Wiz Khalifa

Lore & Background

Khalifa's path to collaboration with Snoop Dogg began with his rise through independent and major labels. After signing to Rostrum Records as a teenager, he released his first mixtape, Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania, and his first studio album, Show and Prove (2006). Warner Bros. Records signed him in 2007, where he released the singles "Youngin' on His Grind" and "Say Yeah" — the latter became his first song to appear on a Billboard chart, peaking at number 20 on the US Hot Rap Songs. Disagreements with Warner over a major-label debut led him to part ways and release his second studio album, Deal or No Deal (2009), on Rostrum. His eighth mixtape, Kush & Orange Juice (2010), garnered widespread attention after topping Google's Hot Search Trends list, bringing him to Atlantic Records. His first single for Atlantic, "Black and Yellow," peaked atop the US Billboard Hot 100 and has since received nine-times platinum certification by the RIAA. In 2011, Khalifa guest appeared on "5 O'Clock" by T-Pain and released "Young, Wild & Free" with Snoop Dogg featuring Bruno Mars; both songs peaked within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.

Reader's Guide

Wiz Khalifa is an American rapper whose career is documented through a substantial discography: 7 studio albums, 1 compilation album, 1 soundtrack album, 11 EPs, 5 collaborative albums, 107 singles (including 52 as a featured artist), 17 promotional singles, 26 mixtapes, and 82 music videos. His early work includes the mixtape Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania and the studio album Show and Prove (2006), both released after signing to Rostrum Records. After a brief stint with Warner Bros. Records, he returned to Rostrum for Deal or No Deal (2009). The mixtape Kush & Orange Juice (2010) brought him to Atlantic Records, where he released the chart-topping single "Black and Yellow" (nine-times platinum) and the album Rolling Papers (2011), which peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. His fourth studio album, O.N.I.F.C. (2012), peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and topped both the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums charts. It included the singles "Work Hard, Play Hard" and "Remember You" (featuring the Weeknd). Khalifa also collaborated with Maroon 5 on "Payphone," which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and became his first song to top the UK singles chart. Blacc Hollywood followed in 2014, featuring the single "We Dem Boyz" (peaked at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100). The compilation album Khalifa was released in 2016, and Rolling Papers 2 was released in 2018, peaking at number two on the Billboard 200.

Did You Know?

• Wiz Khalifa's first song to appear on a Billboard chart was "Say Yeah," which peaked at number 20 on the US Hot Rap Songs chart.
• His mixtape Kush & Orange Juice (2010) gained widespread attention after topping Google's Hot Search Trends list.
• "Payphone" by Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa became his first song to top the UK singles chart.
• Khalifa has released 26 mixtapes and 82 music videos over his career.