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Wiz Khalifa is a famous American rapper and songwriter. On September 8, 1987, he was born in Minot, North Dakota, to a military family. He spent the early part of his childhood living around the world, including Germany and South Carolina. When he was seven years old, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
His debut studio album “Show and Prove” was released in 2006, under Rostrum Records. The album saw little success outside of the Pittsburgh area, but Wiz continued to release mixtapes at a prolific rate. One of Wiz’s most successful singles was “Black and Yellow,” released in 2010. “Black and Yellow” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Wiz only the fourth rapper ever to do so with a debut entry on that chart.
There is more to know about your favorite artist; keep reading to know 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Wiz Khalifa:
#1 – Wiz Khalifa Isn’t His Real Name:
Wiz Khalifa is his stage name. His original name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz; his first name is Kameron, which means “perfect warrior.”
#2 -He Knew as a Kid that He Would Cover His Body in Tattoos:
Growing up, Wiz fell in love with tattoos and the art of tattooing. It wasn’t until he was sixteen years old when he got his first tattoo. At 19 years old, Wiz began to cover almost every inch of his body with different tattoos, including a star on both sides of each ankle and a portrait on one leg of American Singer Johnny Cash. After receiving so many compliments from people who have seen him covered head-to-toe in tattoos, he didn’t want to stop there and continues to transform his body into a work of art – only now, with more than 100 tattoos.
#3 – His Mom Took Him to Get His First Tattoo:
When Wiz was 15 years old, he went with his mom to get his first tattoo, and it was a small skull on his shoulder. He didn’t understand the pain of getting a tattoo at that time because he had never felt anything like it before. He didn’t know if he could go through with it; however, after only breaking out in a couple of sweats and handling it pretty well, Wiz began to feel no pain and even give suggestions about what design or location would look good for the next tattoo which came shortly after another portrait of Johnny Cash on one arm along with designs all up and down both arms.
#4 – He Willingly Walked Out of a Record Deal:
After Wiz Khalifa released his mixtape “Show and Proved” in 2005, many record labels began to notice him. After meeting with several labels, including Warner Bros., Atlantic Records, and Rostrum Records (owned by Benjy Grinberg), he decided to sign with the latter label for $1 million. However, after only one album under that contract, he felt like it was no longer beneficial because the large amount of money that he had been given wasn’t doing anything for him; instead, they were taking advantage of him and pushing poor singles onto radio stations threatening to cancel the deal altogether if he didn’t go along with what they wanted. Luckily though, they let him out of his contract, and he now holds the record for being their youngest artist ever to be dropped from a major label.
#5 -His Mom Supported His Pot Habit:
Wiz Khalifa’s mom knew that her son was smoking weed from a pretty young age but allowed him to continue with his habit as long as he continued going to school and got good grades. Wiz would go on the road more often than not and try to balance going to school and staying involved in his music career. In 2009, Wiz checked into rehab for marijuana addiction, and following his release, he moved back to Pittsburgh and lived with his mother. This was when Wiz began writing songs for a new album, including “Black & Yellow,” which remains at the number 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 as of January 11, 2011.
#6 -He Spends a Lot on Weed Alone:
Wiz Khalifa spends a lot of money on weed alone. In an interview with The Breakfast Club from Power 105.1, he stated that he spends about $10,000 a month on weed alone since some months are heavier than others. Although some may think that this is too much money to be spending monthly on an illegal substance, Wiz brings up a good point it’s not going towards hurting anyone or anything like that. Instead, he is using his money to support something that he enjoys doing, which helps him relax, instead of going out and buying alcohol or other substances that may negatively alter his mental state.
#7 -He Has a Tattoo of His Stage Name:
As mentioned earlier, Wiz Khalifa began getting tattoos at the age of sixteen years old. This includes his first tattoo, which was only about an inch tall and located on one shoulder before he moved onto, covering almost every inch of both arms with different images from Johnny Cash to portraits of rappers, including Tupac Shakur. One particular tattoo caught my attention a tattoo reading “Wiz” on his right bicep underneath three stars – this is his stage name which he has tattooed to memorialize it.
#8 -He Moved a Lot:
Wiz Khalifa was born in Minot, North Dakota, for about three years before moving to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. But Wiz’s journey doesn’t stop there. Wiz traveled around the world and spent time at different high schools throughout Pittsburgh, including Taylor Allderdice High School, where he later dropped out after only one semester because college wasn’t challenging enough. He has lived in countries like Germany, United Kingdom, and Japan because his parents served in the military. He began making music from home and releasing mixtapes which led him to meet people interested in working with him, most notably Benjy Grinberg, whose imprint signed Wiz Khalifa at age seventeen.
#9 -He is an Avid Supporter of the Pittsburgh Steelers:
If Wiz Khalifa isn’t enough, he’s also a huge fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team – something that seems quite strange because most celebrities are fans of either the New York Yankees or the New York Giants. But Wiz is loyal to his hometown and roots; not only would he play songs during games for them, but he would be invited to come onto the field after they won (he’s even met, Bill Cowher). He’s currently working on new music, which should include some collaboration with Snoop Dogg (featured in “Black & Yellow”), including another song named “Mr. Wrong” featuring French Montana. As for collaborations with artists outside of the rap scene, he plans on working with Katy Perry and Bruno Mars in the future.
#10 -Wiz Khalifa doesn’t eat pork:
Wiz has publicly stated that he does not eat pork because of religious beliefs. He has also been seen in photos wearing the Islamic star and crescent symbol around his neck at concerts and appearances.
Conclusion:
Wiz Khalifa’s influence on the rap game is undeniable. He has been nominated for and won several awards, including three Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, and one BET Award. His popularity continues to grow as he releases new music every year and performs at sold-out concerts all across the country.
