along with guest appearances from Beam, Vory, Fabolous, Teyana Taylor, DJ Khaled, Wale, The-Dream, French Montana, Future, Shaquille O'Neal, and Dame D.O.L.L.A.

Background and promotion

In an interview with Rap Life Radio host Ebro Darden, Ross said that the album was done in about six weeks.[5] The release was first led by the single "Shaq & Kobe" on September 29, 2023, which was accompanied by a music video directed by Kid Art and published the same day.[6] It received positive comments from Diddy saying:

On October 20, 2023, the pair released "Lyrical Eazy",[7] which samples Jay Z's The Blueprint song "Breathe Easy (Lyrical Exercise)"; it was accompanied by a music video starring the two speeding in sports cars through New York City before flying in a helicopter.[8] On October 26, a remix to "Shaq & Kobe" featuring Dame D.O.L.L.A. and the titular Shaquille O'Neal was released.[9]

On November 6, a promotional sweepstake was announced, in which participants must fill in seven "lucky numbers" before pre-saving the album and filling out an online form, with a total cash prize of $50,000 up for grabs. It is scheduled to run for 10 days, after which a winner will be announced on Instagram.[10] The album's track listing was announced on November 8, 2023.[11]

Reception

Too Good to Be True received generally mixed reviews from critics. Wesley McClean rated the album a 2.6/5, saying: "Rick Ross lacks gravitas, feeling checked out throughout most of the tracklist. A rapper known for his impeccable ear for beats and consistent output, he delivers his laziest and most elementary rhymes to date, pairing them with some of the least interesting instrumentals of his career."[12]

Track listing

Note

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Grant . Shawn . 2023-09-29 . Rick Ross and Meek Mill Announce Joint Album Too Good to Be True - The Source . 2023-10-23 . en-US . 2023-10-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231024001133/https://thesource.com/2023/09/29/rick-ross-meek-mill-joint-album/ . live .
  2. Web site: 2023-10-19 . Meek Mill and Rick Ross' Too Good to Be True Has a Release Date . 2023-10-23 . UPROXX . en-US . 2023-10-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231022142720/https://uproxx.com/music/meek-mill-rick-ross-too-good-to-be-true-release-date/ . live .
  3. Web site: 2023-07-26 . New Music Releases and Upcoming Albums in 2023 and 2024 . 2023-10-23 . Pitchfork . en-US . 2023-10-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231022144853/https://pitchfork.com/news/new-album-releases/ . live .
  4. Web site: 2023-10-18 . Rick Ross & Meek Mill Announce Release Date for Joint Album Too Good to Be True . 2023-10-23 . HipHopDX . en . 2023-10-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231021005504/https://hiphopdx.com/news/rick-ross-meek-mill-too-good-to-be-true-album-release-date . live .
  5. Web site: Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) . Yohance . 2023-09-29 . Rick Ross & Meek Mill to Release Too Good to Be True Joint Project . 2023-10-23 . AllHipHop . en-US . 2023-10-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231020102330/https://allhiphop.com/news/rick-ross-meek-mill-too-good-to-be-true/ . live .
  6. Web site: 2023-09-29 . Rick Ross and Meek Mill Reconnect for New Song "Shaq & Kobe" . 2023-10-23 . Pitchfork . en-US . 2023-10-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231003210136/https://pitchfork.com/news/rick-ross-and-meek-mill-reconnect-for-new-song-shaq-and-kobe-watch-the-video/ . live .
  7. Web site: Kreps . Daniel . 2023-10-20 . Rick Ross and Meek Mill Drop "Lyrical Eazy" from Upcoming Joint Album . 2023-10-23 . Rolling Stone . 2023-10-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231022051226/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rick-ross-meek-mill-lyrical-eazy-new-album-1234858977/ . live .
  8. Web site: Rick Ross and Meek Mill sample Jay-Z on "Lyrical Eazy" . 2023-10-23 . The FADER . en . 2023-10-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231022151257/https://www.thefader.com/2023/10/20/rick-ross-meek-mill-lyrical-eazy . live .
  9. Web site: Duong . Paul . 2023-10-27 . Shaquille O’Neal, Dame D.O.L.L.A. “Shaq & Kobe (Remix)” - Rap Radar . 2023-11-08 . . en-US.
  10. Web site: Rick Ross & Meek Mill Fans Given Chance to Win $50K In Too Good to Be True Sweepstakes . HipHopDX . November 6, 2023 . November 7, 2023 . Singh, Karam.
  11. Web site: Gonzalez . Alex . 2023-11-08 . Meek Mill & Rick Ross' Too Good To Be True Tracklist Has Arrived . 2023-11-08 . . en-US.
  12. News: McClean . Wesley . 16 November 2023 . RICK ROSS & MEEK MILL CAN'T RECREATE MMG MAGIC ON 'TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE' . 2024-04-05 . HipHopDX.