Rolling Papers | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 29, 2011 | |||
Studio | Downtown Recording Studios Lotzah Matzah Studios Roc The Mic Studios (New York, New York) I.D. Labs (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) The Treehouse (Los Angeles, California) Circle House Recording Studios (Miami, Florida) | |||
Genre | Pop-rap | |||
Length | 57:51 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Wiz Khalifa chronology | ||||
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Singles from Rolling Papers | ||||
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Rolling Papers is the third studio album by American rapper Wiz Khalifa. It was released on March 29, 2011, by Atlantic Records and Rostrum Records. It is his first album under a major label after his independent releases, Show and Prove and Deal or No Deal . The album features guest appearances from Too $hort, Curren$y and Chevy Woods. Rolling Papers was supported by five singles: "Black and Yellow", "Roll Up", "On My Level", "No Sleep", and "The Race". The album has been noted by music writers for having a pop rap style.
Rolling Papers debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 197,000 copies in the United States. [1] The album has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for combined sales and album-equivalent units of two million units. [2] Upon its release, the album received generally mixed reviews from music critics, who complimented its mood, atmosphere, and hooks, but criticized its subject matter. [3]
A follow-up, Rolling Papers 2 , was released on July 13, 2018.
Following the release of his independent second album, Deal Or No Deal , Khalifa released his mixtape Kush & Orange Juice , which immediately became widely praised as one of the best hip hop mixtapes of 2010. [4] [5] After generating buzz from the mixtape, Khalifa not only won MTV's "Hottest Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist of 2010" award, [6] but he also became the center of a bidding war between various labels, including Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group label. [7] He also came to the attention of fellow rapper Drake, who offered him the chance to co-headline his album tour. [8] After declining both rapper's offers, [9] [10] he announced that he was signing with Atlantic Records live on July 30 on MTV's "RapFix 34 Live," and confirmed that he had begun work on his debut on the label. [11] His first official single, "Black and Yellow", produced by Stargate, [12] became one of the highest selling hip hop singles of 2010, eventually selling over two million digital downloads. [13]
On January 26, 2011, Wiz announced the album's title and release date via Ustream.tv. According to Wiz, there are three different meanings behind the Rolling Papers title.
It’s an appropriate title. It’s called Rolling Papers, like the papers that you roll, the papers that I roll, the papers that we smoke. But it’s deeper than that too. I thought of this before I even started recording the album and before it was a full idea. It’s not just about the weed thing. It’s bigger than that. My career really took off when I started smoking papers.
The second reason I called it Rolling Papers is when I left Warner Bros., I sort of got my ‘rolling papers.’ I got my contract, fucking rolled up, and smoked. And I was able to walk and I was able to leave and I was able to do my thing and I was able to capitalize off that. So that’s another pair of papers that I really needed in my life and days.
The third reason why I named it Rolling Papers, I quit writing a long time ago. I stopped physically writing it down or putting it in my BlackBerry or iPhone. I write notes down, but I don’t write whole verses, so it was like saying goodbye to the paper. The paper’s rolling out too. So everything is real natural. The first thing that came to my head is how I really, really feel. I feel like this is my most natural sound. I paid the most attention to this shit when I did it. I was real focused. I was real keyed in on this shit when I was working on it and I didn’t use any paper, except for [the rolling papers]. [14]
Khalifa had confirmed that rappers; Curren$y, Rick Ross, Too $hort, and Snoop Dogg would appear on the album in late January 2011. [15] [16] In 2010, Khalifa had also toured and been in the studio with fellow rapper Yelawolf making their appearance on the album a possibility. [17] He also confirmed via Twitter, that he had been in the studio and finished two tracks with rapper, Game, one of which will appear on Khalifa's album. [18] [19] Fellow Pittsburgh and Rostrum Records labelmate rapper, Mac Miller, has also confirmed working with Wiz for the album in the studio. [20] Upon the album's release, the only guest appearances on the album were from Too $hort, Curren$y and Chevy Woods. [21] He also expressed a desire to get "veteran rappers" featured on the album such as 8Ball & MJG, Devin the Dude and Cam'ron, this last one being a personal friend and influence to Wiz, although none of them made an appearance on the album. [22]
