(http://www.wizkhalifa.com/sites/wizkhalifa.wmg-gardens.com/files/affac14409dd39d6625b792dec1d2a1a.jpg)
Every rap artist has a persona. The development of the persona does not occur overnight, but as a rapper gains more popularity they stick with the persona that their fans love. Wiz has developed into a "weed" rapper which has drastically changed his flow over time. Flow is the combination of rhythm and lyrics in a rap song.
Wiz originally rapped to beats that were upbeat, had a heavy, frequent bass, and this encouraged him to spit his lyrics much more rapidly. The lyrical content was different early on as well because his lyrics were much more thug-like, rapping about money, guns, cars, and the like. Wiz now raps solely about his lifestyle of smoking weed and drinking gin. In turn his beats are much slower, relaxed, and have a cloudier feel to them, almost as if the track was laced with marijuana smoke. He even sings in his songs now giving it a much more soulful quality.
Wiz Khalifa's persona is one-of-a-kind, and that is part of what makes him so popular to kids today.
Wiz originally rapped to beats that were upbeat, had a heavy, frequent bass, and this encouraged him to spit his lyrics much more rapidly. The lyrical content was different early on as well because his lyrics were much more thug-like, rapping about money, guns, cars, and the like. Wiz now raps solely about his lifestyle of smoking weed and drinking gin. In turn his beats are much slower, relaxed, and have a cloudier feel to them, almost as if the track was laced with marijuana smoke. He even sings in his songs now giving it a much more soulful quality.
Wiz Khalifa's persona is one-of-a-kind, and that is part of what makes him so popular to kids today.
(2006)
(2012)
"Weed" persona? I don't understand how a drug can be someone's personality. As a fan of Wiz, I can see where you're coming from acknowledging the change in his style (which I am not a fan of).
ReplyDeleteI know it sounds crazy but Wiz is characterized as a "weed rapper". Another name for this would be a "stoner rapper" or a lifestyle rapper if that makes more sense in this context.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear more about what you think this does to an artist's ethos? What do you think of the transformation. Weblogs are not only to provide information, but as your OWN ethos grows, people will want your opinion.
ReplyDelete