A worthy fix

Maybe it's the tropical climate in Ross's hometown of Miami that adds a hint of brightness to his raps. Whatever the reason, the sun certainly shines a little light on the usually menacing MC in Rise to Power, a collection of circa-2000 tracks previously unreleased by Ross's former record label. \nTo be sure, there's plenty of thug talk on the disc. In the velvety "Strapped," for example, the Boss warns anyone who crosses him: "You'll wake up with no ribs / in a fridge in Chicago." So much for Southern hospitality. \nBut daylight peeks through on tracks such as R&B-crossover "Street Love." After a few seconds of sweet-nothing croons from special guest Next, Ross introduces the track by declaring, "Let's thug it out" before dropping a beat that sounds like it was copped from early-'90s Prince. \nFans of Ross' 2006 debut Port of Miami need not fret, though. Just as we would expect from the man best known for dealer anthem "Hustlin'" -- yeah, you know it's your ringtone -- cocaine references abound on Rise<.i>. On "B.L.O.W. (Block Life is Our Way)," the Boss trades verses (and recipes) with coke-raconteur Pusha T of Clipse, who spits over a track that plays like a nightmare-ensuring lullaby: "I seen the coldest of winters / Mountains of snow / Made fiends tremor." \nDespite other highlights such as the time-signature-bending "Dear Lord," which finds Ross dealing with his faith, and plucked-guitar groove "Simple and Plain," there's nothing on Rise to Power that matches the bare-knuckled swagger of the Boss's more recent hits. Regardless, the album should slake fans until the release of Trilla -- yes, that is a play on "Thriller" -- due out later this year from Def Jam. Maybe we'll finally get some snow this winter.