The album features guest appearances from Jay-Z, Jeezy, The Weeknd, Kanye West, Big Sean, Meek Mill, Lil Wayne, French Montana, Diddy, Sizzla, Mavado, Z-Ro and Scarface.

[3] On June 10, 2013, during an interview with MTV News, the rapper explained that Mastermind will have a soulful vibe, saying: "That's most definitely the feel and that's why I made sure I wanted to open at the top of the new year.

The final version of the album would feature Jay-Z, Jeezy, The Weeknd, Sizzla, Mavado, Kanye West, Big Sean, Meek Mill, Lil Wayne, French Montana, Diddy, Scarface and Z-Ro.

Myself I'm in the studio—For example, and I'll hear a record come on from a writer's perspective I'm listening to the rhymes, the tones, punch lines, and then the beat.

The trailer "chronicles Ross' journey starting in 1999 through a series of fast moving shots quickly covering his come up through the rap ranks."

Footage of Jay-Z, Diddy, Birdman, Big Meech, Pablo Escobar and Muhammad Ali are spliced into the video for effect.

[25][26][27] The music video was filmed on April 1, 2013, and features cameo appearances from MMG members Gunplay, Stalley and Rockie Fresh.

[33] On October 23, 2013, Ross announced that the album's first official single, which will feature Jay-Z, will be released in early November 2013.

He explained that song saying, "We're pushing the envelope once again and it's just one of those records I can't wait to hit the streets.

[37] On February 27, 2014, the music video was released for the third promotional single, "Nobody" featuring French Montana and Diddy.

"Sanctified", which Kanye produced and raps on, sounds like platinum mallets drumming on shipping containers.

He's leisurely and precise even on the theatrically dark "In Vein", where he raps fast to play-off the Weeknd's cynical come-ons.

"[47] David Jeffries of AllMusic said, "Mastermind—Ross' annual stomp-and-swagger album, 2014 edition—could be swapped out with 2009's Deeper Than Rap and only those burnt out on the album would know the difference, but when being stuck in a rut means you grind your wheels and all that spews out is gold, you only need to look to successful artists like the always funky James Brown, the always rockin' AC/DC, and the always stoned Devin the Dude for guidance.

stated, "Much like Ross' affinity for mink coats, Mastermind is grandiose in its presentation, but it still only shows the surface of the man behind it.

It doesn't possess the pizzazz of Teflon Don, which made Ross a power player or the pure gaudiness of Rich Forever, which perfected his aesthetic.

"[53] Dan Rys of XXL stated, "What Ross does well, and what he does again on Mastermind, is put together a body of work that is as formidable as he is, and taken as a whole it's impossible to call this anything other than a very good album.

Where people like Kanye and Drake and Kendrick Lamar keep winning by shaking up the formula and dabbling in the unexpected, Ross long ago identified his lane, and he is the undisputed kingpin of his brash brand of hip-hop.

"[54] Craig Jenkins of Pitchfork said, "Mastermind finds Ross at a Truman Show moment: his character's reached the logical end of its universe.

"[52] Kevin Ritchie of Now said, "A tighter track list homing in on its sombre (and stoner) moods would've been bolder, but to his credit Ross avoids commercial trendiness in favour of more personal – if familiar – forays into Philly soul, funk, 90s hip-hop and South Beach glam (courtesy of producer Scott Storch on the stellar Supreme).

It sounds like the album Ross wanted to make, as inspired by heroes like Dilla, and Onyx, and Wu-Tang Clan, and Biggie, and Camp Lo.

Writing for them, Justin Charity said, "Like all of Rick Ross' albums, Mastermind is expansively gorgeous.

[...] "The Devil Is a Lie," which features Jay Z, and "War Ready" are Mastermind's biggest, most lethal beats, bookended by blues and reggae relief.

"[57] Mastermind debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 179,000 copies in the United States.