Wiz Khalifa – O.N.I.F.C. (Album Review)

Let’s be honest with ourselves: Wiz Khalifa’s first album, “Rolling Papers,” was a little on the pop side. To his defense, Wiz acknowledges this and has stated that his next album will be much more similar to his previous mixtape efforts. However, judging by the pants he’s wearing on the album artwork, I’m not so sure I believe that.

TOP 5

5. The Bluff (Ft. Cam’ron)

Wiz Khalifa and Cam’ron need to make a joint album together.

One of my favorite choruses on this album can be found in “The Bluff.” I just love how multi-faceted it sounds. As for the verses, Wiz Khalifa focuses on being better than his competition, rolling weed, and meeting expectations, while Cam’ron takes on the role of the ultimate playa, indifferent to feelings and checks that don’t bear his name. Surprisingly, I find that the two rappers complement each other really well.

4. The Plan (Ft. Juicy J)

Wiz Khalifa and Juicy J are the Kobe and Shaq of weed heads.

Do you know what’s interesting? Most people like “Medicated” more than “The Plan,” but I think the latter is better. I like that the track sort of serves as a victory lap for Wiz Khalifa as he reflects on his success and how his major moves allowed him to achieve it. I also really enjoy the back-and-forth on the chorus between Wiz and Juicy J, and I think the song carries a unique vibe that makes for a very interesting listen. All in all, don’t sleep on this gem.

3. It’s Nothin (Ft. 2 Chainz)

Dammit, I knew I would like a song with the word “nothin” in it.

In 2012, landing a 2 Chainz feature was like winning the lottery—he was the go-to feature king at the time. On “It’s Nothin,” Wiz not only got his money’s worth from Chainz’s verse, which skillfully combined humor with competitive and slightly disrespectful bars, but he also chose the perfect beat that complemented both of their styles. With its Mortal Kombat-like vibe, Wiz delivered a catchy hook and set the tone with his own confident, laid-back bars.

Ordering 37 bottles at a bar is kind of excessive, right?

2. Work Hard, Play Hard

White businessmen love this saying.

“Work Hard, Play Hard” was meant to be a follow-up to Wiz Khalifa’s iconic hit “Black & Yellow,” designed to solidify his reputation as a hitmaker. While it didn’t quite live up to the massive expectations, the track still delivers. Though it carries a distinct 2010 vibe—with production that follows Wiz’s hook, a slightly off-kilter chorus, and verses that feel as generic as the Utah Jazz logo—the song remains a blast to listen to and is crafted to get you hyped. In the end, it definitely fulfills its purpose.

1. Remember You (Ft. The Weeknd)

I’m sure Wiz Khalifa owes The Weeknd an astronomical amount of royalties for this track.

Before Wiz Khalifa’s Part:

What an amazing song by The Weeknd! I like the melody he was able to give us and his overall approach to the song! Remembering a girl is something that sounds easy, but you made it sound relatively complex.

Wiz Khalifa’s Part Approaches:

Wiz Khalfa is on this song? Why is he rapping like that? Does he know what it means to switch your style up based off the vibes of the song you’re on? Why is he talking about weed? Isn’t the song called remember you?

Despite the two contrasting styles, I love how they strangely meshed together on this song.

SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

1. Intro (N/A)

2. Paperbond (4/5)

3. Bluffin (4/5)

4. Let It Go (Ft. Akon) (4/5)

5. The Bluff (4/5)

6. Work Hard, Play Hard (5/5)

7. Got Everything (3.5/5)

8. Fall Asleep (3/5)

9. Time (4/5)

10. It’s Nothin (Ft. 2 Chains) (4.5/5)

11. Rise Above (Ft. Pharrell, Tuki Carter & Amber Ros?) (4/5)

12. Initiation (Ft. Lola Monroe) (3.5/5)

13. Up It It (3.5/5)

14. No Limit (3/5)

15. The Plan (4.5/5)

16. Remember You (Ft. The Weeknd) (5/5)

17. Medicated (Ft. Chevy Woods & Juicy J) (4/5)

OVERALL RATING

(79%)

The album isn’t as experimental as Rolling Papers, and that’s a good thing. From start to finish, Wiz Khalifa is in his comfort zone—even when a specific track pushes him slightly outside the box. It almost feels like he was fully aware of the criticism Rolling Papers received and made a conscious effort not to revert to that version of himself. Thank God!

So, what stands out most about O.N.I.F.C.? Wiz delivers a handful of memorable hooks, raps with undeniable confidence, and explores a diverse range of beats—from breezy instrumentals to club-ready anthems. The features also add to the album’s appeal, with 2 Chainz dropping a standout verse, Pharrell bringing a unique twist, and Juicy J proving once again to be Wiz’s ultimate weed-smoking partner in crime.

That said, listening to the album straight through can be a challenge, as the subject matter starts to feel repetitive. Wiz’s signature weed talk is expected, but incorporating it into love songs doesn’t always land. While he isn’t entirely one-dimensional on this project, he might be one-and-a-half-dimensional at best.