Up and coming rap artist, Wiz Khalifa, released his debut album back in 2006 which went unnoticed by most of the music industry, but thing began to change for the better when the artist earned his first number one hit with "Black and Yellow", the first single off his 2011 album, Rolling Papers, which was released back in March. The album shows that it was indeed influenced by traditional rap albums, but Khalifa does a good job at putting forth great vocals and unique melodies that separate him from the rest of the artists in the same genre, that is something that deserves recognition and applause.
The fourteen track standard edition of the album begins with "When I'm Gone", an anthem about spending the money you make because you cannot take it with you once you pass away. The lyrics may be superficial, but there is something about the track that allows it to not slip into the generic rap category. The meaning behind the song may be one that many do not relate to, but at least it contains a meaning. Just when I thought the album would not fall into the rap slump that I am not really a fan of, "On My Level" starts coming through the speakers. Nothing about the song is good, not even in a rap perspective. The tracks comes off a bit amateur which is something that any rapper would hate to hear, but it is only the truth. It was hard for me to even finish the entire thing just once. "Black and Yellow" hit number one a couple of months ago, thanks to the Super Bowl and the colors of a certain team, but it is not really a terrible song. The track is catchy, easy to follow, and contains a very distinct beat not found on most rap tracks. The song may get annoying after a few listens, but that was to be expected from a song that was thought to be a one hit wonder. A bright moment on the album comes in the form of "Roll Up", a twist on the typical love song. The verses are great, the vocals help the track succeed, but the best part of the entire thing is the chorus which just brings it all together very nicely. I cannot help but sing along when the song plays and that surprises me. The track is cute, but still contains a street cred edge. The effort continues with "Hopes & Dreams", a track with a promising title with material that does not live up to its name. I do enjoy the slow pace of the song, it's a pace you don't usually find, but that is the only positive aspect. The bottom line is the fact that the song is not great at all, nothing else to say, just skip over this one. The concept behind "Wake Up" turns the song into an inspirational story of life which should be commended. No matter how hard the obstacles you face are, never give up on yourself; this is the message that I take away from one listen. The vocals are sort of soft, which gives the song a different vibe that helps the album from becoming a one note project. "The Race" is just an excuse to use profanity during every verse of the song. The lyrics do not come off as unique or sharp as they might have in previous tracks, but the chorus and melody are some of the strongest points which justifies listening to the song at least one time. The song can be classified as average; nothing special or horrible to say about the finished product. "Star of the Show" is another track that has an underlying inspirational message, telling everyone that they are a star in their own way, but once again the track never hits the full potential it could have. The performance is nice to listen to, but I take nothing away from the song, don't even remember it all which is a disappointment. Khalifa experienced his second taste of the top ten when "No Sleep" was released as a promotional single before the actual album was available for purchase. The song is evidence that the artist can craft tracks that no one has heard before, to give the audience a taste of a new and unique sound. The hook is a great part of the song, the only reason why I listen to the track. May sound negative, but that is not what I mean. After a tranquil guitar driven intro, "Get Your Shit" follows the same path even if the title may not suggest that. The lyrics describe the end of a relationship; it may not be going great for either of the parties involved, but for some reason the songs gives off an innocent vibe. It is surprising to actually want to hear a track about kicking someone out of your life. "Top Floor" contains a weird and somewhat annoying background beat, but there is something a bit likable about the track. I feel like the topics of sex and success get fused together in order to create a mildly successful song that neither gives nor takes anything away from the album. It is just coasting in the middle of the pack, bound to get forgotten once it's finished. The album takes a surprising yet refreshing turn when it comes to "Fly Solo". The song does not even sound like it should fall into the rap category, fusing other genres like country and classical rock. The song may sounds all over the place, but it comes off as one of the better moments from the entire track list. It is an enjoyable listen after many half- tried and disappointing tracks. "Rooftops" follows the same path as many of the other songs on the album, but actually travels a little further down the path. The tracks describes the artist's life, and how things have changed for the better; however he is still the same guy despite the new found success. I enjoy the beat, the lyrics, the story, it all works well. The album closes with "Cameras", a track that finds its footing after an unneeded intro that was thirty seconds too long. The song deals with the fame that the artist has come to experience after many years of struggling. The song contains a slower pace that is nice to hear at the end. The chorus is very catchy and easy to sing along to. If the song contained no explicit words, it would have been perfection.
Rolling Papers comes from an artist that was suppose to make waves in the music industry, and he accomplished that feat to a certain extent with this album. The effort does not make an amazing and memorable first impression with the first half of the album, but thing change for the better once the second half begins to play. Khalifa does a great job at incorporating catchy choruses into tracks that would not normally contain a characteristic found mostly in pop tracks. The album contains a few vert bright moments, but due to the forgettable and dull tracks, the album receives an average score of 78%.
Tracks to Hear: "When I'm Gone", "Roll Up", and "Get Your Shit"
Wiz Khalifa - Roll Up (Produced By Stargate) by ★ Jordan Jay-B ★
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