We all know who Wiz is. We all know the story on how he had a deal with Warner Bros. before being let go, only to build enough buzz as an independent artist until he released Kush and OJ, which was his breakthrough piece of work.
That's not what I want to focus on, though. We know the story of how Wiz gained fame. But what's the story been since he's become famous?
After "Black and Yellow" became a monumental success (even reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100) Wiz released his debut studio album with Atlantic Records, Rolling Papers. While Papers did phenomenal from a sales standpoint (going double platinum is nothing to sneeze at), the album created a split between his underground and mainstream fanbase. Not only did it ostracize the people who helped give Wiz his buzz to start with, but it also featured Thomaz straying away from actually rapping into more of a pop musician (as emphasized on "Fly Solo").
Wiz fans were left with a dilemma. Would the same man that grew such avid support from the smoking community completely disregard his roots and sell out from here one? Or was Rolling Papers just a hiccup in Wiz's overall discography?
Since Rolling Papers, Wiz has yet to make an official release, until now that is. I have to admit, I was extremely hesitant to download this one after hearing most of the shit Wiz had recently been releasing and I had no reason to hope that he was going to ever come close to coming out with something like Kush and OJ. In reality, I gave this a chance because: A. It's pretty much a sin if you don't at least give anything from Pittsburgh's music scene a chance (as I hail from that region) and B. 4EvaNADay needed to take a rest from my rotation, which opened up the door for this.
Is Taylor Allderdice another "pop rap" showing, or is it closer to Wiz's underground side? Here's what I found...
1. Amber Ice
Using the same beat as Curren$y's "Job" from his mixtape Verde Terrace, Wiz introduces himself over a lazy hook of "Getting paid is just a regular thing to us...floating away, floating away." While I think Spitta destroyed this beat and had the superior song to this one, I almost had to do a double take when I heard Wiz actually rapping. Seriously, I've barely heard even that from the Taylor Gang captain in the last year, so that in itself, is an improvement. The interview at the end is a theme throughout the tape, where Wiz drops a few doses of insight into his feelings each track.
2. California
OK, so let's get this straight at this point before I continue to review any further. If you hate Wiz, you're gonna hate everything on this tape. You'll complain about his lack of content diversity and some weaker rhymes. However, if you like the Kush and OJ Wiz, then keep reading, because that's how I look at Wiz and that tape was the sole reason I started listening to him. Kush and OJ is interesting to bring up here, because this track sounds like a cut that could maybe have made it on that tape (and that is a very, very good thing). Wiz talks about his superstar life and smoking trees, as usual, but the beat complements him well and these are the types of tracks that gained Wiz his underground support before he sold his soul to Atlantic (sorry, but I'll prove my point on that later).
3. Mia Wallace
Named after the Uma Thurman's character from Pulp Fiction, which the track has nothing to do with, this is another solid cut from Mr. Khalifa. The beat here is unbelievably smooth and Dumont does a terrific job with his sampling. What's interesting is that while Wiz and Spitta are extremely similar at times in which beats the rap over and their lyrics, this for some reason, seems to suit Wiz much better (could be just because Wiz just sounds lazier, which works well with the tempo of the song). What I really liked about this track though, was the feelings of Kush and OJ it evoked, while standing on its own as a track from Taylor Allderdice, not the former. Wiz's verses about his celebrity lifestyle with his "model wife (Amber Rose)" is exactly why Kush and OJ was so successful. It wasn't anything breathtaking, but it was fun to picture his life and dreaming is never a bad thing. I can definitely see this one being played as the weather gets warmer.
4. Guilty Conscience
A swift change from the low-key tempo of the first three tracks, this is Wiz drawing more from Prince of the City rather than Kush and OJ. I'm not a huge fan of Sparky Banks and I think it's an absolute joke when Wiz tries to convince us how "hard" he is (2pac was a gangsta. So was Scarface. Wiz? Not so much). It's not horrible, but it's not a track I'll be coming back to anytime soon. However, I was glad I stuck around long enough to hear Wiz admit that Rolling Papers was fucking shit (even if he didn't say it in those exact words).
