2005–2008: Early mixtapes and Show and Prove
Rostrum Records president Benjy Grinberg first heard about Wiz Khalifa in 2004 when the rapper's contribution to a mixtape of various new Pittsburgh artists attracted his interest.When Grinberg finally met the 16-year-old artist, he immediately decided he wanted to work with him.
Khalifa signed to the label shortly after and began a seven-year period of artist development.Khalifa released his first mixtape, Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania, in 2005. The mixtape paved the way for his first full-length album entitled Show and Prove in 2006. Khalifa was declared an "artist to watch" that year in Rolling Stone magazine
In 2007, Khalifa signed to Warner Bros. Records and released two mixtapes through Rostrum Records: Grow Season, hosted by DJ Green Lantern and released on July 4, 2007, and Prince of the City 2, released on November 20, 2007. His debut Warner Bros. single "Say Yeah" reached number 25 on the Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 music chart and number 20 on Billboard's Hot Rap Tracks.
Khalifa released the mixtapes Star Power in September 2008, and Flight School in April 2009 on Rostrum Records.
Khalifa parted ways with Warner Bros. Records in July 2009 after numerous delays in releasing his planned debut album for the label, First Flight.
2010: Tour
The tour, scheduled to last from September to November 2010, has, as of October, sold out every venue. In November 2010, during his "Waken Baken" tour at East Carolina University, Khalifa was arrested for possession and trafficking of marijuana. He was released the next morning after a $300K bail, and resumed his tour. Khalifa performed in a cypher during the 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards.
2010–2012: Mainstream success, Rolling Papers and O.N.I.F.C.
Khalifa released "Black and Yellow", his first single for Rostrum/Atlantic. On March 29, 2011, Khalifa released his first studio album, Rolling Papers in the US.On June 26, 2011, Khalifa was nominated and won Best New Artist at the BET Awards of 2011.
On April 11, 2012, Khalifa announced that he will release his second studio album titled Only Nigga In First Class but that it will be abbreviated as O.N.I.F.C. for release to mainstream markets.
2013–present: Blacc Hollywood and Rolling Papers 2
In April 2013, Khalifa revealed that after having his son he decided to work on a new album that he was planning to release in 2013.
On June 24, 2013, he announced that his fifth studio album would be titled Blacc Hollywood and would be released in 2013.
On February 11, 2014, Khalifa released Blacc Hollywood's first single titled "We Dem Boyz".
On March 31, 2015, Wiz Khalifa released an EP with fellow Taylor Gang artist Ty Dolla $ign, Talk About It In The Morning.That same month, Khalifa released the song "See You Again", a tribute to Paul Walker, who died during filming for Furious 7.
YOU ARE READING
The life of Wiz Khalifa.
FanficCameron Jibril Thomaz (born September 8, 1987), known professionally as Wiz Khalifa, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor and Stoner.
