Deal or No Deal

iTunes Review

Wiz Khalifa’s second official album follows a string of popular mixtapes, both solo and in collaboration with New Orleans’ Curren$y. A military brat who came of age in Pittsburgh, Khalifa is uniquely positioned within the regional framework of contemporary rap. Because he has no need to pledge allegiance solely to the South, the Northeast or the Midwest, he is free to incorporate multiple styles into his sound. “Goodbye” and “Hit tha Flo” fit in with the bombastic street rap of Atlanta; “Friendly” echoes the surround-sound synthesizer melodies of Kanye West. Meanwhile, “Lose Control,” “Superstar” and “Right Here” have more in common with R&B singer/rappers like T-Pain and The-Dream. Ultimately, Deal or No Deal distinguishes itself not on the basis of its beats, but with the charm of Khalifa’s rhymes. He is easygoing but not lightweight, and technically proficient but not collegiate. “Chewy” and “Red Carpet” are smart and catchy, plus they have pop appeal. It’s a surprisingly uncomplicated proposition, but Khalifa is one of the few contemporary rappers able to achieve it.