On April 14, 2010, Khalifa released his eighth mixtape, Kush & Orange Juice . The following year, on February 18, 2011, Khalifa released another mixtape, Cabin Fever, in promotion for the album. [23] Rolling Papers was released on March 29, 2011 by Atlantic Records and Rostrum Records, making it his first release on a major label. [24]
"Black and Yellow" was released as the album's lead single on September 14, 2010. The song was written in honor of Khalifa's hometown city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's sporting team's colors (and the primary colors on the city's flag), [25] and became the unofficial anthem of the Pittsburgh Steelers. [26] The single topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the highest selling Hip-Hop songs of 2010, obtaining massive radio air-play and tallying sales of 2,342,000 in the United States. [27] It also reached the top ten in Canada and the United Kingdom and reached the top forty in many other countries. The song is also known for its various remixes by other fellow rappers including Lil Wayne, Tyga, Slim Thug, Young Jeezy, Wale, Donnis, Game, SoLouCity YG, Kendrick Lamar, Jim Jones and Maino. [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] The official remix, "Black and Yellow (G-Mix)" would later be released in February, and feature Snoop Dogg, Juicy J and T-Pain. [36]
"Roll Up" was released as the album's second single on February 3, 2011. [37] It peaked at number 13 on the US Hot 100, number 7 on the US R&B charts, and number 2 on US Rap charts. It achieved moderate success in international markets, where it reached the top 50 in the UK.
"On My Level", featuring Too Short, was released as the album's third single via digital download on February 22, 2011 [38] was later sent to radio in North America on May 28, 2011. It peaked at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"The Race" was released as the album's fourth single (although not sent to radio) on March 8, 2011, [39] and peaked at number 66 on the US Hot 100.
"No Sleep" was released as the album's fifth and final single on March 22, 2011. [40] It became the second highest performing song from the album, as it peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was later sent to radio on August 9, 2011. [41] It has also debuted at number 38 on the Billboard Pop Songs chart.
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 59/100 [42] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [43] |
The A.V. Club | C [44] |
Entertainment Weekly | B+ [45] |
NME | 5/10 [46] |
Now | 3/5 [47] |
Pitchfork Media | 7.2/10 [48] |
PopMatters | 2/10 [49] |
Rolling Stone | [50] |
Slant Magazine | [51] |
Spin | 6/10 [52] |
Rolling Papers received generally mixed to positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 59, based on 24 reviews. [42] Many critics disparaged Khalifa's lyricism as either uninspired or uncharismatic. Brandon Soderberg of Spin wrote that it "embraces the doggedly one-note approach of the numerous mixtapes that built his substantial following". [52] Slant Magazine's Matthew Cole found Khalifa's lyrics "boring" and stated, "he seems to regress to the tepid sing-song rapping that the music demands". [51] Sputnikmusic's Sobhi Abdul-Rakhman panned it as "overproduced, generic disney channel beats by names no one knows, derivative choruses and melodies that obviously sound manufactured by a tie-wielding Atlantic executive, and lyricism that fails at even being anthemic for parties". [53] Jesse Serwer of The Village Voice criticized the tracks with "beats even more pop than 'Black & Yellow'", adding that "Wiz has grown into a more skillful hookmeister than rapper". [54]
Hamish MacBain of NME stated, "Six songs in [...] the start of 'Rolling Paper''s descent into eight loooong, dull filler tracks that, musically and lyrically, are completely indistinguishable from one to the other". [46] Kevin Ritchie of Now wrote similarly, "Around the midpoint, his preoccupation with 'bitches and champagne' (and weed) starts to wear thin as he leans harder on pop choruses, resulting in forced and cutesy-sounding tracks". [47] David Amidon of PopMatters observed "lyrical laziness". [49] Lev Harris of The Quietus called the album "a rap autopilot that engages all too often [...] revert[s] back to the pop rap blueprint as drawn by Dre and Snoop Dogg", noting its lyrical content as too "preoccup[ied] with weed". [55] The A.V. Club 's Nathan Rabin called it "monomaniacal, largely undistinguished" and commented that "unlike Snoop, Khalifa never seems to be having much fun". [44]
