Rick Ross Returns Strong, But Not Without Flaws

Released July 17th 2026

Set In Stone is Rick Ross’s first solo album since 2021’s Richer Than I Ever Been, marking the longest gap between albums in his 20+ year career. It’s an album that delivered more than I expected, though it still has a few weaker moments in the mix.

The project starts off strong with “Caviar Bumps,” “Mahogany Caskets,” and “Minks In Miami.” “Mahogany Caskets” has a beat I still don’t love, but the song has continued to grow on me since my initial Crack The Concrete video reaction. Meanwhile, “Minks In Miami” has been a banger for me since it first dropped.

However, “Face Down” was the first of multiple songs ruined by a feature—Rich The Kid absolutely destroyed the track, and I don’t mean that in a good way. Luckily, “Ring Around The Rolls” corrects course and kicks off the strongest stretch of the album: “Ring Around The Rolls,” “Maybach Music VII,” “Living Large,” “Purple Fentanyl,” and “23” (easily one of my favorite songs here).

Unfortunately, that run comes to a halt with “Porsche GT3 – RS,” a song that makes an artistic vocal choice early on and rides it the entire way. If the vocal flex had stuck strictly to the hook, that would be one thing, but doing it for the whole song was just too much. “City Lights” was cool—it brings that classic Miami vibe—but it isn’t generally a song I’ll return to. “Chain Of Command” brings more of a Houston sound, featuring local artist Bug Tony alongside new MMG signee Nino Breeze.

I think “Remarkable Hussle” with Leon Thomas is a great track; I really love its mood and tone, and Leon elevated it well. “Big Fish” is solid—I’m not out on Gucci Mane like others are. Meanwhile, “Diamonds Never Die” brings together the Florida trio of Rick Ross, Kodak Black, and Ball Greezy over an elegant Ross beat. It’s not a personal favorite, but it works better than you might think. Similarly, “She’s My Star” isn’t something I’ll replay much, but Yung Miami performed better than I usually expect given her lane. “Do It One Time” serves as the last song in this weaker stretch before “The Algorithm” brings the album to a close.

I’ve seen some people down on this album, and to some degree, I get it. The second half doesn’t hold its own the way the first half does, but I still think there are some solid songs in there. I’d probably remove or replace a handful of tracks, but I wasn’t expecting perfection. It falls right in line with what I expect from Rick Ross, and I’d even place it in the upper half of his overall catalog.

Album Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑 (8/10)

Standout Tracks: “Minks In Miami,” “Ring Around The Rolls,” “Purple Fentanyl,” “23,” & “The Algorithm”