Wiz Khalifa – Khalifa (Album Review)

Wiz Khalifa blends hard-hitting bangers and soulful grooves on his latest album, but old habits and recycled themes keep it from reaching its full potential.

STREAM

TOP 5

5. BTS

Wiz Khalifa is one of many rappers who are elite at creating intros.

“BTS” is from the heart — and get this… only one mention of weed! Round of applause, Mr. Khalifa; you’re maturing from your sicko ways.

The beat blends two distinct elements: trill vibes with sharp claps and hard-hitting 808s, and a soulful side, built on pure harmony. Wiz comes in rapping tough, speaking on his grind and staying himself unapologetically. He also delivers a very infectious, stripped-down hook. It’s Trap Wiz meets father Wiz, a refreshing change from the usual weed-heavy, throwaway Wiz.

4. Call Waiting

Wiz must’ve smoked that feel-good weed before making this banger.

Do I prefer hearing Wiz Khalifa rapping his ass off about weed? Probably. However, in “Call Waiting,” he absolutely shines as a carefree singer. The track features a feel-good, bombastic instrumental that radiates sunny ’70s vibes—truly unlike anything I’ve heard a rapper spit over.

Wiz leans into a vulnerable, almost nurturing singing style, drawing out his words and delivering some of his most impressive melodies. Lyrically, he expresses his desire to hear from a special person who, in his eyes, outshines all others and has always been there for him. The result is a beautiful track that wraps you in warmth and leaves you feeling so damn good inside.

3. Celebrate (Ft. Rico Love)

Turn this track on when you get your tax return check.

Wiz Khalifa must’ve made “Celebrate” when the weed was hitting like Jean-Claude Van Damme. He delivers an extra-chill performance, leaning on a simple, melodic rap style that occasionally digs a little deeper for emphasis. Lyrically, he reflects on smashing chicks, raking in money while on tour, and savoring life’s highs.

The production carries a smooth, laid-back energy, perfect for a relaxed bar night with a cocktail rather than hard liquor or beer. Rico Love ties it all together with a sly, effortlessly cool vocal performance on the hook, giving the track just the right finishing touch.

2. Lit (Ft. Ty Dolla $ign)

It always blows my mind that Ty Dolla $ign is signed to Wiz Khalifa. S**t is beyond weird.

Is Ty Dolla $ign and Wiz Khalifa the new Nate Dogg and Warren G? Hell nah. The new T-Pain and Lil Wayne? Closer, but not quite. I’ve got it — Wiz Khalifa and Ty Dolla $ign are the new Milhouse and Bart Simpson.

Unlike “Bake Sale,” you can actually hear the creative minds of both artists coming together here. The track carries a mellow, relaxed vibe, with Wiz soothing your stoned mind through his signature high-in-the-sky delivery. Ty Dolla $ign is precisely who you expect him to be—dropping bars about Louie, someone doing time without snitching, and a girl he smashed whose name he doesn’t even know. Typical Ty. Overall, this is one of those tracks that are easy on the ears and your high.

1. Bake Sale (Ft. Travis Scott)

This sounds like some Looney Tunes s**t.

“Bake Sale” sounds more like a Travis Scott track than a Wiz Khalifa one. At this point, Travis Scott is making better music than Wiz Khalifa, so it’s not surprising that Wiz let him drive the bus.

I love the song’s hype-driven energy, with Travis Scott delivering a passionate yet playful hook. Wiz Khalifa keeps it businesslike on his verses, clearly describing the everyday life of a stoner. Juicy J adds the OG flavor with his high-energy performance. However, I have two issues: first, the chemistry feels off, like Travis just emailed over his part. Second, it’s hard to ignore how similar the beat is to G-Eazy’s “Order More,” making it feel unoriginal. Nonetheless, this is the best track on the project, which is saying a lot.

SONG-BY-SONG RATINGS

1. BTS (4.5/5)

2. Celebrate (Ft. Rico Love) (4.5/5)

3. Elevated (3.5/5)

4. City View (Ft. Courtney Noelle) (3.5/5)

5. Cowboy (3.5/5)

6. Bake Sale (Ft. Travis Scott) (5/5)

7. Call Waiting (4.5/5)

8. Make A Play (Ft. JR Donato) (3.5/5)

9. Most of Us (3/5)

10. Zoney (Ft. Sebastian) (4/5)

11. Lit (Ft. Ty Dolla $ign) (4.5/5)

12. No Permission (Ft. Chevy Woods) (4/5)

13. iSay (Ft. Juicy J) (4/5)

RGM RATING

(73%)

Wiz experiments with a range of sounds on this album — some tracks hit hard (“Cowboy”), while others lean into a Neo-soul vibe (“Call Waiting”). He’s also more emotional than usual, likely influenced by this being his first release since becoming a father. And while he hasn’t completely ditched the weed talk, he’s toned it down slightly (Keep in mind, “slightly” for Wiz still means it’s a recurring topic, just not quite at his usual saturation level).

Unfortunately, he falls back on lazy, worn-out themes like “you can’t ball like me” or “you aren’t making money like me on a plane.” It’s the same fallback content that’s been stale for a while now. Some tracks even sound like recycled versions of his older material. And is it just me, or have his lyrics gotten more aggressive? He’s suddenly rapping about beating up and killing people… which is a strange flex coming from a guy who probably weighs 130 pounds. Overall, the album is decent at best, and if you’re a longtime Wiz fan, it might throw you off a bit.

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