In 2005 he released his first official mixtape, Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania, and later in 2006 he released his first full length street album entitled Show and Prove. Since then he has released a further six mixtapes and a collaboration mixtape titled How Fly with friend Curren$y. He released his debut album, Deal or No Deal, in November of 2009, it reached #1 on the iTunes hip hop chart, and then reached the top ten on iTunes' overall album chart the week it was released. Previously signed to Warner Bros. Records, he left the label in July 2009 after numerous delays in releasing his planned debut album for the label, First Flight. Khalifa stated to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that, "I learned a lot during my time there and matured as an artist during the process. I'm happy to be moving on with all of my material and having the chance to be in control of my next moves".He is also the founder of the rap crew Taylor Gang, which includes friends Kev Tha Hustler, Ekko, Smallz Money and Gene Stovall. They derived the name from the fact they always used to wear Chuck Taylor shoes.
Khalifa was born on September 8, 1987 in Minot, North Dakota to a mother and a father serving in the military. The family moved to Pittsburgh when Khalifa was the age of two. His parents' military service caused the family to move on a regular basis.
Over the next thirteen years, he would move between Pittsburgh and South Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma, Germany, Japan, and England as his parents were reassigned to different posts. In October of 1990 Wiz was separated from his mother,who left him in the hands of her sister while she served in Operation Desert Storm.
During his travels, Wiz was forced to mature quicker than his peers. He was constantly faced with new surroundings, new schools, and new sets of friends, and he found it difficult to become attached to anyone outside his family roots. This nomadic life gave Wiz an opportunity, though, to broaden his mind and offered him many experiences from which to draw inspiration. He began to perceive the world differently than most kids, and he would write his thoughts down every day.These thoughts would become the foundation for his future recordings.
By the age of 14, with a few songs under his belt, Wiz was already drawing comparisons with his commanding voice and witty wordplay. While he has been influenced by artists such as Jay-Z, Camron, and the Notorious B.I.G., Wiz was determined to create his own identity that would, one day, be loved and revered by fans.
Ready to take the next step, Wiz began his search for a recording studio to record new songs. He found one, ID LABS, where owner Eric Dan immediately recognized Wiz's talents. Along with Chad Glick of ID Management, they began to network Wiz to another Pittsburgh native, Benjy Grinberg of Rostrum Records. Benjy realized the raw talent that Wiz possessed, and immediately brought him into the Rostrum family in 2002.
Soon after, Wiz Khalifa began his ascent into the music scene in the Pittsburgh area. He has been hailed by the award winning Pittsburgh Post-Gazette pop music critic, Ed Masley, as having “the skills, the looks, the confidence, the drive, and the charisma for the job.” The New Pittsburgh Courier says, “The combination of a young, charismatic M.C. with a slew of stop-and-rewind rhymes together with a local independent label with major industry connections has set the stage for a hip-hop artist representing Pittsburgh to reach superstar status for the first time ever.
In 2010, with the success of Kush and Orange Juice still present, Wiz Khalifa signed with Atlantic Records. Wiz's style along with his production team, Johnny Juliano, Sledgren, and E. Dan make this a winning combination for success.
He is also well known for his debut single for Atlantic, "Black and Yellow", which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. His debut album for the label, Rolling Papers, was released on March 29, 2011. He followed that album with O.N.I.F.C. (abbreviated for mainstream markets from "Only Nigga In First Class") on December 4, 2012 which was backed by the singles "Work Hard, Play Hard" and "Remember You". O.N.I.F.C. debuted at number two with 131,000 in first week sales.
Pittsburgh City Council declared 12-12-12 (December 12, 2012) to be Wiz Khalifa Day in the city. Khalifa graduated from Pittsburgh's Taylor Allderdice High School and in January 2012, purchased a home in nearby Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.
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 April 17, 2013, Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y announced that they will drop their collaboration EP Live in Concert on April 20, 2013. The EP featured seven new songs. On June 24, 2013, he announced that his fifth studio album would be titled Blacc Hollywood and would be released in 2013. On September 3, 2013, Khalifa revealed he had recorded songs with Miley Cyrus, Adele and Juicy J for Blacc Hollywood. In October 2013, Mannie Fresh confirmed that he provided production for the album. On February 11, 2014, Khalifa released Blacc Hollywood's first single titled "We Dem Boyz". The album was then supported by the singles "KK", "You and Your Friends", "Stayin Out All Night", "Promises" and "So High".
Khalifa released an EP with TY Dolla $ign on March 31, 2015, entitled "Talk About It In the Morning". That same month, Wiz released the lead single for the film "Furious 7" called "See You Again" as a tribute to Paul Walker. The single has since gone on to global success. "See You Again" spent 12 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, tying for the longest-running rap number-one hit in the US.
