Releasing mixtapes since long before he broke out on the world stage, Wiz Khalifa has reliably used the format to work through fleeting moods and feelings away from a high-stakes album cycle. In the case of Laugh Now, Fly Later, the charismatic Pittsburgh MC builds anticipation for 2018’s Rolling Papers 2—the long-gestating sequel to his signature album—while showcasing his talents without a crowded stable of guests. Named after Ice Cube’s 2006 album Laugh Now, Cry Later, this lean and focused effort includes only one credited vocal feature. That would be Odd Future co-founder Casey Veggies, who lends wonky self-awareness to opener “Royal Highness.” Wiz is on his own from there, and even the production eschews bells and whistles. Much of it comes from Taylor Gang regular Sledgren, with a few notable exceptions. 808 Mafia guides Wiz’s half-sung refrains on the dark and roomy “Letterman” and Tampa crew J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League bolster “Plane 4 U,” a love letter to weed that even names the states where it’s legal. Wiz and Sledgren are a natural fit, the producer reinforcing the rapper’s mantra-like flow as he lets occasional bouts of anxiety ripple through his otherwise peaceable delivery. Also featuring Spanish producer Cookin Soul, the soul-searching “Figure It Out” dispenses advice to a rising “playboy” from one who knows. “Long Way to Go” unfolds like a slinky freestyle before a snippet of an interview lets Wiz share more of his personality. And the beat drops out altogether in parts of “Global Access,” a track about repping weed and Taylor Gang no matter where on the tour circuit he winds up. More like an extended interlude, “City of Steel” references toiling away on the coming album from the smoke-softened safety of the studio. Shrugging off the chart-conquering ambitions of Wiz Khalifa’s collaborations with Charlie Puth, Bruno Mars, and Imagine Dragons, Laugh Now, Fly Later reminds us just how much dry wit and relatable emotion the rapper can work through without the safety net of lyrical collaborators. Largely alone here, he proves that he’s earned the low-slung confidence oozing from his every word.
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