What’s today’s mathematics? I can’t call it, because it doesn’t take a golden calculator to divide the lack of effort Rick Ross has committed to Stalley’s promotion. Aside from Ross’ mathematical approach to rhyming (car reference plus bad foreign bitch reference plus gold bottles reference plus lemon pepper wings) the MMG team is strong. Even though Meek Mill designed his whole flow pattern around the thematic basis of The Isley Brothers’ “Shout,” he can get busy on the mic sometimes. Still, one of the biggest assets on MMG is being criminally underused. Ross doesn’t forgive, but God does, so hopefully He’ll forgive me for reversing my entire opinion and playing devil’s advocate for just a second. I know we all tend to blame the HNIC when proteges fail to push their music into the spotlight, but maybe more blame should fall on the artists for not hustlin’ their own material enough. Stalley did get a guest spot on ESPN’s First Take theme song and some quality burn on the Self Made albums. But nah homie, the numbers don’t add up in this case. As Stalley’s steady social media marketing attests to, Stalley isn’t Jay Electronica, taking 20 years in between track releases. What am I missing here? Stalley has released two phenomenal mixtapes (Lincoln Way Heights and Savage Journey To The American Dream) and with Honest Cowboy, the latest EP, it’s about damn time Stalley get an official release date for an official studio album. Listen Ross, I get it, you got a lot of things on your plate right now, but word to DMX, how much can a nigga eat? On the real, where’s Stalley’s lobster, where’s his sea bass? “Swangin,” featuring Scarface, was one of the hottest joints released this year and I’m jus’ bein’ honest. But sadly, the emcee has really has nothing to show for it except for a couple of radio spins and Youtube views. Listen, I know artists don’t strike fire overnight, and this game does have it’s valleys and peaks, expectations for dips and what not, but can Stalley live? One thing tracks from Honest Cowboy like “Cup Inside a Cup”  and “Spaceships and Woodgrain” have made firm in my mind is that Stalley’s game is grown, and I think he’d prefer Ross call him William. We know damn well Officer Ricky isn’t capable of moving coke across the ATlantic, but the self-made biggest boss you’ve seen thus far should face no metaphorical embargoes halting him from taking a gifted emcee with crossover appeal to industry heights much higher than Lincoln Way. And on that note, I’m gonna cut this Ye-esque rant and zone out to “The Highest” from Honest Cowboy, as you should.

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