Rolling Papers – Wiz Khalifa

Year	Album	Artist	Stars	Score	Genre
2011	Rolling Papers	Wiz Khalifa	★★½	56	Hip-Hop	Pop Hip-Hop

Enjoy the great songs: The smoker vibes, lurking bass tones and ghostly, high-pitched synths on “On My Level.” The laid-back, repetitive guitar and plucky strings on reflective tracks “Hopes & Dreams” and “The Race.” The dark harmonies and contemplative lyrics on “Rooftops” that Twenty One Pilots jacked and mutilated later on for their breakout hits later in the decade.  

Remember some of the big hits: The crazy kinetic energy, infectious, sing-along flow and memorable beat on  “Black and Yellow.” The lively synths and warm, triumphant chorus on “Roll Up.” 

Live with the mid: The fine opening track “When I’m Gone,” emotionless but inoffensive “Wake Up” and cool but uneventful “Star of the Show.”

Ignore the rest:  The autotuned vocals, dry delivery, corny pop keys and laughably unnecessary  “party all day party all night” post chorus on “No Sleep.” The obnoxiously overproduced “Top Floor.” The Kid Cudi-influenced smooth singing on “Fly Solo” and  “Get Your Shit,” that just don’t work for Wiz. The forgettable pop hooks and verses on “Cameras.” 

Rolling Papers is a solid major label debut for Wiz Khalifa, with hugely successful hits that elevated him commercially above most of his peers and gave him the runway to make some solid tracks and feature beyond this. The inclusion of some deeper cuts that underground hip hop heads and stoners can enjoy gives it replay value despite some of the over-popified duds that clog up the back third of the album.