On Nov. 10, rapper Wiz Khalifa releases his new mixtape “Laugh Now, Fly Later.” The record features 10 tracks and a guest appearance from Casey Veggies. As a rap artist, Khalifa has been pretty consistent with his music, releasing two EPs earlier this year. He plans to release his official album “Rolling Papers 2” by 2018. Until then, fans get to enjoy snippets of what’s to come.
The mixtape opens with “Royal Highness” which sets the mood for the project. Casey Veggies assists the track with a couple verses and Khalifa finishes the song with his verse. The smooth beat and lyrical flows of both artists are appealing and easy on the ears.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Wiz Khalifa record without marijuana references included in almost every song. Khalifa doesn’t fail to please his Taylor Gang stoner fans with his constant acknowledgement of lighting one up. Not to mention, it’s no surprise he named the mixtape “Laugh Now, Fly Later.” In the song “City of Steel,” he raps “Already stoned and I’m almost home / If you high then you know where I’m coming from / KK feel it all in my lungs, one puff damn got me going numb.” “KK” stands for “Khalifa Kush” and is actually the name of his very own hybrid marijuana strain and has descended from the “OG” strain. The song (along many others) are very laid-back and perfect for a night to spark up with some buddies
A song that draws some attention is his third track “Figure It Out.” The song is different because aside from, Khalifa preaches some spoken word that delivers a message that isn’t about weed. “Yeah they gon’ try to hurt you / See you focusing, they try to divert you, Being fake ain’t rare, it’s universal / That’s why I’ll never work with you, Family first, till I’m in the dirt.” He reminds his fans and listeners to stay focused in whatever dreams or aspirations they have and they’ll “figure it out.”
A favorite from the tracklist is the smooth and jazzy tune “Long Way to Go.” It’s pretty cool to see Khalifa reach out into a different genre that’s different from what we’re used to. In an era where trap and beats with heavy bass are in right now, it’s nice to listen to something that’s more relaxed. Of course, Khalifa can’t help but brag about his rich lifestyle. He raps “Rocking better clothes than the ones that was fly before us / When it come down to paper, I’m tryna’ get the highest portion / Pull out the old school just so I can slide the Porsche in.”
Wiz Khalifa is an artist that isn’t afraid to express himself and he shows it in “Laugh Now, Fly Later.” The project is a mix of motivation, getting high and living the good life. The overall sound and production is pretty decent and is a good listen. I give it a 4/5 for its nice flow, however, Khalifa’s predictable weed songs overshadow his lyrical potential and could use some work.
Niyat Teferi can be reached at [email protected] or @tayintee on Twitter.
