Although it suffers from excessive length, Wiz Khalifa sounds reinvigorated on ‘Rolling Papers 2,’ the sequel to his 2011, major-label debut LP.

For a while, it was all smooth sailing for Pittsburgh pop-rapper Wiz Khalifa.  His major label debut album, Rolling Papers was “kind of a big deal,” led by no. 1 hit, “Black and Yellow”.  Since then, Khalifa has had his moments but never achieved the same oomph of Rolling Papers.  That’s what makes the arrival of a sequel, Rolling Papers 2, so smart for Wiz.  With his popularity waning with his previous two projects Khalifa (2016) and Laugh Now, Fly Later (2017), Rolling Papers 2 could be just what the doctor ordered.

Pros

First, some general pros. There’s plenty to like about this particular project.  Overall, the production work is strong, fueling Wiz’s creative fire.  There is no shortage of guest artists, some of which do a truly fantastic job, accentuating the LP.  As for Wiz Khalifa himself, he has some respectable bars, some of which actually go beyond his love of weed.  His flow and his singing are generally pleasant.  In regards to the songs themselves, there are some surefire gems.

“Rolling Papers 2”

Among the gems is banger, “Blue Hunnids,” featuring Jimmy Wopo and Hardo.  The production is hard-nosed, the music set in a minor key, and none of the rappers are playing around about their money.  “Blue Hunnids” is later eclipsed by the superb “Rolling Papers 2,” which successful captures both the East Coast vibe and the soulful sounds of Pennsylvania itself.  This particular record is a perfect example of Wiz ‘killin’ it’ with his agile, appealing rhymes.  Other terrific solo moments from Wiz include the luxurious high of “Bootsy Bellows,” characterized by its robust bass line and dusty drums, as well as the reflective “B Ok,” the set’s 20^th song. “B Ok” is among the more thoughtful songs of the rapper’s career.

“Rain”

Returning to standout collaborations beyond “Blue Hunnids,” Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg are once again a ‘match made in heaven’ on “Penthouse.”  Move back one track earlier, and the two part, six-and-a-half-minute “Mr. Williams / Where is the Love” (featuring THEMXXNLIGHT and Curren$y) is interesting, if too lengthy. Unsurprisingly, Swae Lee is compatible with Wiz on the catchy “Hopeless Romantic.”  As good as all those are, banger “Rain,” featuring PARTYNEXTDOOR is the creme de la crème, brilliantly sampling the Grammy-nominated Fat Joe/Remy Ma hit, “All the Way Up”. Lyrically it’s no masterwork, but the vibe is sick.

“Fr Fr” shows that Lil Skies has much more potential than some of his SoundCloud fueled counterparts.  Furthermore, it’s pretty sweet that two rappers from Pennsylvania, from two different generations essentially, join forces. The brief “Gin and Drugs” may not be characterized by its depth, but this groovy joint featuring Problem is nothing short of infectious. Furthermore, Wiz Khalifa has a bit more bite on his verse.   Rolling Papers 2 ends on a high note with the feel-good, lush “Something New,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign.

Cons 

As you can read for yourself, a lot of things work out nearly seamlessly for Wiz Khalifa on Rolling Papers 2.  The biggest rub is the length.  These bloated, 20-plus track projects are overkill.  The same can be said about Rolling Papers 2, which has plenty of great records, but would ultimately improve more with an edit. Yes, it’s about streaming and you can’t blame the strategy, but if we’re considering this an album and not a playlist, 25 songs and 90 minutes is a lot of Wiz Khalifa – a lot of any artist for that matter.

Final Thoughts 

All in all, Rolling Papers 2 was a pleasant surprise – a much better album than anticipated.  There are plenty of songs worth revisiting.  Wiz Khalifa definitely sounds a bit more invested, and gets some great production work and guest artists to assist.  That said, when listening to Rolling Papers 2, I was unable to sit (or even accomplish fitness goals) and listen for its entire 90-minute duration in one setting.  Good stuff, but too long, and an edit may have turned ‘good’ into ‘great.’

Gems: “Blue Hunnids,” “Rolling Papers 2,” “Bootsy Bellows,” “Hopeless Romantic,” “Rain,” “Fr Fr,” “Gin and Drugs,” “B Ok” & “Something New”

Wiz Khalifa • Rolling Papers 2 • Atlantic • Release: 7.13.18

Photo Credits: Atlantic