On January 23, 2015, Khalifa was featured on a remix release of the Fall Out Boy song "Uma Thurman". On May 18, they performed the song together on the 2015 Billboard Music Awards show. In the summer of 2015, he began touring the United States with Fall Out Boy and Hoodie Allen in a tour titled "The Boys of Zummer Tour". The tour featured performances of "Uma Thurman" by Fall Out Boy and Khalifa. Later that year, on December 15, 2015, Wiz released the mixtape "Cabin Fever 3". During the Golden Globes on January 10, 2016, Wiz announced that his next album, titled Khalifa, would be released on the 22nd of that month. However, the album was released on February 5, 2016. On May 24, 2016, he released "Pull Up", a standalone single in promotion of his sixth album, Rolling Papers 2, which was released on July 13, 2018.
On April 20, 2020, Khalifa released, The Saga of Wiz Khalifa. The album included collaborations with Tyga, Logic, Mustard and Ty Dolla $ign. In May 2020, Khalifa featured on the song "Drums Drums Drums" with Travis Barker.
In 2021, Khalifa competed in season five of The Masked Singer as "Chameleon". He finished in third place.
Boarding Pass
Wiz Khalifa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My name's Wiz Khalifa and I'm so damn gooooood...
[Funny Laugh]
I earn niggas respect before the cash came
You try me get a ticket I'm in the fast lane
I keep the bigger picture in the glass frame
Plus my city on my back like it's a motherfuckin last name
And first class ain't much different than the last plane
Say we the same but I'm nothin like you guys
I'm a freakin fly taylor gang don't drink n drive
Die... Now everybody's mourning I think we runnin' outta liqour bring some more in
Used to say I'm fresh but now I'm gettin spoiled"
Cause new shit gettin' old these hotels kind of boring
Don't mean to sound unappreciative
But it's obvious the game ain't what you think it is
Yellow diamons speak spanglish on my neck and wrist
Don't even check the list
They expecting us
[Chorus:]
See I'm packed ready to go go go
We in the air you oh So LOW!
Shawty we gon live it up
And girl I got a lot of but it's just I can't get enough
So I'm a check my bags everything secure with my tags hand me my boarding pass
Yeah... Yeah [Echo]
And I'll hit you when my flight land, Hit you when my flight land, Hit you when my flight land [Echo]
Yeah...
Got me feeling so proffessional
3 hour trip with only 15 minutes left to go, a small comparison should let you know
Cause only time ya'll niggaz got leg room is in the exit row
Damn...
People tell me I can't that's exactly what I'm getting so I'll never be the same
Niggaz losin' weight cause what I spit is lipo
Try to explain but they get it twisted like a micro
I hit the club it's like a light show
Bet this liqour turns the wood into a light gold
Got a bitch that's for insurance like she Geico
Try to use her phone to get a picture but the lights... Low
But the bottles still full
And you don't really want this night to end do you?
So Sip Slow... O... O... and I'm a put this thing on cruise control
[Chorus:]
See I'm packed ready to go go go
We in the air you oh So LOW!
Shawty we gon live it up
And girl I got a lot of but it's just I can't get enough
So I'm a check my bags everything secure with my tags hand me my boarding pass
Yeah... Yeah [Echo]
And I'll hit you when my flight land, Hit you when my flight land, Hit you when my flight land [Echo]
In "Boarding Pass," Wiz Khalifa is celebrating his success and reflecting on his journey to get there. He acknowledges that he earned respect before money, and the bigger picture is his motivation. He carries his hometown, Pittsburgh, on his back and takes it with him wherever he goes. The flying metaphor in the lyrics represents his journey to the top, and how he's now living his best life. The chorus signifies the excitement and joy of the present moment, and the anticipation of what's to come.
The lyrics also reflect on the downside of fame and success. Wiz admits that he's getting bored of the same hotels and party scenes. He's grateful for his success, but recognizes that the game isn't what it seems. He also acknowledges his influence on others, noting that people are losing weight because of what he's rapping.
Overall, "Boarding Pass" is a triumphant celebration of Wiz Khalifa's success that acknowledges the hard work it took to get there, as well as the drawbacks of fame.
Line by Line Meaning
Ladies and gentleman
Wiz Khalifa starts his song by acknowledging his audience
My name's Wiz Khalifa and I'm so damn gooooood...
