How They Came Up: The Wiz Khalifa Story

Filed Under (How They Came Up) by FuNkwoRm on 07-02-2011

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  • Started rapping when he was 8 years old
  • Began recording and released his first project at age 12
  • Started making a name for himself locally by battling MCs in the Pittsburgh area.
  • At 15, Wiz was singed to independent label Rostrom Records by founder and Pittsburgh native, Benjy Grinberg
  • He thought it was necessary to eventually expand to other cities but felt it was more important for artists to get the love and support of their hoemtown first.
  • With a team now behind him, Wiz kept recording and building his buzz in the city.
  • In 2005, Khalifa released his first mixtape, “Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania”.
  • Khalifa released his first full length album entitled “Show and Prove” in 2006.
  • Rolling Stone magazine named Khalifa an “artist to watch” that year.
  • In 2007, Khalifa signed to Warner Bros. Records and released two mixtapes through Rostrum Records

Wiz Khalifa on the internet: I’m definitely using the internet more. It’s the way to get the music out there. There’s a lot of artists that do their own thing and for me, the internet really works.

…keep working hard. Always work hard. And always put yourself into whatever it is that you’re doing. Keep putting material out there and let people know what you’re doing. Let them hear you…and keep working hard. Always work hard. – Wiz Khalifa

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  1. Crazy how someone could start that early rapping. Rostrom has alot of good music being released I really dig some of that Mac Miller. The beats are fire!

    Reply to Flowetic


  2. Flowetic, i’m old enough to have witnessed the birth of hip hop. Someone as young as Wiz can’t remember a life without it so i guess it’s not that unusual. I gotta check for more artists on Rostrom’s roster. Thanks for the heads up

    Reply to FuNkwoRm


  3. @Flowetic yeah Mac Miller is doing his thing too and my absolute favorite track from him is that “La La La La” that beat on it is so soulful its crazy

    Reply to TM101 Radio


  4. I respect this dudes hustle mos def. I don’t LOVE his music but he’s a hustler, which, like I said I respect.

    Reply to Selorm Denu


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