S. Samuel
Taylor Gang leader Wiz Khalifa recently addressed inking an open letter earlier this year criticizing himself for his Rolling Papers Atlantic Records debut sounding a bit too pop and stood behind the self-criticism.
Khalifa said he used the 2011 LP to answer critics and naysayers’ doubts rather than focus on his comfort zone.
“I’m a different type of dude. I critique myself way harder than anybody else could critique me. Whether people know it or not, when I go in the booth or when I pick my beats or with my artwork, everything is really detailed and I get down into it. I know what went into making that album and I know what went into making my other projects, so I know where I could have went a little stronger or where I could have done what I felt was more natural. But in time and through the process, you gotta learn and you gotta do different things. If I wouldn’t have learned that stuff early, then it probably would have taken me later in my career to try it out. I take it as a blessing. My cousin kind of put it to me the best earlier today. He was like, on Rolling Papers, I was more or less trying to show my skills, what I could do. Versatility. Everybody was like, “You’re a weed rapper.” I was like, “OK, I can show them different stuff.” Now on this album, it’s just like, whatever.” (Rolling Stone)
He also talked about the concept behind his upcoming O.N.I.F.C. (Only N*gga In First Class).
“At the end of the day, “Only N*gga In First Class” is to show you the rawness that you gonna get with the album, the real edginess. But it also speaks to the fact of where I come from, as far as I’ve been working really, really hard, to maintain the point that I’m at, the people that I’m at, the crowd of people. It’s more like a first-class living. I really am sometimes the only black person in first class, too. So it’s, like, really real. It’s crazy but it’s cool. It’s weird because when I first started getting that assigned seat, when it became, like, “Oh, he’s gonna be up here,” first people looked at me really funny.” (Rolling Stone)
In February’s open letter, he highlighted Rolling Papers‘ album sales but acknowledged its content not living up to his own standards.
“Moving on to the music, I haven’t been this excited about any of my projects ever. I remember when i made kush and orange juice, I listened to it and knew I had created a new genre that wld change music.The mistake i made on Rolling Papers was thinking it was time to move on from that genre not knowing that it had impacted people so much. The album did great numbers, but creatively wasn’t my best work. No regrets though. We live and we learn.” [sic] (The Lvls!x)
Recently, Khalifa talked about the recording process behind O.N.I.F.C.
Wiz Khalifa isn’t worried about a sophomore jinx. Instead, Taylor Gang captain is focusing on giving fans the best listening experience possible with his upcoming O.N.I.F.C. (Only N—a in First Class). “I just really wanted it to be the best rap album possible with a bunch of less obvious songs in your face, but with stuff that makes sense and that it relates to people who enjoy music,” he told MTV News when taking part in our Hip-Hop Music Preview. (MTV)
Check out a recent Wiz Khalifa interview below:
