Wiz Khalifa Reveals How Kush + Orange Juice 2 Honors His Legacy While Showing Growth
Rapper discusses his approach to balancing nostalgia with evolution in Apple Music interview
Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a content writer, covering parenting and films. She writes for Hollywoodjunction and Momjunction. Her interest in journaling and writing made this biotechnology postgraduate to take up content as her full-time profession.
Read full bio of Reshmi Das
Image: Instagram
Wiz Khalifa recently sat down with Apple Music to discuss how his new album Kush + Orange Juice 2 maintains the spirit of its iconic predecessor while showcasing his artistic evolution over the past 14 years.
In an interview with Noor Tagouri, now available on Apple Music and YouTube, the Pittsburgh rapper explained the delicate balance of honoring his legacy while demonstrating his growth as an artist.
The original Kush + Orange Juice mixtape, released in 2010, is widely considered a defining moment in Wiz Khalifa’s career. It helped establish his laid-back, weed-friendly persona and distinctive sound that blended hip-hop with elements of jazz and funk. The project became a cultural touchstone for many fans and cemented Khalifa’s place in the hip-hop landscape.
In the interview, Khalifa discusses how the sequel maintains the essence of what made the original special while reflecting the artist he has become. The conversation explores how he approached creating a follow-up to such a beloved project while ensuring it wasn’t simply a nostalgic retread.
“It’s about keeping the essence of what made the original special while showing how I’ve grown,” Khalifa appears to explain in the clip. The rapper, known for his distinctive flow and cannabis-centric lifestyle brand, seems to acknowledge the challenge of revisiting such an iconic project from his earlier career while bringing something new to the table.
The interview reflects on how Khalifa has evolved both personally and artistically since the original mixtape dropped over a decade ago, and how those changes are reflected in the new project.
Khalifa has been busy promoting the album, which dropped on April 20, 2023 (4/20) – a date significant in cannabis culture. In a recent Instagram post, he shared: “Me and will started together and successfully released the best album of my career. Keep your weed close and your best friends closer. Taylor Gang the World.”
This suggests that Khalifa worked with longtime collaborator Will (likely producer ID Labs, who worked on the original mixtape) to create what he considers his finest work to date. The post included multiple behind-the-scenes photos of the recording process, showing Khalifa’s excitement about the project.
The album’s release coincided with major celebrations in Denver, where Khalifa performed at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. “I love performing in Denver and being able to sell out red rocks on 4/20 only adds to an already legendary day,” he shared on Instagram following the show.
For Khalifa, whose personal brand is deeply connected to cannabis culture, releasing the sequel on the unofficial marijuana holiday was particularly meaningful. He encouraged fans to “light the best of the best and get rid of the rest” and even suggested they “throw a Kush and Orange Juice 2 party” to properly celebrate the album’s release.
Khalifa has been actively promoting the album with appearances in New York City and other locations. “I like doing promo tours because I get to explain what it was like making the album and get completely smacked while doing so,” he shared candidly on social media.
His promotional activities have included a mix of interviews, performances, and social media content where he’s encouraged fans to share their favorite tracks from the new album.
The artist has been actively engaging with fans about their favorite tracks from the album. “Drop your favorite tracks in the comments,” he encouraged in one post announcing the album’s release. This direct interaction with listeners has been a hallmark of Khalifa’s approach to connecting with his fanbase.
Throughout his promotional posts, Khalifa consistently signs off with “Taylor Gang the world” – a reference to his record label and crew. This reinforces how he sees the new album as not just a personal project but an extension of the collective vision he’s built throughout his career.
As Wiz Khalifa continues to promote Kush + Orange Juice 2, the interview with Apple Music provides insight into how one of hip-hop’s most distinctive voices approaches the challenge of revisiting his past work while continuing to move forward creatively.
For fans of the original mixtape and newcomers alike, the conversation offers context for understanding how Khalifa has managed to create a sequel that honors his legacy while reflecting his journey as an artist.
The full interview with Noor Tagouri is now available on Apple Music and YouTube for fans wanting to hear more about Khalifa’s creative process and the making of Kush + Orange Juice 2.
Trivia
Read full bio of Reshmi Das