5. Mary 3x
Cardo brings Wiz back to his comfort zone: weed. It can get really freaking repetitive, but for any of his Taylor Gang smokers (which is basically all of them), they'll appreciate this one. I will say one thing: the dude is super consistent about his affinity for Mary Jane. "All I need is Mary, Mary, Mary, I ain't fucking with no other drug." At least we know Wiz is only high on one thing (we think). And I'm pretty sure rappers were smoking dope in videos before Wiz claimed he did. Just saying.
6. O.N.I.F.C.
The title of his next album "Only Nigga In First Class", Wiz pretends to rap or tries to convince everyone else he is, but in reality, the dude is just saying random shit before going into his hook, which is simply "one night, one night, one night". I know I've heard this beat somewhere and this is a slowed down version of it (although, for the life of me, I can't think of what song it's actually from). Otherwise, Cardo and Sledgren's beat is the only reason I gave this track a chance, as it sounds pretty good.
7. Nameless ft. Chevy Woods
For some reason, I pictured Woods as a feature as soon as I heard the hook. Maybe it's because the topic is literally the exact same the last time I heard him jump on a track with Wiz ("Star of the Show"). Or maybe it's because Wiz is just so fucking predictable to this point. Regardless, Dope Couture's beat here is one of the tape's best and it continues the trend of stellar production. Let's face it, Wiz has never been a great or even good rapper for that matter. But when he's backed by good boards, he's actually enjoyable to listen to, and that's the case here. Also, for once, liked Wiz's voice on the hook as it doesn't sound that terrible.
8. Never Been Part II ft. Amber Rose & Rick Ross
You knew Ross would be on this as soon as that gay ass "Maybach Music" tag came on. To be honest, this sounds like a beat straight out of a SNES Super Mario game. Not to say that it's horrible, and Wiz actually drops one of his better verses on this, but I just wasn't as big a fan of it as the other ones I had heard. And of course, Wiz couldn't resist throwing his fiance on for a worthless few "I've never been this high" section. Ross raps about nothing, which is pretty on target for him, but he doesn't take anything away from the track. It's decent, just not a song that really jumps out at you.
9. The Cruise
Big Jerm's beat, a producer who both Wiz and Mac are fond of working with, is another good one for this track. The hook is decent and although Wiz attempts to sing, and fails, he can't take away from the overall sound of the track. Again, Wiz pretends to rap, but it's probably too much to ask for him to actually do what everyone thinks he does for three consecutive tracks. Wiz's second verse is better than his first and I somewhat enjoyed this track for the most part. It's nothing spectacular by any means. With production like this though, it's hard to rip apart the track too much.
10. Rowland ft. Smoke DZA
Jerm is back on the boards again and doesn't disappoint. This is the first spacey beat of the tape, but it sounds really really good and it complements Wiz well. The hook is alright and I was glad to see DZA get an appearance (which I thought was about fucking time considering DZA probably smokes just as much or more trees than Wiz does). My only complaint is that Wiz doesn't come back on to drop a third verse, because the track didn't have to be cut that short. Oh well.
11. My Favorite Song ft. Juicy J
Here marks the first of three consecutive tracks that Wiz brings on fellow stoner and Three 6 Mafia veteran, Juicy J. You may remember Juicy being featured on "In My Car" in 2010 with Wiz, which was a personal favorite of mine from Khalifa. The beat here is more closely resembled to "Guilty Conscience", but it's toned down just a tad, which is enough to make it listenable to. It actually makes Juicy J sound better than Wiz when I listen to it, but both do a decent job over Rob Halladay's production. There's something missing from this track though, and while I can get through it, I can't see this being one in my rotation two weeks from now.
12. T.A.P. ft. Juicy J
Wasn't really feeling this. Taylor Gang fans will probably blast the shit out of this and make it seem like Wiz is a real motherfucking G (in the words of Eazy-E). But if you aren't drinking the Taylor Gang kool-aid, you'll probably skip this one just like I did.
