Rick Ross hits the gas on Maybach Music

• Malik Abdul
• DJs Bobby Black (left to right), Green Lantern, Scream, and Ricky Rozay

?
Hip-hop's favorite cop held a listening party at Patchwerk Studios for his recording group Maybach Music's first collaborative album, Self-Made. The new label founded by the bearded Rick Ross now hosts a slew of new and used artists, including Philly's Meek Millz, DMV's Wale, Atlanta's own Pill, and estranged R&B vocalist Teedra Moses.

The recording studio was filled with your average Atlanta somebodies, nobodies, and wanna-be-somebodies. While Ricky spit every line for the camera, necks bobbed to every track, including recent radio hit "Tupac Back," on which Meek Millz compares himself to the late lyricist.

Based on the eight tracks that were only played halfway through, the album sounds like a smooth ride with a minimalist, classic hip-hop sound. There were featured guest appearances from Cyhi da Prynce, Curren$y and J. Cole. And Pill stood out on his single "PacMan," while Wale made some interesting references to Malcolm X on "By Any Means Necessary."

Of course, Ross expects the album to be the highlight of rap albums for the year, and the fat guy with a blinged-out Wendy's chain (the highlight of the night) seemed to agree. But you can't minimize Maybach Music's potential to take over considering the historical and returning power of rap crews (i.e. N.W.A., Bad Boy, Organized Noize, Young Money).

?
Rozay is headlining tonight's BMI Showcase at the Buckhead Theatre, and he's sure to perform some of the new joints with the rest of Maybach Music as special guests. If you recall last year's showcase at Havana Club, Drake turned into Diana Ross when the sound went berserk. But with the show being at a real music venue this time, Ross hopefully won't have to cuss the sound man out.