It’s been 15 years since Pittsburgh native and L.A living Wiz Khalifa gifted us a classic in Kush + Orange Juice. With the tape always relevant around the 4/20 season, Taylor Gang fans dived into their nostalgic bag and pondered the thought of a new Wiz project.
“It just hit me one day that if that’s what they really want, if that’s what is going to have them excited and feeling good about music again, then I might as well go ahead and give it to them”. The second Kush+OJ chapter serves as a throwback to the golden age of Soundcloud and blog-era rappers, as the 23-track project explores different themes which showcase the evolution to a new Wiz Khalifa.
As we digest another timeless tape, we caught up with the Taylor Gang mogul to discuss his musical processes, creating a legacy, touring the world and much more.
Kush + Orange Juice 2 is out now. What can fans expect from this second instalment of the tape?
“Pretty much just a continuation of real, feel-good music. Something to create lots of new memories to. The first Kush + Orange Juice everybody loved because of the music and how people were digesting music, but also the memories that they were able to make to it. Whether it’s the clothes they were wearing or the people they were hanging out with, or the parties that they went to. All that stuff really goes along with Kush + Orange Juice, and the second one is definitely fit for a lot of those memories to start happening again.”
How long was the recording process and why is now the time to revisit the Kush+OJ chapter?
“The recording process was really fun and took me about a year to complete. I just really wanted to do this for the fans and people that are ready for me to get back in that bag, or that specific pocket that reminded them of those times. I heard a lot of my fans and people online in the comments say ‘Do Kush + Orange 2. We want that 2010 Wiz’. I always said to myself that I would never do that because it was such a classic, I would just leave it alone. Then, it just hit me one day that if that’s what they really want, if that’s what is going to have them excited and feeling good about music again, then I might as well go ahead and give it to them. I started recording about a year ago, picking out beats, coming up with flows and concepts that fit the Kush + Orange Juice brand and in that entire year, we were able to shape it and mould it and turn it into that.”
The majority of the project give off a nostalgic, 2010 feel. Was it important to keep the same sound to connect with your fans?
“Yes, absolutely. The idea and design of it was to resemble the first one and also to project what’s going on now in my life. I’m so skilled at what I do, I know how to turn the gas on and off! As soon as I got my foot on the gas and started realising what that sound was and what that feeling is, I was able to bring it out for everybody that fell in love with the first one.”
There’s 15 years between both projects. What would you say has been the biggest evolvement to your music in this timespan?
“The biggest evolution to my music is just me as a person evolving. My skills with rapping definitely come from me being in the studio a lot, a lot of repetition, a lot of trying new things. When I’m at my best as a person is when I’m happy, when I’m free, when my antennas are up, and I can translate what’s being processed through me. I’m feeling all of that at the same time and that’s when you get the best music, best production, best creative ideas, it creates this lifestyle which the people look up to.”
You have a roster of talent including Gunna, Don Toliver, Larry June, Juicy J featuring on the tape. Who did you find yourself having the most chemistry with when recording?
“I couldn’t even pick which one I enjoyed recording the most! The whole album is an experience, and each track is achieving a goal. The song with OT Genesis (How We Act), we recorded that super quick and it was like a party in there! There’s song like Jet Taylor which was like a composition where TM88 sent me the beat, I did my verse, sent it to Curren$y, then Terrace Martin played the sax. They all have their own specific moments. The song with me and Luh Tyler (Pimps n Hustlers), that’s a special moment. The song with LaRussel (I Might Be), the Max B interlude, that’s a special moment. They all capture whatever happened that day. That’s the best thing about Kush + Orange Juice, it’s in the moment for sure.”
We’ve seen you promote the project with a host of videos including the viral ice bowl and orange juice! Compared to marketing your first project, how important is it now for artists to be a part of promoting their music?
