Wiz Khalifa didn’t disappoint by adding trendy hip-pop production and lackluster features to his fourth studio album, O.N.I.F.C. Instead, he gave smoke aficionados and youthful listeners ambition to succeed.
Imagine waking up to smiling daisies with sunglasses on, dancing on your window seal. Wiz Khalifa captures this mood as he opens up his highly anticipated O.N.I.F.C. As Wiz raps to mellow production reflective of old-school classics, the Taylor Gang leader stays true to his braggadocios demeanor while guiding us through the life that he now lives.
Taking lift off with songs like “Paperbound” and “Bluffin” allows listeners to imagine having an endless supply of green, money, and traveling around the world. Though Wiz announces that he’s “sticking to the script”, he speeds up his flow on “Let it Go” which features Akon, a few African drums, and the sound of powerful horns.
“The Bluff” which features Cam’ron, allows Wiz Khalifa to focus on singing melodies. Cam’ron has gotten a lot of flack over the years infusing his lines with fun words like “rooty pooty and laffy taffy,” but Killa Cam shows up correct in his most prominent feature of 2012.
No complaints on the quality of features, which included popular hip hop names as Juicy J, The Weeknd, Pharrell, and 2 Chainz. Even Taylor Gang’s first lady, Lola Monroe, who has battled Nicki Minaj comparisons for years, represented well, but did little to help shake the stigma.
Amber Rose is featured in “Rise Above” with Pharrell, however no big fuss will be made over the repeated one-liner presumably written by Wiz.
Wiz has been bragging hard since the rise of Kush and Orange Juice, but his story develops as his life has. Compared to other young artists, Wiz sticks to creating lyrical visuals that help connect the listener and his message of working hard, and playing hard.
Wiz builds a solid album with a continuous message, and stories of how awesome and high his life is. Wiz’s music inspires the young and ambitious to keep working, and defies the myth that people who smoke weed aren’t efficient. The strides that he has made in his music, and ushering other artists in the spotlight deserves praise that many other young rappers have yet to accomplish.
