Rick Ross’ latest album arrives with star power but falls short of commercial expectations.

Rick Ross is expected to debut at No. 45 on the Billboard 200 with Set In Stone, which is currently projected to earn 17.2K first-week units. For an artist with Ross’ résumé, those numbers are underwhelming, though they don’t come completely out of nowhere.

This is Ross’ first album since Too Good To Be True, his collaborative effort with Meek Mill, which debuted with over 30K units. Since then, Rozay has remained active through successful business moves, headline-grabbing social media moments, rap feuds, and standout guest verses. His appearance on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Everyday Hustle” proved he can still outrap just about anyone when he’s locked in.

The biggest surprise surrounding Set In Stone is the amount of talent packed into the album. Guest appearances from Don Toliver, Leon Thomas, Jeezy, Kodak Black, and BigXThaPlug should have given the project a stronger commercial push.

Of course, plenty of people will blame Ross’ ongoing feud with Drake for the disappointing debut. Whether that’s true or not, Ross has nothing left to prove. His legacy has long been secured, making these first-week numbers more of a talking point than a defining chapter in his career.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.