“I think it’s really important. I love that it’s dependent on the artist to market ideas and push it forward. Being from the blog era, it was really all dependent on us and there wasn’t really an establishment or higher up that knew us, or our product better than we did. It’s still like that for the generation coming up now. They’re in control of their fanbase and what their fans like. To be in an industry that promotes that and that also gives the most results from that, I’m really able to benefit from that. If I did have to sit in label meetings and wait for people to do things or come up with ideas that don’t necessarily match my brand, the outcome wouldn’t be the same as if I was able to just have free reign over what I think is cool and what I think can reach people. Having that freedom allows me to really stay on brand and stay tapped in with the people who know and love these types of projects. That’s what makes them cooler afterwards.”
Taylor Gang: The World Tour kicks off May 20th. How have you been preparing for your live shows?
“I prepare for live shows just by listening to the music over and over. The more I know it, the more theatrical I can be on stage based on knowing each point of each song. That’s important to understand and know the music. Definitely trying to get some merch pieces together. I love rocking out on the road and have people wearing the merch and coming to the shows. I feel like that’s a part of the legacy. Also, just trying to figure out what the stage is going to look like. For this one, it’s going to be more intimate because I want to introduce the new songs. I don’t want people to expect too much of the hits. If I do a big stadium tour right off the back of the project, they’re going to expect the hits, and they won’t appreciate the new songs yet. I want to go intimate and then take that same performance and translate it to a bigger stage. If you’ve ever known a comedian, they’ll practice their routine in smaller crowds, and they’ll get it altogether with people who will appreciate it, they won’t have their phones out. They’re just there to laugh or in my case, sweat, smoke weed and hear the jams! In turn, this will turn to bigger crowds who appreciate it exactly the same.”
Are there phones out in the masses at a Wiz Khalifa show?
“The phones are not out. I see a lot of people at my shows smoking. If they’re not smoking, they’re dancing, they have a girl in front of them or they’re making out! I know that because I do a lot of shows outside or at nighttime. You don’t see a bunch of flashes on me when I’m on stage. Other places love that when they see the whole crowd with lights. I need all those phones down! Even if you’re just sitting down, chilling and listening, I’m cool with that too!”
Is the tour coming to the U.K?
“The tour is definitely coming to U.K. We’re going to start with Europe during festival season in the summertime. Then we’ll start incorporating more shows.”
Having achieved so much in music, what would you say has been your personal highlight and what else does do you still want to accomplish in your career?
“My personal career highlight is definitely ‘See You Again’. That song put me in a place where artists dream to be. To have it be done with a song which was number one for as long as was, the most streamed and viewed consecutively ever, it’s a blessing to have a song that big. To be able to live in that moment when it happened and to benefit off the legacy of that song is a blessing. What I still wish to do, I just want to create more memories for people. I want to keep making people happy with my music. I have a lot to offer. To offer my love for creating, being embraced, people loving the nostalgia and the resurgence of the blog-era rappers. I’m just feeling like a real open space to create and do some really cool things. I’m appreciative of that and looking forward to taking advantage of that.”
Having also featured in films, can you see yourself going down the same route as Snoop in terms of career ventures?
“I wouldn’t steer away from music into anything serious unless I planned on investing 10-olus years into getting good at it. Music to me is very important as one of my motivators. Of course, I’m into fitness now. You will see lifestyle changes, I got kids so spending time with them is really important. It just depends on what project I’m working on in my life. Right now, I know how important it is to work the music as well as dropping it. If I’m going to put out music, I have to be ready to put in the work, be ready to tour, come up with ideas and do all these things music requires. If I was ever to pivot, I would have to be ready to do everything the job requires instead of thinking because I’m Wiz Khalifa, It’s going to work out. I do love acting. I’m going to experiment with more acting. You’ll definitely see me in more movies, doing voiceovers and all of the opportunities that come from being a tastemaker. I’ll put a lot of energy into that.”
Who are three artists currently at the top of your playlist?
“Curren$y, Max B and Mac Dre.”
What advice can you give to those who are trying to kickstart a career in music?
“Don’t be lazy!”
Kush + Orange Juice 2 is available now on all digital streaming platforms.