Wiz Khalifa was 16-year-old student at Pittsburgh's Taylor Allderdice High School when he attracted the attention of Rostrum Records president Benjy Grinberg. Over the course of the next several years, he would develop a massive grassroots following that culminated in the release of the landmark mixtape Kush & OJ and breakout smash "Black and Yellow" in 2010.
Today, September 8th, is Wiz's 29th birthday. Let us celebrate by revisiting 10 of the best tracks from the first half of his career, up until the 2011 release of Rolling Papers. Click through the gallery to listen.
"Say Yeah"
Khalifa's first single after signing to Warner Bros, "Say Yeah" is a melodic, electro-tinged club banger that feels like the production work of Khalifa's frequent collaborators, Norwegian duo Stargate. But it's actually the work of the perennially under-heralded Johnny Juliano, who sampled "Better Off Alone" by '90s Eurodance group Alice DeeJay.
The song peaked at #11 on the Hot 100. And Wiz Khalifa was on his way.
"Pittsburgh Sound"
Wiz Khalifa released his debut album Show and Prove (the album that would ultimately earn him a deal with Warner Bros) three days shy of his 19th birthday. "Pittsburgh Sound," the album's lead single, demonstrates a gritty New York influence that is no longer evident in Wiz's music. He was clearly listening to a ton of Cam'ron around then.
"Mezmorized"
The wake-and-bake is a time-honored traditions among stoners around the globe. In 2010, Wiz released the ultimate wake-and-bake soundtrack: Kush and OJ. The mixtape begins with "Mezmorized," a Cardo-produced track that is smooth and psychedelic with enough kick to motivate any weed enthusiast to get out of bed enough to grab his bong.
"Never Been"
Produced by Sledgren, "Never Been" features an immaculate flip of "Schala's Theme" from the 1995 SNES game "Chrono Trigger." Let this be a lesson to all you producers out there: when in doubt, draw on the rich and infinite well of video game music.
"In The Cut"
Another Cardo-produced Kush & OJ cut, "In The Cut" features a frantic drum break with some sort of third eye-opening reversed modal jazz sample and abundant usage of the 808 cowbell, a K&OJ's signature. The 808 cowbell is truly the gift that keeps on giving.
"This Plane"
By the time he released Deal or No Deal in 2009, Wiz was 22 years old and already at cruising altitude on his perma-high and flight to greatness. "This Plane" certainly evokes a soaring sensation and and signals the radio-friendly approach that he would later pursue even more keenly later in his career. "Tell them lames to deplane or let fly."
"The Thrill"
Empire of the Sun's "Walking on a Dream" is perfection, and a perfect compliment for Wiz's enthusiastic vocal style. It's a simple, flawless formula for summertime bliss. Sometimes, the most obvious samples are the best.
"Just traveling the world. *Wiz Khalifa chuckle*."
"Superstar"
The Cam'ron influence is still evident in Flight School standout "Superstar," but by this point Wiz's signature -- gassing up himself, and by proxy, the listener -- had calcified. "No matter where you go, they know who you are/ Run up screamin' cause they know you're a superstar."
"Black and Yellow"
Though "Black and Yellow" has been eclipsed as Wiz's most popular song (that would be "See You Again"...), it is still without a doubt his most enduring single. A rap anthem to a city in the heart of the rust belt not traditionally known for its hip hop scene, "Black and Yellow" is still a moving call to action for Pittsburghers to wave their Terrible Towels and express their civic pride.
"No Sleep"
On his 2011 album Rolling Papers, Wiz doubled down on the pop beats in a play for crossover success. It would pay off down the road and make Wiz Khalifa one of the most marketable and popular hip hop rappers on the planet. (Net worth: $45 million.) The album's final single, "No Sleep," unabashedly panders to radio tastes. This sound, grating to some, surely lost Wiz a couple fans, and gained him thousands more in the process.