The modern, melodically-inclined, carefree version of Wiz that first appeared on the Atlantic Records debut was not the one that first started making noise back in 2005 with self-produced mixtapes like Prince Of The City and Show And Prove. Diehard fans were negatively impressed by what they perhaps saw as an abrupt shift from his original sound. Yet, after the enthusiastic reception of Kush & OJ, Rolling Papers was received with a resound thud.
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It’s intriguing the way a battle-rap-hardened, street-anthem-slinging, rapper’s rapper like the early Wiz Khalifa, a rapper in the tradition of the East Coast’s most celebrated rhymers like Big L and Jay-Z, could, over the course of a series of mixtapes that included Star Power, Flight School, and eventually, his much-beloved Kush & Orange Juice, the album that seemed to predict superstardom for the constantly-evolving Pittsburgh rapper. His evolution from mixtape rapper to mature artist who is willing to revisit and redeem his musical misstep is a perfect encapsulation of the ways in which rappers grow, change, and learn from their mistakes. Cole, Wale, and Big Sean - have all largely stuck to their lyrical guns, maintaining similar content, flows, and presentation over the years since they each graced their respective XXL Freshman covers - the Wiz Khalifa of old is almost unrecognizable compared to the one who stands ready to drop Rolling Papers 2, the ostensible follow-up and redemptive effort that he likely hopes will redefine the original’s legacy in his expanding catalog. Where his true peers, rappers like Drake, J. With a new album coming rapidly over the horizon with a title that harkens back to his true introduction to mainstream sensibilities - the oft-maligned Rolling Papers - taking a look back at how his style has evolved is almost jaw-dropping. From his newly-chiseled, tattooed frame to his on trend collection of ‘locs, he would seem to fit in nearly perfectly among the Soundcloud-bred band of hip-hop freshmen like Wifisfuneral, YBN Nahmir, Lil Skies, and Lil Pump. Of course, Wiz doesn’t exactly suit the criteria of what we’ve come to expect from a seasoned rapper. It feels a little odd to think of Wiz Khalifa as a grizzled, old rap veteran, but somehow, improbably, that’s exactly what he’s become. This is our way of bridging the gap, paying homage to rap’s roots while exploring how they still hold relevance today. Hip-hop has always been a forward-facing, youth-oriented culture, but it’s also deeply informed by the past. Run It Back is a retrospective review of classic or game-changing hip-hop releases whose style and sound still resonate with listeners in the modern, streaming-driven era.
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