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Theres a similar, though far lazier and far more profitable, mechanism at work with Wiz Khalifa.

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The best of these, calledHow Fly, paired him with Curren$y.

1 in Black & Yellow.

Ten years afterHow Fly,2009aims to capture the bubbling nostalgia for early Obama-era rap.

86 Witnessis produced entirely by Philadelphias Small Professor, whose beats get cacophonous and heavy without losing their playfulness.

There are odes to Refrigerator Perry and John Gotti.

But what makes AJ Traceys self-titled album compelling is its willingness to hop genres and moods.

Though talented, Mike began his career as a carbon copy of what Earl had been doing.

Pleasant, if a bit familiar.