ARTIST: Meek Mill
ALBUM: Dreams Worth More Than Money
LABEL: Maybach Music Group
RELEASE DATE: June 29, 2015
Makin’ Waves
Written by Silas Valentino
The song that made for this past summer’s most flaming beef is the centerpiece on Meek Mill’s sophomore LP Dreams Worth More Than Money. “R.I.C.O.” has the Philly rapper passing versus back and forth with Drake but it was in the song’s aftermath, when Meek Mill called out Drake for ghostwritten lyrics, that lit this duet in flames. Diss tracks were made and sides were taken, but the spark of all this diatribe and controversy was a little album that took Meek Mill from hip-hop riser to contender.
Meek Mill is signed to Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group, so it’s only fitting that the Dreams Worth More Than Money album opener features a sampling of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Lacrimosa.” Mill begins his currency ambition theme with the flow: “Uh, Lord knows I’m filthy rich/All this ice is like 50 bricks/Rap niggas throwing hissy fits” and the line regarding feuds takes a new meaning after this heated summer. The beat smacks with the occasional gun shot samples and Meek Mill displays his determination with a sneering bite.
The always-exciting Future hops in on “Jump Out The Face” and the Southern trap rapper turns his feature into a hijacking, yanking the attention from Meek Mill. Future’s now-iconic flow leaves Meek Mill behind and “Jump Out The Face” proves to be one of Dreams Worth More Than Money hardest slappers.
The premiere single was “All Eyes On You” (no, not a Tupac remix) and Meek Mill enlists Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj for the album’s sparkly pop moment. This is the sixth collaboration between Mill and Minaj and it’s for a reason: The two complement each other well while boasting about their shared credibility.
Arguably, The Weeknd’s “I Can’t Feel My Face” was the biggest single of the summer and Meek Mill was wise to get him on the track “Pullin Up.” The Weeknd’s R&B falsetto drives this song and the crooner commands the hook and chorus. While The Weeknd shines in the spotlight, Meek Mill holds his own even though lyrics: “Broke boys don’t deserve pussy/Therefore, you ain’t fucking with her” are a pretty basic way in celebrating your affluence.
As the album begins to descend, Meek Mill calls in help from the boss himself: Rick Ross. “Been That” has the duo confirming their legitimacy. Even though they can afford mansions and fancy cars, their humbled beginnings are not lost. “Been That” harbors a notable resemblance to the previous collaboration between Mill and Ross, “Off The Corner.” The song was a hit, so you can’t really blame them for replicating a few ingredients.
Even though the final track, “Cold Hearted,” begins with Meek Mill claiming, “I never had a role model,” he enlists the godfather Diddy himself for an interlude. Much of Dreams Worth More Than Money deals with Meek Mill’s acceptance of fame and riches and he turns to Diddy for advice. The OG MC uses his verse as a monologue, advising the young Meek Mill of potential falling outs with family and friends now that he’s famous. And in remaining persistent with the theme of heartbreakingly failed relationships, Diddy ends his contribution with an homage to the 2002 film Paid In Full with his closing remarks: “Everybody eats, B/Everybody eats.”
Although Dreams Worth More Than Money will forever be marked by its Meek Mill/Drake controversy, it doesn’t outshine the album. Meek Mill has been a quick-rising stud and with this hyper-conscience record – full of songs lamenting a fear of success – he sets out to prove his head is placed firmly on his shoulders.