The past two years have been phenomenal for Wiz Khalifa. Rolling Papers, his debut album released through Atlantic Records, took the world by storm, with lead single Black and Yellow hitting the airwaves hard. His collaboration of Young, Wild & Free with Snoop Dogg (also known as Snoop Lion) featuring Bruno Mars became a Top 10 hit in many continents of the world.
Now Wiz Khalifa is back with his highly anticipated follow-up O.N.I.F.C. Sophomore albums are quite a challenge; however, Wiz stays at the top of his class. The album, having a controversial front cover sporting a snow leopard fur coat, had its release date pushed back on more than one occasion.
Track one is an introduction that is hardly needed. Following it, however, are songs that stay true to Wiz’s style. Paperbond, Bluffin’ and Let It Go (featuring Akon) make the album worth the wait.
There is no doubt that the later track will be a single at some point. It has been a while since we have heard from Cam’Ron. He appears in the next track The Bluff, and it is simply a classic for both of these artists.
Not the only song to be produced this year that has the same name, Work Hard, Play Hard stays true to Wiz’s game and is a fitting transition from his previous album. Being out for some time, this has proved to be another hit. From here we get the idea that there are no catchy songs that stick in your mind like Black and Yellow; however, O.N.I.F.C. would be great in hip hop clubs.
Produced by The Neptunes, Pharrell and Wiz Khalifa’s fiancée, Amber Rose, feature in Rise Above, certainly the most chilled-out song on the album. His own record label is repetitively mentioned in Initiation, with the lyrics ‘This Is for them Taylors’. The album features an array of guests from Taylor Gang Records.
The Plan is clearly a highlight, coming towards the end of album. It has a great melody and is a very typical RnB radio-friendly song that steers away from the new style of House collaborations, in a fine way.
Follow-up single Remember You features The Weeknd, a Canadian born RnB recording artist with an outstanding voice. In terms of singles, it does follow on from Work Hard, Play Hard if that’s what Wiz recommends fans in order to preview his album; however, there are plenty more tracks that are singleworthy.
Seventeen tracks on the album might suggest that there are plenty of fillers. It does seem that way. Medicated concludes the album with what would be seemingly one to remember. This album is not much a step away from its predecessor, although there are a sufficient amount of tracks that stand out for Wiz Khalifa to be proud of.
O.N.I.F.C. is out December 4.