Wiz Khalifa introduces himself and expresses his confidence
[Funny Laugh]
Wiz Khalifa laughs in his typical style to add some humor to his song
I earn niggas respect before the cash came
Wiz Khalifa worked hard and earned respect from his peers even before he became rich
You try me get a ticket I'm in the fast lane
Wiz Khalifa is not afraid of competition and is always moving fast towards his goals
I keep the bigger picture in the glass frame
Wiz Khalifa has a long-term vision and plans for his future success
Plus my city on my back like it's a motherfuckin last name
Wiz Khalifa is proud of his hometown and represents it wherever he goes
Where you goin when the driver know your last name
Wiz Khalifa is so famous that even his driver knows his name and his whereabouts well
And first class ain't much different than the last plane
Wiz Khalifa doesn't feel any special privilege on a first-class flight as he's always travelled in style
Say we the same but I'm nothin like you guys
Wiz Khalifa differentiates himself from other rappers and sees himself as unique
I'm a freakin fly taylor gang don't drink n drive
Wiz Khalifa promotes his music label 'Taylor Gang' and also advises against drunk driving
Die... Now everybody's mourning I think we runnin' outta liqour bring some more in
Wiz Khalifa humorously says that if he dies, people would mourn him and party hard to the point of running out of booze
Used to say I'm fresh but now I'm gettin spoiled
Wiz Khalifa used to feel fresh but with fame and luxury, he thinks he's becoming spoiled
Cause new shit gettin' old these hotels kind of boring
Wiz Khalifa is getting bored of staying in luxurious hotels as it's becoming repetitive
Don't mean to sound unappreciative
Wiz Khalifa clarifies that he's not ungrateful, just getting tired of the same things
But it's obvious the game ain't what you think it is
Wiz Khalifa warns his listeners that the music industry is not what it appears to be and has its own set of challenges and limitations
Yellow diamonds speak spanglish on my neck and wrist
Wiz Khalifa wears expensive jewelry with diamonds that shine like the sun and he likes the way it looks on him
Don't even check the list
Wiz Khalifa doesn't need a guest list as he's already famous and everyone expects to see him
They expecting us
People are eagerly waiting for Wiz Khalifa to arrive and perform
[Chorus:] See I'm packed ready to go go go We in the air you oh So LOW! Shawty we gon live it up And girl I got a lot of but it's just I can't get enough So I'm a check my bags everything secure with my tags hand me my boarding pass Yeah... Yeah [Echo] And I'll hit you when my flight land, Hit you when my flight land, Hit you when my flight land [Echo]
Wiz Khalifa sings the chorus where he's excited about travelling, partying, and he'll let his girl know when he lands
Got me feeling so proffessional
Wiz Khalifa feels professional and experienced in his art and craft
3 hour trip with only 15 minutes left to go, a small comparison should let you know
Wiz Khalifa compares the end of his trip to the final stretch of a race to show that he's almost done
Cause only time ya'll niggaz got leg room is in the exit row
Wiz Khalifa mocks other rappers saying that they can only stretch their legs in an emergency exit row of a plane
Damn...
Wiz Khalifa exclaims with excitement and awe
People tell me I can't that's exactly what I'm getting so I'll never be the same
Wiz Khalifa is fueled by criticism and opposition and he's persevering to prove them wrong
Niggaz losin' weight cause what I spit is lipo
Wiz Khalifa's rap is so good that people are losing weight because it's like they're getting liposuction from moving and dancing too much
Try to explain but they get it twisted like a micro
Wiz Khalifa tries to explain his music to people but they don't understand and twist it like a micro
I hit the club it's like a light show
Wiz Khalifa enjoys going to nightclubs where it's a colorful and bright place like a light show
Bet this liqour turns the wood into a light gold
Wiz Khalifa bets that this strong liquor will get him so high that he will see the world in a different light
Got a bitch that's for insurance like she Geico
Wiz Khalifa has a girlfriend who serves as emotional support for him, like an insurance policy with Geico
Try to use her phone to get a picture but the lights... Low
Wiz Khalifa uses his girlfriend's phone to take a picture of his surroundings but the low light makes it difficult
But the bottles still full
Wiz Khalifa has plenty of alcohol left to drink and doesn't plan to stop anytime soon
And you don't really want this night to end do you?
Wiz Khalifa asks his listeners rhetorically if they really want this fun night to end
So Sip Slow... O... O... and I'm a put this thing on cruise control
Wiz Khalifa advises his listeners to drink slowly and relax as he takes charge and leads the party forward
[Chorus:] See I'm packed ready to go go go We in the air you oh So LOW! Shawty we gon live it up And girl I got a lot of but it's just I can't get enough So I'm a check my bags everything secure with my tags hand me my boarding pass Yeah... Yeah [Echo] And I'll hit you when my flight land, Hit you when my flight land, Hit you when my flight land [Echo]
Wiz Khalifa repeats the chorus to remind listeners about his excitement for travelling and will notify his girl when he lands
Contributed by Grayson G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
F
Whoever’s here has massive amounts of swag
Black Vibes Matter
Thank you
Zeldris Anders
Ty bro
MikeG63
boi i been pumping this through my ears since 2011 son
Acenday1
Thanks big dog!! You hella fresh for this one
Martin Clark
Swag and balls
PabloFlexcobar
Damn nobody listen to old wiz anymore? Smh this was wiz at his best.
Shiva P
fuccwitmeuknowigotit everything up to Cabin fever 2 slaps to this day!!!
Tom Jones
I listen to this song everytime I'm in the airport!
Kobe Prince
@S that feels good, hand me boarding pass