Port of Miami (album)

Port of Miami
Studio album by Rick Ross
Released	August 8, 2006
Recorded	2005-2006
Genre	Hip hop
Length	77:49
Label	Slip-n-Slide, Def Jam, Poe Boy
Producer	Cool & Dre, Jazze Pha, DJ Khaled, J. Venom, DJ Toomp, Mario Winans, The Runners, J. R. Rotem, Akon
Rick Ross chronology
Port of Miami (2006) Trilla (2008)
Singles from Port of Miami
"Hustlin'" Released: March 11, 2006 "Push It" Released: May 17, 2006

Port of Miami is the debut studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. Originally titled Career Criminal,^[1] the album was renamed, in reference to Miami being a major arrival destination for cocaine shipments to America. The album was released August 8, 2006, on Slip-n-Slide Records, Def Jam Recordings and Poe Boy Entertainment. The album was engineered by Miami based songwriting and production team The Monsters & The Strangerz. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, with 187,000 copies sold in its first week.^[2] In 2010, Rhapsody called it one of the best "coke rap" albums of all time.^[3]

The album's first single, "Hustlin' ", received an exorbitant amount of airplay. The remix version features Jay-Z and Young Jeezy. The album's second single, "Push It", produced by J. R. Rotem. This track samples the song "Push It to the Limit" from the movie Scarface. Port of Miami was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on November 8, 2006 with over 500,000 copies.^[4] According to Soundscan, the album has sold 857,000 copies to date.^[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
DJBooth.net	[7]
Entertainment Weekly	(B)[8]
HipHopDX	[9]
RapReviews	[10]
Pitchfork Media	(5.4/10)[11]
Stylus Magazine	C−[12]
Rolling Stone	[13]
USA Today	[14]
XXL	(XL)[15]

Port of Miami was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics. Michael Endelman of Entertainment Weekly said, "On Port of Miami, Ross turns the minute details of drug distribution and dealing into ominous, slow-rolling songs, like the hypnotic, organ-driven hit single ”Hustlin”’ and the Scarface-goes-South Beach stomp of ”Cross That Line.” In general, the whole ”crack-rap” trend (see: Young Jeezy, Clipse) is a disheartening one, but Ross’ pulpy debut manages to enthrall despite the drug-centric lyrics."^[8] Sam Ubl of Pitchfork Media said, "Port of Miami is a case of invention begetting necessity. Sure Ross needs these beats—he has all the charisma of a cold meatloaf. But they need him all the same. He's a supporting actor, second fiddle to the real, Pro-Tooled stars, desirable not for his authority or presence but for his utter blankness. Def Jam could heli-drop any bozo into such glorious ambiance and score some hits; the album facilitates sedentariness."^[11] Jonathan Ringen of Rolling Stone said, "Ross' minimal, menacing rhymes about being a drug-game kingpin feel a little undercooked, but with synth-soaked ring-tone-ready beats that are hotter than the "MI-Yayo" in the summertime (mostly by local beatmakers Cool and Dre, DJ Khaled and the Runners), it doesn't really matter."^[13] Brendan Frederick of XXL said, "While the runaway success of “Hustlin’” could have positioned Ross for one-hit-wonder status, he confidently sidesteps this fate by delivering the goods on Port of Miami. With a cohesive sound the city can call its own, the bearded rapper gets the release he needs by exposing the dark side of the Sunshine State. His name is Rick Ross, but Miami will remember him by a new name: BOSS!"^[15]

Track listing

Sample credits

• "Push It" Contains a sample of "Scarface (Push It to the Limit)" by Paul Engemann.
• "I'm Bad" Contains a sample of "Theme From S.W.A.T." by Rhythm Heritage.
• "Get Away" Contains a sample of "Sometimes I Rhyme Slow" by Nice & Smooth.
• "Hit U From the Back" Contains a sample of "Savoir Faire" by Chic.
• "Street Life" Contains a sample of "Afterimage" by Rush.

Charts

References