“All that glitters isn’t always gold,” so the saying goes. Expensive Pain, the fifth studio album from Meek Mill, rides largely on the idea that money can’t buy happiness. While the album still indulges in the luxurious lifestyle someone of Meek’s status can enjoy, the curtain is often drawn back to reveal the realities of two-faced friends, jealous lovers and the mounting social insecurity that comes with it all.

Meek Mill boldly kicks the album off with “Intro (Hate On Me),” on which the Philadelphia rapper welcomes his worst critics to keep dog-piling him while he continues to rack up millions and enjoy the adoration of fans. The energy of the synth and bass pairing grips listeners and has them riding shotgun on the joyride that he portrays.

The eerie sustained synth open on “Outside (100 MPH)” evokes John Carpenter as the piano key strokes come into play. Meek raps about making the most out of life’s opportunities, shooting your best shot when you’re up against a wall—and living it up when the time calls for it. “On My Soul” takes a heavy amount of blues influence, with piano and saxophone paired over a thick layer of bass. Meek Mill sings and raps about how hard he’s worked to attain success for his family and friends, out of desperation to “escape the trenches”—a similar sentiment seen on Polo G and G Herbo’s recent albums.

Lil Baby and Lil Durk hop on “Sharing Locations,” a hype joint as all three rappers flex over a really peculiar music-box-like melody that works surprisingly well. The title track features bright, shimmering organ as Meek raps about how money has contributed to his feelings of isolation. The drastic changes in his interpersonal relationships with friends and family have led him to question the loyalties of those around him, while also sparking some fears that he may lose his ability to keep true to himself.

“Ride For You,” featuring Kehlani, comes across like a sincere, if slightly misguided, love song with soft electric guitar strums paired with light rapping snares and bass. Meek expresses his dedication and admiration of his new lover, but delivers some superficial lines that lean in on how he spends money on her and how frequently he hooks up with her. The snares leading into the triplet piano melody on “Me (FWM)” make the most out of a bare-bones instrumental, as Meek and A$AP Ferg absolutely crush this song with killer verses.

“Love Train” sees the rapper contend with his girlfriend’s jealousy while he’s on tour, once again reexamining his issues with trust in the people around him. It continues to build with “Northside Southside,” “Tweaking” and “Love Money,” with Meek digging deeper on his trust issues beyond the idea that money is the source of these problems. “We Slide” with Young Thug brings back the issues of childhood trauma and having experienced violence firsthand.

“Blue Notes 2,” featuring Lil Uzi Vert, has Meek reconfirming his dedication to making a better life for himself and those closest to him. The subsequent “Angels (RIP Lil Snupe)” is a mournful track on which he bereaves the loss of protege Lil Snupe, who signed to his label in 2013 prior to his death. He concludes the album with “Cold Hearted III” and “Halo” on a bleak note, expressing his anxieties of getting caught up in violence at any moment, and his hopeless attitude toward it all. Expensive Pain is sometimes padded with extra weight, but maintains its conceptual integrity while offering up fantastic production.

Follow editor Tim Hoffman at Twitter.com/hipsterp0tamus.