In a positive review, AllMusic editor David Jeffries complimented Khalifa's "keen sense of melody and fat sack of hooks" and stated "Khalifa's chilled and confused Rolling Papers is an acquired taste [...] purposeful mood music, perfect for bong loading or just hanging out". [43] Entertainment Weekly 's Brad Wete called the album "lyrically limited to getting high, stealing chicks, and blowing cash [...] Yet it burns with an underdog's passion and a champion's spite". [45] Pitchfork Media's Sean Fennessey called it "mood music for the mindless" and wrote that its production team "has given this album surprising cohesion". [48] Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone commented that Khalifa "manages to give life to those kinds of cash-gorged perma-baked clichés by warmly luxuriating in the space between pop's fresh-faced exuberance and hip-hop's easy arrogance". [50]
The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 197,000 copies in the United States behind Britney Spears' Femme Fatale which debuted at number one and opened up with first week sales of 276,000 copies in its first week alone. [1] It entered at number 1 on Billboard 's R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and Rap Albums chart. [56] [57] In its second week, the album dipped to number 5 on the US Billboard 200 after selling additional 59,300 copies, bringing its total sales in the US to 257,500 copies. [58] In its third and fourth week on the US charts, the album sold another 37,000 and 34,000 copies, bringing its total sales in the US to 328,000 copies. [59] As of June 2015, the album has sold 892,000 copies in the United States. [60] On June 22, 2016 the album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over two million units in the United States. [61]
In Canada, Rolling Papers debuted at number 6 on the Canadian Albums Chart. [62] The album debuted at number 47 on the UK Albums Chart, and in its second week, slipped to number 78. [63] The album debuted at number 2 on the UK R&B Albums Chart, and maintained that position in its second week. [64] Additionally, Rolling Papers debuted at number 35 on the Norwegian Albums Chart, [65] number 49 on the Dutch Albums Chart [66] and number 60 on the French Albums Chart. [63] [67]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "When I'm Gone" | Eric Dan, Big Jerm | 4:09 | |
2. | "On My Level" (featuring Too $hort) |
| Jim Jonsin | 4:32 |
3. | "Black and Yellow" | StarGate | 3:37 | |
4. | "Roll Up" |
| StarGate | 3:47 |
5. | "Hopes and Dreams" |
| Brandon Carrier | 3:59 |
6. | "Wake Up" |
| StarGate | 3:46 |
7. | "The Race" |
|
| 5:35 |
8. | "Star of the Show" (featuring Chevy Woods) |
| E. Dan | 4:46 |
9. | "No Sleep" |
| Benny Blanco | 3:12 |
10. | "Get Your Shit" |
| E. Dan | 4:36 |
11. | "Top Floor" | Pop & Oak | 3:42 | |
12. | "Fly Solo" |
| E. Dan | 3:20 |
13. | "Rooftops" (featuring Curren$y) |
| Bei Maejor | 4:21 |
14. | "Cameras" |
| E. Dan | 4:29 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
15. | "Taylor Gang" (featuring Chevy Woods) |
| Lex Luger | 5:35 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
15. | "Middle of You" (featuring Chevy Woods, Nikkiya & MDMA) |
|
| 4:16 |
16. | "Stoned" |
| StarGate | 3:31 |
Credits for Rolling Papers adapted from Allmusic. [68]
|
|
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) [86] | Gold | 40,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [87] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [88] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [89] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
This section needs additional citations for verification .(October 2013) |
Region | Date | Format(s) |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | March 28, 2011 | CD, digital download |
Canada | March 29, 2011 | |
United States [90] [91] | ||
Japan | April 4, 2011 |
Tyree Cinque Simmons, known professionally as DJ Drama, is an American disc jockey (DJ), record executive and music promoter. He initially gained recognition as the DJ for Atlanta-based rapper T.I., and continued to gain prominence hosting mixtapes for other hip hop artists. His trademark Gangsta Grillz series is present on releases of which he has compiled; it has been popularized by artists including Lil Wayne, Tyler the Creator, Snoop Dogg, Yo Gotti, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Fabolous, Jeezy, Meek Mill, and Gucci Mane, among others. Alongside record producer and fellow Philadelphia native Don Cannon, he co-founded the record label Generation Now in 2015, an imprint of Atlantic Records which has signed artists including Lil Uzi Vert and Jack Harlow.
