Cameron Jibril Thomaz (born September 8, 1987 in Minot, North Dakota), bett… Read Full Bio ↴Cameron Jibril Thomaz (born September 8, 1987 in Minot, North Dakota), better known by his stage name Wiz Khalifa, is an American rapper based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, signed to Rostrum Records. According to the Black and Yellow Songfacts, his stage name is derived from khalifa, an Arabic word meaning "successor", and wisdom. His nickname growing up was "Wizard" which was shortened to Wiz when Khalifa was fifteen.

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.

Grow
Wiz Khalifa Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When I grow up, I wanna be like Wiz Khalifa
Have lot's of cool stuff, when I grow up
Hear my music through the speakers
I wanna feel love when I grow up
I wanna have enough to pay the bills
And buy my mom a house up on the hill
I wanna be like Wiz Khalifa
When I grow up, when I grow up

Yeah
Grind like I do them trees
It's true if you believe
You can get anything you want to achieve
And I swear to everything, tatted on my sleeve
It ain't what you see, a G has underneath
I left plenty positions of feelin' comfort
When shit ain't cool, fools run for it
You gon' remember my name when I'm done with it
And when it's said and done, I'll be at to top
Where the summit is
Ten toes, we the ones who run it
Everything runnin' smooth, there ain't no dysfunction
If we talkin' money, call me that's a good discussion
I'm talkin' motivation with no interruption

When I grow up, I wanna be like Wiz Khalifa
Have lot's of cool stuff, when I grow up
Hear my music through the speakers
I wanna feel love when I grow up
I wanna have enough to pay the bills
And buy my mom a house up on the hill
I wanna be like Wiz Khalifa
When I grow up, when I grow up

Hundred percent I'ma always get my all, yeah
Haters talkin' down they wishin' that I fall, yeah
Every time I get a chance know that I ball, yeah
Anytime I need my gang they're right there for me
I go hard, yeah, from the start, yeah
Never try to rush things I play my part, yeah
Never said it's easy they gon' make things hard, yeah
Every time you see me look like we performing
I'm a star, yeah, livin' large, yeah
Look at me like a boss because I paid the cost, yeah
Had to slow it down I had too many bars, yeah
Now I got the younger kid singing out

When I grow up, I wanna be like Wiz Khalifa
Have lot's of cool stuff, when I grow up
Hear my music through the speakers
I wanna feel love when I grow up
I wanna have enough to pay the bills
And buy my mom a house up on the hill (yup)
I wanna be like Wiz Khalifa
When I grow up, when I grow up

Uh, it's true if you believe
(When I grow up)
You, you, you and you

I promise you could be a legend too
(When I grow up)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Wiz Khalifa's song "Grow Up" speak to the aspirations and dreams of a young person who wants to achieve success and fame like Wiz Khalifa. The opening lines express the desire to have all the cool things and experience the feeling of love that comes with success. The mention of hearing one's music through the singers indicates the desire for wide recognition and popularity.

The lyrics also touch upon the financial aspect of success, as the singer wants to have enough to pay the bills and buy their mom a house on a hill. This reflects a sense of responsibility and gratitude towards family. By aspiring to be like Wiz Khalifa, known for his success in the music industry, the song portrays a desire for fame, fortune, and the accompanying lifestyle.

The second verse emphasizes hard work and perseverance. Wiz Khalifa acknowledges that success is not always easy and that there are obstacles to overcome. The lyrics convey a determination to be remembered and reach the pinnacle of success. The reference to "ten toes" represents unwavering commitment, while the line "Everything running smooth, there ain't no dysfunction" suggests a desire for a seamless path to success.

Overall, "Grow Up" by Wiz Khalifa captures the dreams, aspirations, and determination of a young person who idolizes the artist and wants to achieve similar success and recognition.

Line by Line Meaning

When I grow up, I wanna be like Wiz Khalifa
In the future, I aspire to achieve the same level of success and inspire others, just like Wiz Khalifa

Have lot's of cool stuff, when I grow up
When I become successful, I want to possess many impressive and valuable things

Hear my music through the speakers
I want my music to be played and enjoyed by many people

I wanna feel love when I grow up
As I achieve my goals, I desire to experience genuine love and affection

I wanna have enough to pay the bills
I aim to have sufficient financial stability to meet my financial obligations

And buy my mom a house up on the hill
I want to be able to purchase a luxurious home for my mother, providing her with a comfortable life

I wanna be like Wiz Khalifa
My aspiration is to emulate Wiz Khalifa's success, talent, and impact

When I grow up, when I grow up
Repeated affirmation and reminder of my future aspirations

Grind like I do them trees
Work hard and persistently, similar to how I grind or process marijuana

It's true if you believe
You can achieve your goals if you genuinely believe in yourself and your abilities

You can get anything you want to achieve
With determination and belief, you can attain anything you set out to accomplish

And I swear to everything, tatted on my sleeve
I wholeheartedly promise and have permanently memorialized my commitment on my arm through tattoos

It ain't what you see, a G has underneath
There is more to a person's character and strength than what is initially apparent

I left plenty positions of feelin' comfort
I departed from situations and circumstances that provided me with a false sense of security

When shit ain't cool, fools run for it
When faced with difficulties, foolish individuals tend to flee rather than confront and overcome them

You gon' remember my name when I'm done with it
I will leave a lasting impact and be unforgettable in the industry

And when it's said and done, I'll be at to top. Where the summit is
Ultimately, I will achieve the highest level of success and be in the most prestigious position

Ten toes, we the ones who run it
With unwavering commitment and determination, we are the ones in control and leading the way

Everything runnin' smooth, there ain't no dysfunction
Everything is operating seamlessly and without any issues or problems

If we talkin' money, call me that's a good discussion
When it comes to discussing money and financial matters, I am knowledgeable and excel at it

I'm talkin' motivation with no interruption
I am consistently and passionately discussing motivation and inspiring others without any distractions

Hundred percent I'ma always get my all, yeah
I will always give my maximum effort and dedication, without exception

Haters talkin' down they wishin' that I fall, yeah
People who dislike me are attempting to undermine me and hope for my failure

Every time I get a chance know that I ball, yeah
Whenever I have an opportunity, rest assured that I excel and achieve great success

Anytime I need my gang they're right there for me
When I require support or assistance, my close group of friends is always there to support me

I go hard, yeah, from the start, yeah
I exert maximum effort and intensity right from the beginning

Never try to rush things I play my part, yeah
I understand the importance of patience and fulfilling my role, not rushing to achieve success

Never said it's easy, they gon' make things hard, yeah
I recognize that success is not effortless, and others may intentionally create obstacles and challenges

Every time you see me look like we performing
Whenever people see me, it appears as though I am always putting on a show or giving a performance

I'm a star, yeah, livin' large, yeah
I possess a celebrity-like status and enjoy a lavish and extravagant lifestyle

Look at me like a boss because I paid the cost, yeah
People view me as a leader and authority figure because I have worked hard and paid the necessary dues

Had to slow it down, I had too many bars, yeah
I had to decrease the pace of my rapping because I had too many impressive lines and verses

Now I got the younger kids singing out
I have influenced and inspired younger generations, leading them to sing along and embrace my music

Uh, it's true if you believe
The statement being made holds truth if you genuinely have faith and trust in its validity

You, you, you and you
This message applies to each and every individual who is listening

I promise you could be a legend too
I firmly assure you that you also have the potential to leave a lasting legacy and become a legend

Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dimitri Thivaios, Michael Karl Thivaios, Cameron Thomaz, Jamal Simon, Kurtis Wells, Mark Blackwell, Ki Fitzgerald, Grace Tither

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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