Wiz Khalifa, when simplified into just a few words to describe him, smokes a lot of weed. In fact, he’s so open about his use of MJ that he has claimed across many, many interviews that he spends about USD10,000 a month on just that alone.
We can fault him for that but here’s something to consider:
Wiz Khalifa (real name Cameron Jibril Thomaz) has had numerous awards wins (BET Awards, Billboard Music Awards) and nominations (American Music Awards, Grammy Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards) in the few year that he has been active in the music industry. It’s no doubt that the young ones still find him a huge inspiration despite his shortcomings.
Recently, Wiz released his brand spanking new album, “O.N.I.F.C” (an abbreviation of “Only Nigga In First Class”). Within the first week of its debut, it sold about 131,000 copies. Perhaps the awesome artistes that he featured in “O.N.I.F.C” had something to do with it – Akon, 2 Chainz, Pharrell, Amber Rose, The Weeknd. We personally picked up a copy to check out what the rage was all about.
Our first love off Wiz’s album went straight to “Work Hard, Play Hard”:
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The song is a lot more radio-friendly than you would expect although Wiz Khalifa still sounds like a stoner (read: sluggish) for the most of it. Luckily, there’s that upbeat banging and a steady bassline that has more than just complement “Work Hard, Play Hard” – it’s also club-ready. And as for what Wiz is on about in the lyrics, well, it’s line after line about how much money he has. Would you have expected any less from a rapper anyway?
Exactly.
Our ears also picked up on “Remember You” featuring “The Weeknd”. There’s so much love for this one! The collaboration is genius (hello “hipster R&B” crooning plus rap) and it has made the song turn out to be an absolute stunner. “Remember You” sounds futuristic but misty (read: dreamy), dotted with Wiz Khalifa’s “skillz”. We have a feeling fans won’t be forgetting this one anytime soon. Not when you could listen to this one sometime in the future and it’d still work (think Justin Timberlake’s “FutureSex/LoveSounds”).
Did we already say how much we love the crooning?:
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Last but not least, and it’s really near impossible to give this one a pass, “Rise Above“.
Produced by American rapper, singer, producer, and a-whole-lot-of-other-things Pharrell Williams, “Rise Above” goes to show that although he hasn’t really been producing a lot of his own music in year, he also hasn’t lost his touch. You know what they say – whatever Pharrell touches turns to gold. What more when in collaboration with Wiz?
And you know Wiz – he’s pretty popular for the most unlikely but surprisingly good collaborations (read: “Payphone” with Maroon 5’s Adam Levine). Check out “Rise Above”:
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Let’s not forget the somewhat arrogant lyrics we love, coupled with an insane hook that’s bound to get you singing along. That’s right. You won’t even realize that you’re doing it:
Pack my bags look like I’m staying for weeks but be gone in the morning,
If the flight is private, we probably should board it,
You see it you like it, I can probably afford it.
If niggas really felt some type of way about the shit I’m doing,
You picked a crazy time to start letting me know.
Cause jealousy and envy that’s a trait for mostly bitches,
Not a man so you ain’t one if you letting it show.
Now the money like the weed how we letting it grow,
And I ain’t holding on to shit I’m letting it go.
Started small but now we all in them bigger game,
All in a bigger plane, ballin’ and getting paid.
First the love was there, then the paper came,
Then the haters came, but we still rise above,
But we still rise above.
In our most honest opinion? No reason not to pick up a copy of Wiz Khalifa’s “O.N.I.F.C”. You’ll be playing this one for months (or maybe years) to come. The album is out now at a music store near you!
Alternatively, you could also purchase the album off iTunes here.
For more information, visit Wiz Khalifa’s official website or hit up his Twitter to show him some love.
