Kush & Orange Juice is a mixtape

Mixtape

A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...

 by rapper Wiz Khalifa

Wiz Khalifa

Cameron Jibril Thomaz , better known by the stage name Wiz Khalifa , is an American rapper. He released his debut album, Show and Prove, in 2006, and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 2007...

, released as a free online download on April 14, 2010. His eighth independently produced mixtape, Kush & Orange Juice gained notice by becoming the No. 1 search and trending topics on Google

Google

Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...

 and Twitter

Twitter

Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...

 following its release.

Khalifa released the mixtape by posting download links to his Twitter

Twitter

Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...

 profile on Wednesday, April 14, 2010. The hashtag #kushandorangejuice became the No. 6 trending topic

Trending topic

A trending topic is a word, phrase or topic that is posted multiple times on the social networking and microblogging service Twitter. Trending topics become popular either through a concerted effort by users or because of an event that prompts people to talk about one specific topic...

 on the microblogging service after its release. Due to Khalifa's devoted grassroots fan base, the hashtag reached the No. 1 spot on Twitter and ranked No. 1 on Google’s hot search trends. #kushandorangejuice remained among the top trending items on Twitter for 3 days.

The cover art of the mixtape is an homage to singer David Ruffin

David Ruffin

Davis Eli "David" Ruffin was an American soul singer and musician most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of the Temptations from 1964 to 1968...

's album Gentleman Ruffin

Gentleman Ruffin

Gentleman Ruffin is the final solo album from Temptations singer, David Ruffin before his death. The cover art was also the inspiration for the art on rapper Wiz Khalifa's mixtape Kush and Orange Juice.-Track listing:#"I Wanna Be with You"...

(1980). The subject matter includes stories about partying, pretty women, and smoking marijuana; Khalifa stated to MTV

MTV

MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....

's Mixtape Daily that he titled the release Kush and Orange Juice because "it's perfect for wake-and-bake". Rapper Killa Kyleon has a guest appearance on the track "Spotlight".

Samples

On the song "The Kid Frankie", Khalifa raps over the English R&B band Loose Ends

Loose Ends (band)

Loose Ends was a successful British R&B band that had several urban contemporary hits. The trio was formed in London in 1980, initially comprising vocalist and guitarist Carl McIntosh, vocalist Jane Eugene, and keyboard player, writer and founder Steve Nichol...

' No. 1 hit single, "Hangin' on a String" (1985). Khalifa stated that the song was inspired by the character Frankie from the film The Business

The Business (film)

The Business is a 2005 British drama/crime/gangster film written and directed by Nick Love. The film stars Danny Dyer, Tamer Hassan and Roland Manookian all of which were in Love's previous film The Football Factory. It also stars Geoff Bell and Georgina Chapman...

(2005), who listens to Loose Ends while traveling around Spain. The song "Never Been" samples

Sampling (music)

In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...

 "Schala's Theme" from the soundtrack to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...

 role-playing game Chrono Trigger, composed by Yasunori Mitsuda

Yasunori Mitsuda

is a Japanese video game composer, sound programmer, and musician. He has composed music for or worked on over 35 games, and has contributed to over 15 other albums...

. "In the Cut" samples "Let Go" by Frou Frou

Frou Frou

Frou Frou was a British electronic duo composed of Imogen Heap and Guy Sigsworth. They released their only album, Details, in 2002. Both of them write, produce and play instruments on the tracks, while Heap also provides the vocals...

 from the end credits of the film Garden State

Garden State (film)

Garden State is a 2004 comedy-drama film written by, directed by, and starring Zach Braff, with Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, and Sir Ian Holm. The film centers on Andrew Largeman , a 26-year-old actor/waiter who returns to his hometown in New Jersey after his mother dies...

, the song "We're Done" samples the single "Our Time Is Here" by Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato

"She’s got the range, the full emotional spectrum, incredible control… Vocally, she’s the best thing Disney’s had since Christina Aguilera."—Producer Toby Gad on Demi Lovato's vocals...

 from the Disney soundtrack Camp Rock

Camp Rock (soundtrack)

Camp Rock is the soundtrack of the Disney Channel Original Movie of the same name, released on June 17, 2008. Full songs of the album were made available on Camp Rocks official web site for one week, beginning June 10, 2008, and the full soundtrack premiered on Radio Disney on June 14, 2008 during...

.

Critical reception

The mixtape garnered mostly positive reviews, with New York Magazine calling the mixtape "a nice showcase of the youngun’s commercial appeal", and that it "makes us think classic G-Funk (specifically, D.J. Quik) and a party mindset." Creative Loafing Charlotte gave a more mixed review, but stated that it was hopefully "a sign of good things to come from a rapper who I always felt was borderline dope". Entertainment Weekly

Entertainment Weekly

Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...

stated that the mixtape was "pretty solid", and "difficult to resist". PopMatters

PopMatters

PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...

 called it "a great listen." Pitchfork Media

Pitchfork Media

Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...

 rated the mixtape 7.2 out of 10, stating "for the most part, Kush and Orange Juice is a surprisingly relaxed and easy listen".

Track listing