The title of Rick Ross� sophomore offering can be interpreted several ways. Is he �trilla� than his competitors in hip-hop, or is this album � named, of course, Trilla ��trilla� than his unremarkable but kind of fun debut Port of Miami?

Either way, Ross has evolved in the standard progression seen out of most contemporary rappers: He crafted a single that seemed to get as much play in fraternity basement parties as project courtyards and that featured some decent guest appearances on 100-member posse cuts. Plus, his nearly life-sized, bejeweled replica of his head is one of rap�s greatest chains. As one of the new Def Jam�s flagship artists, Rick Ross gets the all-star treatment of proven beat-crafters and mega-visible guests.

Trilla begins with a handful of tracks featuring familiar voices. �All I Have in This World� is the millionth song to play off Tony Montana samples; yet it�s somehow saved by producer and featured guest Mannie Fresh�s popcorn snares and non-ironic strings. T-Pain lends the same ol� pitch-corrected tomfoolery over a surprisingly bearable beat from typically cheesy J.R. Rotem on �The Boss,� Trilla�s second single. Ross� boasts of unparalleled criminal success are laughable, but �The Boss� is a thoroughly enjoyable, driving jam in the vein of �We Takin� Over� � shut up, you loved it. I�m unsure how anyone could resist Ross� awesomely eloquent claim in the chorus: �I�m the biggest boss that you�ve seen thus far.�

�Speedin�,� featuring R. Kelly, is generic as expected, but Ross surprises with inoffensive wordplay and an energy that will stun those who only know him from the sloth super hit �Hustlin�.� It�s a shame the song itself comes off as a carbon copy of Young Jeezy�s �I Luv It.� However, Jeezy � along with Lil Wayne and Trick Daddy � stops by with perfectly acceptable cameos on �Luxury Tax.� Former Def Jam president Jay-Z makes his appearance as well for the very good �Maybach Music,� though it should be noted that Ross more than holds his own with all the supposed �Best Rapper Alive� candidates featured.

The real story of Trilla is what a pleasant surprise Ross is as a performer. Lyrically, he�s still proclaiming his status as the Boss, but he really establishes himself as a technically sound MC with a unique voice. Ross is something of a hip-hop rarity in that he�s achieved a distinctive character without being obviously annoying to a sizable fraction of rap fans. In fact, Trilla�s best track is probably the solo effort �This Me,� on which Ross gets an opportunity to stretch out over a great beat from J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League.

Trilla is unexpected fun but not without its weaknesses. Ross will inevitably alienate folks seeking subject matter other than being the Boss. �Money Make Me Come� is a highly unfortunate track, as the title would suggest. There�s an inexplicable interlude in which DJ Khaled rambles about Rick Ross being a manifestation of the ghetto and some other nonsensical stupidity, which is to be expected of the new Flavor Flav. �I�m Only Human� seems a transparent effort to manufacture depth for an otherwise shallow but enjoyable album.

Nonetheless, Rick Ross succeeds for the most part on Trilla, revealing himself as a halfway decent rapper with a good ear for agreeable if not original production.

3 stars out of 5