Pittsburgh rapper, Wiz Khalifa, took to the Brixton O2 Academy on 26 September 2013, following the release on his new album “O.N.I.F.C.” Best known internationally for his debut number-one single “Black and Yellow,” the American rapper attracted thousands to London’s flagship venue.
The MC kicked off the night with a steady stream of the hottest in rap and hip hop, with Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky anthems used to hype up the crowd. They were well and truly prepared for a smooth but fierce performance by the American rapper renowned for gangster rhymes, weed talk and pop hooks.
Less than thirty minutes in, Tuki Carter graced the stage as the first supporting act, also signifying the arrival of the highly anticipated Taylor Gang. Trinidad James, whose debut single “All Gold Everything” charted on the Billboard Hot 100 charts (R&B/HipHop), shortly followed. Despite the fact that Trinidad James was having so much fun performing “10 PC Mild” tracks- even going over his allotted set time- we couldn’t help our disappointment with the supporting acts on this tour. Military brat, Khalifa, has previously collaborated with Snoop Dogg, 2 Chainz, Wale, Tyga, French Montana, (some of which Factory78 have interviewed!) so we were expecting the special guests to be as big as these names. For us, that would’ve created an even better party atmosphere!
The live band went all out to welcome young Khalifa to Europe’s largest fixed stage, hailed by teens and twenty-somethings bustling to the front of the stage to party like rockstars. Although slightly dated, the sloping floor meant that everyone would have had a great view if it wasn’t for the haze of smoke that filled the venue. Only complaints came from the security, who attempted to prevent the situation, but what do you expect from an artist who champions weed in every album and whose fans mostly share his love for the herbs. Counteracting his chilled out audience, Wiz’s energy and spirit captured everything we imagined from someone we see as fun-loving. He took us right back to 2008 with “Say Yeah” and spoilt us with On My Level, Mesmerized, Young Wild and Free and ended with his hit single Black and Yellow. Ink My Whole Body was a
favourite with the females, as it revealed the perfect opportunity for Wiz to strip down to his shorts. The performance of the song “Molly,” formerly described as “I, Robot” meets “Alice in Wonderland,” saw the atmosphere transform into a rave for fans. The vibrant laser show and ample energy from the Taylor Gang who sprung onto the stage at that very moment, signified the peak of the night for some.
The show became complete when we had heard all we had been waiting for, with fans blissfully sharing his open and honest appreciation for marijuana. Khalifa kept stunts to a minimum, focussing on vocal ability and choosing not to limit songs to a specific era but rather perform his greatest hits.
The “stoner rap” performance was a thrill right from the start and reminded us not to take ourselves too seriously. In future, we hope that Wiz won’t have to break his back to create a real vibe by teaming up with hype artists to kick-start to show. We can’t wait for the release of his upcoming album Blacc Hollywood, to compete with a year of game-changing hip hop albums such as Yeezus, Magna Carter Holy Grail and Born Sinner. We hear The Weeknd will feature on it so we’re looking forward to another tour already!!
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