Rick Ross & Pharrell Williams, For The Money | Song Review 🎵

Rick Ross and Pharrell Williams collaborate on the enjoyable and respectable, though non-needle-moving single, “For The Money.”

“Everybody want beef, niggas want smoke / Hoes gettin’ high, niggas on dope / Everybody got rich, then they went broke / Hoes wanna shop, then they wanna post.” Woo! Rick Ross and Pharrell Williams have been part of my listening rotation for years.  Both have dropped some enduring, badass bangers. They join forces on “For The Money”, produced by Williams.  My first time listening, I found myself skeptical. The backdrop and beat are Pharrell-ian yet contrast with some of his past productions. It’s still unique to him but has a touch of Latin flair fused with rap stylings.  Listening a second time, the sound grew on me. The sleekness was always perceptible.

As for Rick Ross, the backdrop also felt like a departure of sorts.  Sure, it sounds expensive and luxurious (his typical sound), but, not necessarily the accompaniment associated with him.  Again, after a second listen, it gelled better to my ears.  Regardless, Ross’s cadence and flow are strong, and he’s rapping about his favorite thing: money.  Is he saying anything substantial? Nah. Unsurprisingly, he also raps about drip, as well as his bitches: “Champagne toast, Belaire buckets / A bad lil’ bitch, bend it over, bust it / I got another bitch, she a thick Russian / Ready for the dick, always rushin’.” In the second verse, we get more of the same with drip (“Everybody want beef, I just want a boat,” and “Got a whole safe full of Rolex watches / Don’t even rock ‘em, Cartier watchin’”) and, again, bitches (“Got the whole club full of bad bitch options”). Big Bawse! The chorus is lengthy, preceded by the pre-chorus (excerpted above), but, like the song itself, grows on you.

“But I came for the money (But I came for the money)

Only came for the money (Only came for the money)

A nigga came for the money (A nigga came for the money)

Big boss want money (Big boss want money)…”

So, how does “For The Money” stack up? I think it is enjoyable and respectable enough.  Is this the best song from Rick Ross? No. Is this the best song from Pharrell Williams? No. Does it move the needle? No. At this point, both musicians have nothing to prove, so, yeah…