13. The Code ft. Juicy J, Lola Monroe, & Chevy Woods
Juicy J's verse and his "bouncing through the club like Tigger" is worth listening to. Other than that, most of this song is pretty fucking forgettable.
14. The Grinder
Ahh, now this is back to what I hoped to hear from Wiz. Cameron drops his best verse of the entire tape and Jake One's beat is the perfect one for him to do this over. It's a short track, but again, this is a track that can showcase that Wiz is not merely a "pop rapper" (and that he can actually rap, for that matter). This track is also one I couldn't have envisioned on Kush and OJ for some reason. That's a good thing, considering it makes Taylor Allderdice it's own tape, not just OJ 2.0.
15. Brainstorm
A track that fits exactly where it's placed, Wiz does another good job behind the mic. For once, he actually raps about something worth 15 seconds of your time. Yes, weed and cash is still a major part, but he gives a little more insight into what's actually going on his mind (which apparently, is just thinking about his next drink and joint. Not really too surprising). Cardo's beat is OK for the most part, it's just unfortunate Wiz didn't take full advantage of the subject line here. He starts out promising, but then lets up as the track wears on. Could have, would have, should have.
16. Number 16
Dumont again with another fantastic beat. Damn. In fact, this one is probably one of the best I've heard Wiz over in a while (or at least since "Mia Wallace"). Wiz sounds good on his two verses and this song would have catapulted into one of my favorites of his, if only he didn't fucking ruin it with the "away a a a a a" that gets annoying as shit. It's a shame, because Dumont's piano keys and jazzy feel is a terrible thing to waste. While Wiz doesn't completely do this, he keeps the track short and lets his dumbass hook be the lasting impression you get from the song. Still, I'll take this shit any day over "No Sleep".
17. Blindfolds ft. Juicy J
Khalifa decides to end his tape with another feature from Juicy J, and fortunately, this one is the best sounding of the four they record together. Harry Fraud does a nice job production wise on this and its a beat that suits both artists to their styles. The hook is honestly not horrible here either, which is saying something after hearing the crap I've heard for most of this tape. The subject content, again, is nothing new. But it's hard to complain when the beat is this good and the fact that neither Wiz or Juicy do anything too drastic to fuck it up. My feeling after though, is: that was it?
Closing Statement: I always like to start with the bad before the good, so let's get that out of the way first. For one, Wiz proved, once again, that he's extremely one dimensional and that if anyone was hoping he'd start actually rapping consciously, well, you've got as much a chance of seeing that happen as anyone picking Norfolk State over Missouri this year (which is basically 1/1,000,000). There are also some pretty terrible songs on this tape, such as "Never Been", "T.A.P." and "The Code". So by no means is this anywhere near what we just heard in 4EvaNADay. Wiz also needs to stop kidding himself that he can sing (just as Eminem should do the same) as his hooks remain a serious weak spot in the rapper's forte.
That being said, as someone who played Kush and OJ until my ears nearly bled, this was a huge relief to listen to. Taylor Allderdice is no Kush and OJ, but it is similar and there are glimpses that Wiz is still capable of coming out with something that anyone will want playing in 70 degree weather. Wiz also addresses that he did compromise for Rolling Papers, which was worth the 10 minutes to download the tape as it is. Add in that there are some pretty fucking smooth songs on here, like "Mia Wallace", "California" "Number 16" and "Rowland", and that leaves you with an actually decent tape to listen to.
The Verdict: Like I said, this is no Kush and OJ, but its a major improvement over anything Wiz has released in the past 12 months. That being said, I wouldn't recommend this to everyone, for if you aren't a Wiz fan in the first place, it's probably not worth your time. However, this is a must have for any person that calls themselves a member of the Taylor Gang and I'd be hard pressed to tell anyone to avoid downloading this to kick back and chill to in the upcoming months. Wiz may not be back to where he was in 2010, but this is certainly a good start.
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