It’s always struck me as odd when on a rapper’s very first release–a point when little to no people have heard of them–they talk about unconditional affection from Perfect 10 models, sold out shows, swank cars and mountains of cash, as if they posses something inherent, which draws the finer things in life towards them. Don’t get me wrong, because my visceral instincts and I are BFFs, I have a true appreciation for hip-hop hyperbole. While my suspension of disbelief is used liberally, it needs to be nourished by the solidity of the music it’s being applied to. That being said, the main problem with Wiz Khalifa’s Deal or No Deal is that it’s just not all that convincing that Wiz Khalifa possesses such an indestructible aura. Production-wise, the synth-saturated beats on Deal or No Deal would provide maple-syrup-thickness for larger-than-life braggadocio, but the contrived and clumsy metaphors on “Red Carpet(Like A Movie)” are overly predictable.  Meanwhile, “Young Boy Talk” writes lyrical checks that Wiz just doesn’t seem to be able to cash, such as “I’m the rawest, a motherfucking animal.” While the the threats on Deal or No Deal seem to be the empty symptoms of Napoleon complex, Wiz is most efficient when using the airy synths for lusting. “Friendly” features Wiz Khalifa alongside Curren$y, trading witty tales of stoned skirt-chasing. And, on “Superstar” Wiz efficiently auto-tunes grandiose pick-up lines, finally utilizing his seemingly empty boasts the way they are supposed to be used (to get girls).

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