Returning with his third album, and his first studio cut on mainstream label Atlantic Records, rap’s newest star Wiz Khalifa is one of the breakout names of the year, especially in the rap game. Coming out of seemingly nowhere this year, he has caused quite a stir in the charts on both sides of he pond, and has asserted himself as one to watch in the coming months.
His first single, the incredible Black and Yellow, reached the top of the singles charts Stateside, and also performed well over here, and since then has enjoyed success with his other singles, Roll Up and No Sleep, as well as a collaboration with the UK’s Tinie Tempah on Till I’m Gone. Not to be mixed up with that latter song, Rolling Papers opens with When I’m Gone, which is a terrific song, and which sets the pace for the rest of the album to follow.
As the album goes on, lyrical content is fairly restricted to the usual subjects; the bling, the money (he’s “got another million on ma schedule” don’t you know!?) and prolific drug intake of the marijuana variety, and the album does ebb and flow between big tracks, and some filler.
However, when it’s good, it’s very good.
Some of the other moments on the album are at times predictable and uninspiring, but overall, Rolling Papers is a solid effort from Wiz, with his unique flow and melodic tendencies merged in to great effect. The singles are obviously massive tracks on this record, and are clearly stand out cuts, along with the outstanding Cameras, which comes towards the end of the album. On these songs in particular, there are massive hook filled choruses, and some great wordplay from Wiz, as he sets his stall out as a real contender.
7/10
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