Des Letemps (beta)

The complete collection of ‘Maybach Music’

“Black Maybach, white seats, black piping…”

“Maybach Music”

“Maybach Music 2″

“Maybach Music 2.5″

“Maybach Music 2″ (Jay-Z verse)

“Maybach Music 3″

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Since Rick Ross’ second album, “Trilla,” — which I think is the best of his first three — the bawse has aligned himself with the best in the game on a series of songs named after his label, “Maybach Music.”

The first “MM” matched Ross up with the top-of-the-brass, Jay-Z, for an amazing experience (yes, I said experience). He would go on to record a second version with T-Pain, Kanye West and Lil Wayne on his third album, “Deeper Than Rap,” with a remix featuring Fabolous, Pusha T and Birdman. As “Teflon Don” approaches, a third installment featuring T.I. and an unlikely Jadakiss and Erykah Badu.

I guess I’ll start a few arguments and say that the first one is undoubtedly the best one. Come on, how could you dare disagree? The original “MM” was too classy to compare. It was dope conceptually, lyrically, instrumenally and set the tone for everything that Maybach Music Group is today.

I’ve been known to be a but biased when it comes to Jay-Z but, I assure you, I’m being 100 percent objective. His verse was so real to me. Let me tell you a story. A few years ago I was on Jamaica Ave in my hometown of Queens, New York with a few friends. Someone walked up to us and gave a friend of mine dap and greeted everyone else the same.

I recognized him as Kool G Rap. I didn’t really pay him much attention as my eye were glued to the lady he was with but he was really cool and down to Earth. He looked like any other dude from the hood as he walked into the Coliseum Mall.

Since his clothing wasn’t anything special, I wondered about what kind of car he drove, or if he drove at all. Fast forward to 2008 and Jay-Z spits, “I’m like G Rap with better transportation,” and watch me lose my mind.

I feel like Ross and Jay tells stories and give you the experience of being in a Maybach 62 S even though you don’t have $400k to drop on European luxury. It felt more natural than the versions featuring the slew of rappers that made the “MM” cut.

It just seems like the more they recreate “MM” the less likely the artist to be in a Maybach. No disrespect to anyone but there’s a certain quality about a person that makes them fit on this type of song and the rest seem to fall short.