Def Jam recording artist Rick Ross is prepping the launch of his new Maybach Music label on April 21st with "Deeper Than Rap". The Miami rappers third album - with guest spots by Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Nas, Mary J. Blige, and John Legend - follows-up Port Of Miami (his 2006 debut) and Trilla (2008), both of which entered the Soundscan chart at #1 with nearly 200,000 first week sales each, both certified RIAA gold.

In advance of the "Deeper Than Rap" album release, the first single "Magnificent" featuring John Legend - described by NY Hip Hop Music Examiner as "the calm before the storm" - impacted this week at Urban radio formats. It has already picked up 600+ spins and nearly a 6 million audience. "Magnificent" was produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, who won 2007s Best R&B Album Grammy for Mary J. Bliges The Breakthrough (named Billboards 2007 R&B/Hip-Hop Album Of the Year). J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League helmed four songs on Trilla, and three more tracks on "Deeper Than Rap": "Rich Off Cocaine," "Yacht Club," and "Maybach Music Part 2" featuring Kanye West and Lil Wayne.

"Maybach Music Part 2" is an attention-grabbing sequel to Trillas "Maybach Music" (which featured Jay-Z). "I would never disrespect that record and those rhymes," Rick told MTV News last week, discussing the "timeless" track from last year, "just to say I topped it and it is special."

Rick also offers up a thank-you to Mary J., who can be heard on "Valley Of Death" (produced by DJ Toomp). As Rick explained to MTV News, "Shes the voice of that R&B hip-hop sound. When I choose a lot of my beats, I pick beats a lot of times off that sound, that Whats the 411 [with] that R&B feel to it. Those are the kind of beats I gravitate to. It was just a pleasure for her to get in the studio and lace me with a classic"

The B-side of "Magnificent" is "Mafia Music," produced by the Inkredibles for Nasty Beatmakers, and the opening track on "Deeper Than Rap". Bound to be another focal point, Rick revealed to NY Hip Hop Music Examiner that "Mafia Music" is "gonna cause a lot of problems Its a scathing four-and-half-minute nonstop flow, me being autobiographical about my life and my come-up and my triumph." The Inkredibles also produced "Gunplay" featuring Gunplay; and "Usual Suspects" featuring fellow Def Jam artist Nas.

The Runners also produced three tracks on the new album - "Laid Back," "Boss Lady," and "In Cold *lo**"; and Tricky Stewart produced "All I Want." There are also productions by BIGG D ("Murder Miami"); Bink! ("Cigar Music"); and Drumma Boy ("Face").