This is the 23rd mixtape from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania rapper, singer/songwriter, actor & entrepreneur Wiz Khalifa. Following his first 2 albums Show & Prove and Deal or No Deal as well as his 8th & 9th mixtapes Kush & OJ and Cabin Fever respectively, his Atlantic Records-backed 3rd album Rollin’ Papers established him as a star & stoner’s icon as did the Mac + Devin Go to High School film & soundtrack. Taylor Allderdice would also receive acclaim, although a lot of what he’s released since has been hit or miss with the biggest hits being Fly Times: The Good Fly Young & the Stoner’s Night collab tape with Taylor Gang Records signee & Three 6 Mafia co-founder Juicy J a few years back. Wiz Owens felt disappointing last summer & Kush + Orange Juice 2 finally arriving on 4/20 weekend only feels right.
The intro hops over this laidback instrumental for Wiz to talk about the kush making him move progressively slower whereas “How We Act” featuring O.T. Genasis produced by Cardo, DJ Quik & Jason Martin formerly known as Problem goes full g-funk for their main bitches. “Crime, Bud & Women” suggests there’s nothing left to do if you stay away while “5 Star” featuring Gunna was a cool pop rap single that Mike & Keys laced with Dominique Sanders.
“Top Down” featuring Jason Martin & Ty$ finds the trio cloudily talking about them rather looking out for their people just before “Pimps n Hustlers” featuring Luh Tyler shows a Mobb influence to the beat dedicating this one to both of those kinds of people in the streets. “I Might Be” featuring LaRussell remembers when all they wanted was 100 bands leading into “What’s Hannin’?” taps in with DJ Fresh to hang with the real ones & throw up gang signs.
Curren$y makes an appearance on “Jet Taylor” representing both Jet Life Recordings & Taylor Gang with Terrace Martin & TM88 giving off a delicate tone instrumentally, but then Wiz Khalifa gives Max B his own 3 & a half minute song assuring that’ll never stop grinding. “Red Eye” shows a bit of a reggae influence getting everyone around him as stoned as he is while “My Influence” featuring Juicy J flexes the Hollywood moves they makin’.
“Take Your Time Get Paid” featuring DJ Quik delivers another g-funk heater going out to everybody who be making money at their own pace while “Cashed Out” featuring Larry June atmospherically claps back at anyone envious of not being in their respective positions. “Got It All” featuring Chevy Woods boasts they have everything others want while “Just to See You Smile” reflects on a special person in his life who’s no longer here with him.
Conductor Williams strips the drums during the chipmunk soul “Super Duper High Outro” for Wiz to drop a brief verse & shout out everyone involved in the tape while “Keep Ballin’” starts the deluxe run talking about the money calling him. Mike WiLL Made-It samples “Throw Your Sets” by the Tear da Club Up Thugs & Crucial Conflict during “Khalifa’s Home” giving a fuck less what others say while “Hide It” gets in his pop rap bag again.
“Bring Your Lungs” featuring Smoke DZA flexes that both of them do it bigger than the Brooklyn Nets’ home arena Barclays Center or the Los Angeles Lakers’ home arena the Staples Center & the final bonus track “Hit It Once” finishes Kush + Orange Juice 2 sampling “White Clouds” by 福村浩 talking about the weed he smokes being the type of shit a vast majority of stoners would wanna hit.
Coinciding with the original Kush + Orange Juice’s 15 year anniversary earlier in the week, the sequel arrives like a visit from a friend from long ago who’s stayed the same other than growing up & becoming wealthier. The production mostly handled by Cardo matched with DJ Quik’s engineering makes the chill soundscapes significantly more terminal joined by a loaded roster of guests who haven’t changed much in the past decade & change speaking on more of the Taylor Gang touchstones you know & love: jet-ski races, beach picnics, fat joints, drop-tops, crab rolls, hot-boxing Ferrari F8s.
Score: 4/5
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