Rapper: Wiz Khalifa
Release: 3/2011
Label: Atlantic

1. “When I’m Gone” – B-
2. “On My Level” – C
3. “Black And Yellow” – A-
4. “Roll Up” – B-
5. “Hopes and Dreams” – B-
6. “Wake Up” – B-
7. “The Race” –  B-
8. “Star Of The Show” – B-
9. “No Sleep” – C+
10. “Get Your Shit” – C-
11. “Top Floor” – C-
12. “Fly Solo” – D+
13. “Rooftops” – C-
14. “Cameras” –  C

Comments: We’ve got a new Kid CuDi in town! Now, now, not really, but you can see a theme. Wiz had an intricate revelation after smoking via rolling papers and here we are with this, a very “focused” record. Focus from a stoner….no way?! “When I’m Gone” is an aspirational number — a non-single with the aim of a single — see where I’m going with the CuDi comparison. There’s the opening piano, the OH SHIT’s about to get REAL moment following that, some meh-meh rhyming (“Back in the day money was short, I’m making it taller), and a decent hip-hop chorus. So at this point, it’s pretty reasonable to assume Wiz is about to travel down the “I’m about to get rich” rapping route, a well-traveled path…but wait maybe he’s not! “On My Level” is bass heavy — a deep beat that is a bit too deep and not aided any by a less than spectacular chorus and real rudimentary verses. “Man, I’m high as fuck and I swear I’m on my level. Man, I’m sloppy drunk, man I swear I’m on my level.” Huh! “Black and Yellow” is old news at this point, but it still holds up pretty well. Pretty much one of the freshest hip-hop songs – verse, chorus, break, everything – of 2010! “Roll Up” sounds like a handful of other songs — does it not? It’s pretty lazy — a trait that a lot of the hip-hop records I’ve reviewed possess. A pre-requisite to listening to this album may indeed be smoking, but a well-done record is one that need not require the green leaf to be appreciated. Rolling Papers – I think it can be argued — lacks genuine excitability. It’s perpetually chill, which could be appealing to a lot of listeners. I will give it that. BoB lacked true excitement, I mean he’s not on Wiz’s level if only because he included that girl from Paramore on a song. That’s some weak ass shit. “No Sleep” is like a ghetto Miley Cyrus tune. Lyrically, speaking. Just got to shake your head listening to “Fly Solo,” which is similarly corny. The latter third/half of this is just frustrating. I’m giving Wiz an honest chance too, but it’s hard to find anything better than average. Speaking of BoB, “Cameras” = that silly “Nothin On You”.

Grade: C+ (77)
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Wiz Khalifa performs April 9 at Northeastern’s Matthews Arena with Third Eye Blind, Taking Back Sunday, and Mac Miller as part of the school’s annual Spring Fest concert.