Cameron Jibril Thomaz, better known by his stage name Wiz Khalifa, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor and entrepreneur from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He signed with the local independent label Rostrum Records to release his debut studio album, Show and Prove (2006). His contract entered a short-lived joint venture with Warner Bros. Records the following year. His Eurodance-influenced 2008 single, "Say Yeah" received urban radio airplay and entered both the Rhythmic Top 40 and Hot Rap Songs charts, becoming his first minor hit.
Rostrum Records is an American independent record label initially located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, now located in Los Angeles, California. Benjy Grinberg is the founder and president of the label, which currently has sixteen artists on its roster, some of the more notable artists being Mac Miller, Wiz Khalifa, Rich the Kid, Mod Sun, Fat Nick, The Bird and the Bee, Donora, Lambo Anlo, TeamMate, Mike Taylor, BRÅVES, Juliann Alexander, and Boaz. Rostrum Records has sold millions of albums and singles, and Rostrum's artists have been nominated for a combined total of eleven Grammy Awards.
"Black and Yellow" is a song by American rapper Wiz Khalifa from his third studio album, Rolling Papers. It was released on September 14, 2010, as the lead single from the album. The song was written by Khalifa, along with Stargate, who produced it. It was released as a CD single in honor of Record Store Day. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Wiz Khalifa's first number-one single in the US.
This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2011.
The discography of American rapper Wiz Khalifa consists of seven studio albums, one compilation album, one soundtrack album, three extended plays (EP), two collaborative albums, 84 singles, seventeen promotional singles, twenty-one mixtapes, and 82 music videos. After signing to the Pittsburgh-based independent label Rostrum Records as a teenager, Khalifa released his first mixtape Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania, and his first studio album, Show and Prove (2006). Following the release of Show and Prove, Warner Bros. Records signed Khalifa in 2007 as part of a joint deal with Rostrum. At Warner, Khalifa released the singles "Youngin' on His Grind" and "Say Yeah". The latter became his first song to appear on a Billboard chart, peaking at number 20 on the US Hot Rap Songs. Disagreements with Warner over the release of a purported major-label debut album led Khalifa to part ways with the label, and release his second studio album Deal or No Deal in 2009 on Rostrum Records alone.
"Roll Up" is a song by American rapper Wiz Khalifa. It was released as the second single from his third studio album, Rolling Papers; having been written by Wiz Khalifa, Kevin McCall and Stargate.
"Young, Wild & Free" is a song by American rappers Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa, featuring vocals from American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars. It was released on October 11, 2011, by Atlantic Records as the lead single from the soundtrack of the film, Mac & Devin Go to High School, in which the rappers star in. The track was written by Mars, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Brody Brown, Snoop Dogg, and Wiz Khalifa. The track samples two other songs, "Toot It & Boot It" (2010) and "Sneakin' in the Back" (1974), songwriting credits were added for a total of seventeen. Produced by the Smeezingtons during a freestyle studio session and never meant to be heard; Aaron Bay-Shuck considered it a potential hit and asked the trio to finish it. After the song was finished, Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa were added.
Mac & Devin Go to High School is the collaborative soundtrack to the film of the same name, as well as a collaborative studio album by American rappers and film stars Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa. It was released on December 13, 2011, by Atlantic Records. The album features guest appearances from Bruno Mars, Juicy J, Curren$y and Mike Posner. The album is supported by the lone hit single, "Young, Wild & Free". The album received positive reviews from music critics, who praised Snoop's and Khalifa's technical rapping abilities and production choices. The soundtrack debuted at number 29 on the US Billboard 200, and has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Malcolm James McCormick, known professionally as Mac Miller, was an American rapper. Miller began his career in Pittsburgh's local hip hop scene in 2007, at the age of 15. In 2010, he signed a record deal with independent label Rostrum Records and released his breakthrough mixtapes K.I.D.S. (2010) and Best Day Ever (2011). Miller's debut studio album, Blue Slide Park (2011), became the first independently distributed debut album to top the US Billboard 200 since 1995.
O.N.I.F.C. is the fourth studio album by American rapper Wiz Khalifa. The album was released on December 4, 2012, by Atlantic Records and Rostrum Records. The album's title was inspired by the album H.N.I.C. by Prodigy of Mobb Deep, and is an initialism for "Only Nigga In First Class". Upon release, O.N.I.F.C. received generally mixed reviews from contemporary music critics. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 selling 148,000 copies in its first week.
