Wiz Khalifa: Mixtape Review – Kush and Orange Juice

Last week, Wiz Khalifa woke up a lot of major media outlets, music fans, and record label execs, that had previously been sleeping on the Pittsburgh artist’s incredible fan base, with his release of Kush x Orange Juice.

Ever since parting ways with the people at Warner Bros., the XXL Freshman’s career has really taken off due to the impressive amount of grass roots marketing orchestrated by his management team at Rostrum Records.

With a cover that draws inspiration from David Ruffin’s last solo album, Gentleman Ruffin, Kush x Orange Juice has taken Wiz Khalifa from simply a promising emcee to one of the most watched emerging artists in hip hop.  This extra attention is exactly what the young artist needed as he continues to work on his Cabin Fever mixtape and next studio album.

Despite having completed the mixtape in March, Wiz strategically waited until his fans organically created trending topics with tweets displaying their anticipation.  When the time was right, Wiz sent out this Twitpic and his followers immediately started spreading the word.

The idea was a huge success, as upon its release, #KushandOrangeJuice took over Twitter as the number one trending topic. It also made it’s way into the number one spot on Google Trends, attracting thousands of new followers whom Wiz graciously welcomed!

Let’s take a closer look at a few of the standout tracks from the mixtape:

Wiz Khalifa – “The Kid Frankie”

On the skit preceding “The Kid Frankie,” DJ Eazy Rider, of Wiz’s radio station (call letters W-E-E-D), says they’re going to get into “some new shit off of Kush x Orange Juice” with the instrumental to D.S.G.B.’s “Sittin on Thangs” playing in the background.

Luckily for us, the beat continues past the skit and into “The Kid Frankie,” in which Wiz raps about being sucker free and living the fast life.

Here’s Wiz Khalifa’s second verse, describing his current life:

“Self-made, been through what I’ve been through,
So I know what I know,
I write bomb rap songs, tellin bitches what I’m into,
So the hoes wanna roll,
First class roll to another coast,
Just to smoke kush, I know a nigga who grows,
And that’s on the real momma,
If you’re tryna slide, gotta bring one for Will,
Just another day in the life,
Another plane, another night,
Gettin’ faded with another nigga wife,
Drinkin hella champagne, Tanqueray with the Sprite,
Then I’m up in the A, about to catch another flight,
Niggas reppin the gang simply because everything else lame,
The fans want real niggas,
Them hoes looking for change,
I seen it all, player in the game,
First they bittin’ the flow, now they jockin’ our slang.”

Wiz Khalifa – “In The Cut”

Dedicated to rolling up doobies and featuring one of the tape’s catchiest hooks, “In The Cut” has proven to be a fan favorite off the tape.  Having said that, I can’t even imagine how live the crowd will be when this high energy song is performed live.  If you haven’t seen Wiz in concert, here’s an example of just how much he puts into his shows.

Although there’s not many memorable quotes thrown into “In The Cut,” I did enjoy hearing this Three 6 Mafia reference.  In case you didn’t catch it, here’s the line Wiz is rewording from Tripple Six’s ”Syppin On Some Syrup.”

Wiz Khalifa – “We’re Done”

Wiz has a talent for going in over unique samples and instrumentals which most rappers would stray away from, and “We’re Done” based off Demi Lovato’s song “Our Time is Here” is a perfect example.

Although this feel good track would have worked well at the end of the tape, it’s early positioning quickly introduces listeners to Wiz’s diversity, which becomes more apparent as the mixtape goes on.

Wiz Khalifa – “Glasss House” (Featuring Curren$y and Big K.R.I.T.)

“Glass House” is the obvious standout track off of Kush x Orange Juice, and not simply because it’s the only time Wiz and best friend Curren$y share a beat.  The other attractive factor is Mississippi’s emerging artist, Big K.R.I.T., who not only produced the song but takes its final verse:

“Now I was candi-coated, bending corners,
Fifth, fifth wheelin,
Made a killin with the bumper grillin,
chandelier ceilin, plush linen,
Is you fuckin, is you suckin, I was wondering,
Cause if not,
Don’t be pushin on my buttons in my cutless, unless you cuttin,
Bitch I’m just sayin,
I ain’t trickin is the reason that this porno flick playin,
Trunk shakin, knockin pictures off the wall,
Southern matin call, 808 mean no draws,
You got friends, I fuck ‘em all,
What you mean you ain’t nasty?
Why the fuck you came?
Just imagine what you got to do,
To get up in my plane,
Mississippi Pimppp, mouthpiece frigid,
Dolamite, outta sight, show you bright,
Can you dig it shawty?”

Big K.R.I.T.’s upcoming KRIT Wuz Here project drops on May 3rd.

Wiz Khalifa – “Still Blazin”

I chose to end this review with “Still Blazin,” as I felt it sums up the tape’s main theme nicely with its Reggae feel.

Wiz starts the song with:

“I’m here but my mind’s gone,
And it’s getting hard to see you cause my eye’s low,
Marijuana minutes, nigga time’s slow,
On a kush clock, it’s always time to smoke,
Say I look high, I say I’m high bro.”

That last line had me cracking up!

Keep an eye out for Wiz’s upcoming MTV Mixtape Daily feature and the rest of his “Deal Or No Deal” tour, which has already seen 37 of the 40 booked shows sell out!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRACK OF THE TAPE?