“Everything’s better when you’re high,” Wiz Khalifa crooned to thousands of his adoring “Taylor Gang” fans, who came out in droves last night at Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood. At the ripe age of only 24, the Pittsburgh MC has built his music empire by seemingly trying to stay high every hour of every day. Khalifa’s performance started out more like a rock concert with guitar solos and drum heavy renditions of “Cabin Fever,” “Phone Numbers,” and “Gangbang.”
Wiz has recently hooked up with former Three 6 Mafia rapper Juicy J (“Bands A Make Her Dance”), which has given rise to the “Trippy” movement. Most likely to be played in strip clubs or while simply cruising the streets, the music features catchy repetitive hooks accompanied by more than enough bass. Since his debut album, Rolling Papers, which was more commercial pop than his more rugged earlier mixtapes like Prince of the City 2, Wiz Khalifa has been trying to push the mold.
A majority of the audience were white boys with snapbacks and throwback jerseys. Everyone rose and recited verses from Wiz Khalifa’s critically acclaimed and successful mixtape Kush and OJ. After performing such hits like “In the Cut,” “Never Been,” and “Still Blazin,” Wiz ended with his new hit single, “Work Hard, Play Hard,” from his second studio album, O.N.I.F.C., which is scheduled to be released August 28th.
It now seems that Wiz, who sported a stylish fedora and skinny jeans, is attempting to become a rockstar rapper in the same vein as Lil’ Wayne circa 2010; however, Wiz’s music is more suitable to the change than Wayne’s dissatisfying Rebirth rock album.
Successful independent rapper and Pittsburgh native Mac Miller opened the show for his hometown friend and performed many songs off his popular Macadelic, Best Day Ever, and Blue Side Park albums. The most well-received songs were “Donald Trump”, “Lucky Ass Bitch,” and “Best Day Ever”.
