More important, he rolled through “Papers” with gusto, knocking out fine versions of “Black and Yellow,” “On My Level” and other cuts the fans dearly wanted to hear. Khalifa rocked the stoner vibe on multiple occasions, talking about little else between songs. Parents worrying that this sends the wrong message to their young ones might take heart in knowing that the two costumed characters stayed on opposite sides of the stage - thus the “joint” was never lit. It wasn’t the most subtle display, but it certainly underscored the lyrical content. One person came out dressed up like a giant joint, only to be joined by another wearing a gargantuan lighter outfit. Some of the sight gags, however, were quite impressive - in a ludicrous kind of way.

Whether he was singing lead, or simply enjoying the scene, Khalifa commanded the crowd’s attention throughout the show. The show featured guest stars (members of Khalifa’s popular crew, the Taylor Gang), a swirling light show and some interesting props, yet none of that overshadowed the star of the evening. Working before a college-age crowd of some 6,900 fans, Khalifa was full of energy and kept things rolling along at a fairly steady clip. He was a dynamic presence when I saw him last year at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco and even more memorable during this trip through town. Khalifa’s career, however, has been greatly aided by his live show. All of those things have combined to quickly make him one of the game’s top players - even though his second major-label offering, “O.N.I.F.C.,” isn’t even out yet. 1 in a genre filled with them, but he’s also quite handy with a rhyme, unafraid to push the musical boundaries of hip-hop and an absolute wiz at coming up with memorable hooks. That is not, however, all he has to offer. Khalifa, however, takes it to another level. Hip-hop has long embraced marijuana in its lyrics like no other genre - although, to be fair, other styles of music (even country) also regularly address the topic and no one bats an eye these days.

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