RICK ROSS & BIRDMAN The H: The Lost Album Vol 1 (2013) CD

Two of the most theatrically wealthy men in hip-hop history getting in a room together to make a record is exactly as maximalist as it sounds. Rick Ross and Birdman are both deeply committed to the bit, and the bit is luxury, menace, and an almost absurd level of self-mythology.

The H: The Lost Album Vol 1 is a 2013 collaborative project that slipped under the radar the way a lot of Cash Money adjacent material did during that era of oversaturation. Which makes it a find rather than a footnote. Rozay's baritone and Birdman's street-king energy sit over production that's pure early-2010s Southern rap, ominous, bass-heavy, built for speakers. If you're filling out a hip-hop section that takes rap as seriously as the metal heads take theirs, this belongs in it.

CD format. Released 2013. USA.

Fans of: Rick Ross solo work, Birdman, Lil Wayne, Cash Money Records deep cuts