Album Review: Wiz Khalifa - O.N.I.F.C.

Pittsburgh's Wiz Khalifa sets the tone on his fourth record ONIFC (an abbreviation for Only Nigga In First Class) with the opening lyric, “I've got enough weed to last me for the rest of my motherfucking life”. Like any gangsta, Wiz also loves his money and apparently has no shortage, even claiming, “I've got so much money I should start a bank”, as if the only thing that's previously prevented him from doing so was the initial capital, hmmm? Another thing Wiz is not short of is questionable rhymes. Examples include: “I'm the shit, literally”; and “I've got so much swag, that the people at the airport don't even want to touch my bag”.

There is little I care to know about Wiz, however I would like to know if the man was previously a franchisee of a Jim's Mowing service, as he seems to have an infatuation with “grass”; and saying the word “word”, a lot, for no particular reason. Wiz also loves talk of “the streets”; hustling, homies, smoking weed while he drives and of course the N-word. Other interests include champagne, being rich, flying first class and gold watches; but fortunately, not as many references to 'the club' as you might expect.

Unfortunately though, Mr Khalifa paints the picture of a rapper not good enough to receive underground cred, nor capable of writing the unavoidable hooks integral to a guilty pleasure. Like many commercial 'urban' releases, the 17 tracks of ONIFC is way too long, and too shit. One couldn't see Wiz getting too many requests at hip hop karaoke on a Thursday night at The Bird either.