Wiz Khalifa – Khaotic (Album Review)

Stronger rapping, booming production, and noticeable gaps where Wiz’s signature magic used to live.

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TOP 5 SONGS

5. It’s Been A Minute (Ft. RMR)

RMR sounds like a version of Michael Jackson that is down to slap a whore.

“It’s Been A Minute” is easily the hardest-hitting track on this project. As a matter of fact, you can hear someone getting their ass kicked in the production.

Over it, Wiz Khalifa delivers cool, confident raps about the power of his dreads, a more responsible approach to smoking, and his signature playa lifestyle. RMR adds a layer of slyness to the banger, coming through with a slick verse focused on money moves and women who move just as boldly. While his tone adds personality, his delivery is choppy at times, preventing the verse from fully landing, even though the idea is there.

For those who forgot, RMR was 4Batz before 4Batz, so put respect on his damn name!

4. Wit My Twin (Ft. 2 Chainz)

I’m not a fan of grown-ass men calling each other twins.

Wiz Khalifa and 2 Chainz have been making music together for over a decade, and their chemistry has always felt somewhat underappreciated. With that in mind, “Wit My Twin” sounds exactly like the kind of record you’d expect from them.

The track is built on a bass-heavy beat that straight up whoops ass, giving Wiz room to deliver braggadocious bars sprinkled with moments of humility as he reflects on how hard he works. He also handles a simple but catchy hook that sticks without trying too hard.

As for 2 Chainz, his verse starts off a bit unorthodox but gradually finds its footing, picking up steam as he runs through what he smokes and just how expensive his jeans are (People are still spending money on jeans? Negro, just go get some hammer pants and call it a day). The flow is definitely weird, but because it’s 2 Chainz, we let it slide.

Name someone cooler than 2 Chainz (You know what? B*tch, Marty Supreme might be cooler than him, but that’s it).

3. RN Check (Ft. Skrilla Baby)

Wiz always works well with the rappers that sound like they go to casinos after 12 AM and fight people who commit hard fouls in pick-up basketball games.

Wiz Khalifa and Skrilla Baby surprisingly make a strong pairing on this track. Wiz handles the dynamic flows and effortless s**t-talking over a fire beat loaded with booming bass, slick synths, and sirens that sound like the warning before Sonic drowns underwater. Skrilla Baby complements that energy perfectly, bringing a carefree, loose delivery that adds to the track’s overall effortless flair.

All things considered, this track just works.

2. If You Know You Know (Ft. Juicy J)

Wiz is a legendary s**t-talker.

This is the kind of track that makes you want to take it outside with Wiz Khalifa; sorta how dude on the Grizzlies tried to fight Ja Morant in the bathroom before their game in Germany. Driven by a beat so dark and gassed up it sounds like it could soundtrack a final boss fight in a video game, Wiz spends the track shamelessly bragging, speaking on the shooters in his circle, stealing women from other dudes, and shutting entire malls down (Who the f**k do you think you are, an ICE agent?).

The bright spot is how technically locked in he sounds. Wiz switches through multiple flows and nails all of them, especially the Juvenile-inspired cadence he messes with throughout. Juicy J also comes out swinging, delivering one of his more aggressive performances in recent memory as he spends most of his verse flexing and talking recklessly.

1. Back Against The Wall (Ft. RMR & Max B)

Where can I find a version of this track without Max B?

This is how you drive, Wiz Khalifa! “Back Against The Wall” taps directly into the smooth, hazy pocket Wiz mastered all the way back in his Kush & Orange Juice days. The production is sleek and effortless, setting the perfect stage for Wiz to slide in with a sly, confident verse about living on the edge and upgrading any woman in his orbit.

From there, RMR delivers an outstanding hook that’s infectious, polished, and perfectly aligned with the song’s laid-back vibe. It’s one of those choruses that elevates the entire track without trying too hard.

Unfortunately, Max B drags things down. His verse struggles to lock into the beat, the audio quality feels off, and his delivery comes across unfocused and sloppy. It’s a jarring contrast to the smoothness Wiz and RMR establish. Honestly, if Max B weren’t on this track, it would’ve been a near-perfect record and an easy five-star standout.

SONG BY SONG RATING

1. Intro (N/A)

2. RN Check (Ft. Skrilla Baby) (4/5)

3. Head Money Trees Clothes (Ft. RMR) (4/5)

4. If You Know You Know (Ft. Juicy J) (3.5/5)

5. Wiz Money (Ft. Dave East) (3.5/5)

6. I Put That Shit On (3/5)

7. Back Against The Wall (Ft. RMR & Max B) (4/5)

8. Go Hard Everyday (Ft. HoodRichPablo) (3/5)

9. La Vida (3/5)

10. Wit My Twin (Ft. 2 Chainz) (4/5)

11. It’s Been A Minute (Ft. RMR) (3.5/5)

RGM RATING

(71%)

Sometimes rappers quietly level up without the mainstream ever noticing, and Wiz Khalifa feels like one of those cases. While he hasn’t been chasing or landing major hits lately, I’d argue he’s rapping better than ever from a technical, skill-based standpoint. That version of Wiz is on full display throughout Khaotic.

From a pure rapping perspective, Wiz shows out. His verses are confident, punchy, and sturdy, as he cycles through familiar territory like weed talk, reckless spending, flexing wealth, chasing women (especially Russian women), and living a lifestyle most people can only fantasize about. Still, what impressed me most on Khaotic wasn’t even Wiz himself. It was the production. Much of the album leans into high-octane, heavy-hitting beats packed with obnoxious amounts of bass, giving the project an aggressive, trunk-rattling energy.

That said, the album isn’t without issues. I’ve always felt Wiz is at his best when he leans into melody, and there’s very little of that here. I also miss hearing him glide over laid-back, hazy production that enhances a weed-induced float. That side of Wiz is largely absent. The guest appearances also feel questionable. RMR is solid but appears far too often, Dave East doesn’t quite fit the sonic direction, Skrilla Baby feels random, and Max B is, frankly, a miss.

On top of that, Wiz’s lyrics often feel stale and predictable, lacking the spark or personality that once made his music feel effortless and distinct. Overall, Khaotic comes across like a loose, throwaway project you’d stumble upon sitting on a park bench, not the kind of album Wiz Khalifa should be releasing at this stage of his career.