New music: Rick Ross – Mine Games feat. Kelly Rowland

Hip-hop artists are fond of creating compelling backstories that can be developed over a career. 50 Cent's narrrative was he'd been shot nine times and survived. In early interviews he talked about his past, his lucky escape and his redemption. Jay-Z's story began with him as a drug dealer and has just reached the chapter in which he becomes a father with his wife, Beyoncé. Rick Ross, aka William Leonard Roberts II, had his hip-hop credentials tested when in 2008 it was revealed he had worked as a correctional officer in a Florida prison in the early 90s. Ross was accused of being fake and got into a fairly unpleasant spat with 50 Cent and the Game. Mind you, this hasn't harmed his sales, with three of his four albums reaching No 1 in the US and recent guest spots including Kanye West's Monster and Keri Hilson's The Way You Love Me. As a taster for his forthcoming album, God Forgives, I Don't, Ross has released a free mixtape, Rich Forever. Featuring Pharrell, Diddy and Drake and production from Lex Luger and Justice League, it's not exactly a low-key affair. One of the highlights is the relatively muted love song Mine Games, which features Ross's gruff flow against Kelly Rowland's sweet voice. • You can download Rich Forever for free from here .