Kush + Orange Juice 2

My first car was a tan 1993 Honda, Accord with 229,000 miles. It was passed down from my mother to my sister and from my sister to me. It was the same car that I spent my earliest memories in. I still vividly remember fighting with my sister for her to turn WPGC 95.5 back on so I could rap along to my favorite song at the time, 'All About the Benjamins' (It was a different time then). I would hum along to Usher and Destiny’s Child even when I didn't know the words to their songs all while wiping boogers on the side of the passenger seat. The interior was this brownish plush material that could’ve only come from the 90s.

My sister got the car in 2005 and immediately upgraded the stereo system. She needed something that sounded clearer and could play her vast R&B CD collection. We rode in that car together on December 23, 2009 at 5:15am blasting Dru Hill's Greatest Hits. We were headed to get the Space Jam 11s for Christmas. Side note, Space Jam happened to be my favorite movie when my mom first bought that Honda Accord. If you reflect on your life, you can often make connections that seem unexplainable. 

Fast forward to 2012, the car was mine. Everything I remembered about that Honda was the same except for the music. I still have the CD book that I kept in the glove box. I must’ve burned at least 30 mixtapes from DatPiff in the spring after I got my license. One of the first mixtapes I burned was Kush and Orange Juice. It had already been the Soundtrack to so many procrastinated papers, pregame bus rides, and other extracurricular activities. When 'Mesmorized' came on, I would roll the windows down, put my arm out, and drive slowly so everybody could see me. That song transformed my 93 Accord into a 2009 Dodge Charger covered in black and yellow paint. I used to hit the meanest of seated uncle dances to 'The Kid Frankie'. The funky baseline and subtle guitar riffs always stood out to me.

Needless to say, I was Taylor Gang. My mother‘s family is from Braddock, PA. If you didn’t like the Steelers, you couldn’t watch football at my uncle’s house. So when black and yellow dropped the same year the Steelers won the Super Bowl, it was over. My point is, Wiz and Taylor gang was more than music to me. It was cultural. And Kush and Orange Juice felt like more than the mixtape. It was like a manual.

Obviously, a lot of the inspiration for Kush and Orange Juice was pulled from Doggy Style. We got the skits, the funky baselines, the laid-back flow, the women and the weed. Wiz was clearly a student of the G-Funk. His songs made you want to boss up, blaze up, go for a drive or just chill with a fine lady. Thankfully, after listening to Kush + Orange Juice 2, they still do. Kush and Orange Juice reflects the life of a charismatic stoner with a vision for the future. K+OJ2 is like a manifestation of young Wiz’s 'Visions'. Today, the songs feel more introspective, mature, and reflective. There’s some real seasoned boss sh** on this album. Themes like fatherhood, gratitude, and dedication are gift wrapped in three minute melodies that would make your grandma hit a two step.

That’s one of my biggest takeaways. Just like my 1993 Honda Accord, the funk and soulfulness of this album was passed down from generations before. K+OJ2 is modern Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, and Parliament Funk. It’s Snoop and Dre meets Juicy J with a hint of OutKast. It’s also just Wiz and it’s Taylor Gang as f***. Music like this will always be in my rotation because it sounds good, it’s hella player and it makes you feel good.

The album is an experience full of nostalgia and call backs to earlier projects. The features list was robust. The production was soulful and reminiscent yet fresh and futuristic at the same time. And while there are many ways to enjoy the album, the best way in my opinion is to roll something up (if you partake), sit back in the whip and vibe. My girl and I went and got McFlurries, sat in an empty parking lot and looked into the night sky while we listened. After a few songs, the trees in the horizon started dancing to the music. If you love Wiz Khalifa or you just appreciate good music, this album is sure to have you dancing too.

Here are a few songs that really stood out to me after the first few listens:

Track one, 'K+OJ2 Intro', served as a reminder to you, n*****. He briefly reminded you who he is and why we’re all here. I was looking for bars and something to vibe to. This song did not disappoint.

Track two, 'How We Act',  was the first major hit of nostalgia. We get a drop from Mr. E-Z Wider himself. The synth lead, the ding from the metronome, and the distinct, hilarious presence of O.T. Genasis all give this song a very West Coast feel. Wiz glides on the beat effortlessly as you would expect.

The next track, 'Crime Bud and Women', has a similar feel with a gliding bass and smooth electric piano chords. we get some boss talk on here as well as some maturity from Wiz as he reflects on his family, his kids and his music career. At this point in the album it's clear that he is keenly aware of his impact on Gen X and millennials and he’s not gonna wait for his flowers… He’s taking them, grinding them up, and putting them in the air. Side note, I wish more Legacy artists and legends would do the same and stop waiting for other people to give them their flowers. I don’t sense any angst or disappointment when Wiz talks about the impact that he’s had. It's the same confident bravado that got him to where he is and that’s a big part why his core fan base is still with him.

Track four, 'Five Star', features the smooth hook by Gunna. This one is for the ladies, but the baseline is so crazy that you can’t help but to vibe to it. By the end of the song me and my girl were singing the hook. It's honestly one of my favorite songs from the album.

Track seven is 'I Might Be' featuring La Russell. This song is the only one that I heard before the album released. Anytime you see La Russell you can expect good vibes, good rhythm and bars. That heavy synth base, and the sharp triplets on the beat gave each MC so many opportunities for their bars to stand out. You could tell, these two were excited to work together. They were both talking their sh** on this track and the thing that I love the most is the call back to 'Spotlight' from K+OJ that La Russell does at the end of the song. It’s one of those if you know, you know things and clearly from his business moves and that quick line, you can see his appreciation for Wiz.

The next track, 'What’s Hannin', is a vibe. This is one of them ones that could be played at the cookout. It’s a two stepper for sure. I hear shades of 'Computer Love' by Zapp & Roger in the beat. The hook is simple, rhythmic and catchy. 

Track nine, 'Jet Taylor', is definitely my favorite song on the project for many reasons. This track had everything I wanted from K+OJ2. Number one, we got the classic pairing of Wiz and Curren$y. The electric piano chords took me back to the feeling I had when I first heard 'Mesmorized'. Then, they let the beat stand alone for more than a minute (You know I wrote a verse to it). Midway through the song, I ran it back for reasons I’ll mention later and I started rapping the words to 'Mesmorized' during the intro to the song. My girl thought I knew the actual words to the song from one listen. By the time I got to this track, I was in my zone, gazing out of the sunroof into the night sky. And what happened next won't sound believable, but I don’t give a damn if you believe me. At two minutes and 14 seconds when Curren$y's verse started I literally saw a plane emerge in the sky through my sunroof. The sh** was an experience! That’s when I knew that this album was a classic for me. After a few more listens the song reminded me of 'Boarding Pass' from the Flight School Mixtape. The central theme of the song is forward focus and innovation. It's a reminder to let go of the past and evolve. 

I had to send track sixteen, 'Just To See You Smile', to my mom and you should too. It’s a testament to the power of believing in your children. The song has an oceanic quality to it. RMR’s performance on the hook was smooth and silky. He adds a texture to the track that you can feel which almost makes it more meaningful and tangible. His voice is like the gift wrap, hugging the present that is this song. Wiz talks about loss, success, fatherhood, brotherhood and more. This song is refreshing and meaningful. It definitely adds some depth to the project.

Anyways, if you read this far, please like or share. Comment your favorite song from this project. Stay tuned for more!