Kush & NPR
Taylor Gang or … Insert 1000 & One Ways To Die Here. Remember when the internet was fun? Anyway, one of the Blog Era’s best rolls up to NPR’s Tiny Desk.
Happy Black Music Month!
This Black Music Month, Tiny Desk honors the anniversaries of landmark albums that have shaped the course of music and culture.
Wiz Khalifa’s Kush & Orange Juice came out 15 years ago. To honor the anniversary, the Pittsburgh emcee assembled a group of Tiny Desk veterans, Pennsylvania natives and his DJ to reimagine highlights from the classic mixtape, plus tracks from Kush & Orange Juice 2, its similar, yet more mature follow-up.
Something was happening during the entire show and lots of us in the room could feel it. We were waiting for him to engage with us, but he didn’t. I stepped in after a few songs to remind him that it was OK to do so — still, nothing. But then, after “Crime Bud and Women,” Wiz spoke to the audience for the first and only time, wiping away tears: “You made me cry. F*** y’all!”
I can muster up a few guesses as to why the emotion overflowed. Wiz had a host of family and friends present in this very intimate setting, including his father. And he did tell me how much he loves performing. But honestly, this sonic masterpiece was good enough to hit the tear ducts.
SET LIST
“Red Eye”
“Mezmorized”
“The Kid Frankie”
“Never Been”
“Up”
“Crime Bud and Women”MUSICIANS
Wiz Khalifa: vocals
Kenneth Wright: music director, bass
DJ Bonics: turntables
Uncle Bubz: keys
Russell Gelman-Sheehan: guitar
Kendall Lewis: drums