"Till I Die" is a song by American singer Chris Brown featuring American rappers Big Sean and Wiz Khalifa. It was written by the artists alongside Marcella Araica and producer Danja. "Till I Die" was released digitally on April 13, 2012, as the third single from Brown's fifth studio album, Fortune (2012). It was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States on May 1, 2012. "Till I Die" is an uptempo hip hop song that displays elements of electro music and features military drumbeats, R&B synths and "arcade-game blips". The song contains lyrics about women, smoking weed, partying in the club and living the good life.
"Toot It and Boot It" is the debut single by American rapper YG featuring uncredited vocals from American singer Ty Dolla Sign, taken from the former's second mixtape The Real 4Fingaz (2010). The song was officially released as on June 8, 2010 by Def Jam Recordings. The song peaked at number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 12 on the US Hot Rap Songs chart. An official remix along with its music video was released, featuring additional appearances from fellow American rappers 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg. The song features samples of "Songs In the Wind" by The Association, part of their 1966 album Renaissance. The track was later sampled on "Young, Wild & Free" by Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa.
Doggumentary is the eleventh studio album by American West Coast hip hop recording artist Snoop Dogg. It was released on March 29, 2011 on the Priority Records record label. The album was produced by Battlecat, The Cataracs, Gorillaz, David Banner, THX, DJ Khalil, Fredwreck, Jake One, David Guetta, Mike Dean, Jeff Bhasker, Lex Luger, Meech Wells, Mr. Porter, Rick Rock, Rick Rude, Scoop DeVille, Scott Storch, Warryn Campbell, Kanye West, DJ Reflex, among others.
Hotel California is the third studio album by American rapper Tyga. It was released on April 9, 2013, by Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records; distributed by Republic Records. The album features guest appearances from Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, The Game, Jadakiss, while the production on the album was handled by DJ Mustard, Detail, Cool & Dre, David D.A. Doman, Mars of 1500 or Nothin', The Olympicks, SAP and Ryan Hunt, among others.
Kevin Lee "Chevy" Woods is an American rapper and songwriter from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is best known for his affiliation with hometown native rapper Wiz Khalifa, having signed to his Taylor Gang record label as among its first signees in the late 2000s. Woods made his first major appearance on Khalifa's 2011 song "Taylor Gang," which received gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He has released the collaborative project The Cookout (2011) with Khalifa, as well as his Gangland mixtape series.
Sudan Ameer Williams, better known by his stage name Iamsu!, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer from Richmond, California. He is the lead member of the hip hop group the HBK Gang, which was formed in 2008 and joined by fellow Bay Area artists including Kehlani and Sage the Gemini. He is best known for his guest appearances on Sage the Gemini's 2013 single "Gas Pedal" and LoveRance's 2011 single "Up!," both of which peaked within the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100. He signed with Alternative Distribution Alliance to release his debut studio album Sincerely Yours (2014), which moderately entered the Billboard 200 and received mixed reviews.
"We Dem Boyz" is a song by American rapper Wiz Khalifa from his fifth studio album Blacc Hollywood (2014). On February 11, 2014, it was released by Rostrum Records and Atlantic Records as the album's first single. It was produced by Detail and Choppa Boi. The song peaked at number 43 of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
"You and Your Friends" is a song by American rapper Wiz Khalifa featuring fellow American rapper Snoop Dogg and American singer Ty Dolla Sign from the former's fifth studio album Blacc Hollywood (2014). It was released on July 22, 2014 by Rostrum and Atlantic Records as the album's second official single. It was produced by DJ Mustard and Mike Free and is a bonus track on the deluxe version of Blacc Hollywood.
Rolling Papers 2 is the sixth studio album by American rapper Wiz Khalifa. It was released on July 13, 2018, by Taylor Gang Entertainment and Atlantic Records, and is the sequel to his major-label debut Rolling Papers (2011). The album features guest appearances by Gucci Mane, Swae Lee, Ty Dolla Sign, PartyNextDoor, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Snoop Dogg, among others. It also features appearances from R&B duo THEMXXNLIGHT, as well as Jimmy Wopo, who is credited posthumously following his death on June 18, 2018, less than a month before the album's release. The production is handled by Cardo, Mike Will Made It, Tay Keith, and Young Chop, among others.
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