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.
I
Wiz Khalifa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wonderin' if we need to change
All I ever wanted was lights, cameras, action
People staring at night, cameras flashin'
Living the movie, not prepared to see the last scene
All I want is the pretty women for the casting
Won't confront him, put your money where your mask is
Buy them bottles by the case, we don't gotta chase
For the love of money, we in a million dollar race
Windows done tinted, niggas hate 'em, but I fish bowl
So I can let your ho see me while I'm in it, uh
See I ain't got a deal
But everybody know that I ain't kinda real
I'm hundred dollar bill authentic, yeah
Hotel room, marijuana's in it
Chevy watchin' the game, your bitch she rollin' me planes
Passport payin' my dividends for the fame
Mind in the gutter, you niggas ain't in my lane
This is not the life I chose, but it's the life that chose me
The money got me everywhere that all these hoes be
And they can talk crazy 'cause they don't know me
'Cause if you know me, I'm out here dreaming
The party hoes, the cars and clothes, living life is all I know
I found my lane and I won't change for nothing
There's only one way to go
Now they cop the mixtapes and watch my videos
Maybe 'cause I got bars like a serial code
Louie pouch full of pre-rolled
Mouth full of kush, mind on my zero
Hoes always thought I was cute but wouldn't speak though
Now they see me, and be jocking on my steelo
On a private ride higher than a ski slope
I'm just flyin', haters try and clip my wings though, whoa
Now they see us and wanna be us
I'm partyin' poppin' bottles
With models to meet and greet us
Fuck her, follow, and then retweet us
In the sky, so my nigga keep up
I don't know where this road will go, cause my life is crazy (fuckin' hoes, everywhere we go)
But I ain't changin', baby (This shit, you burn after you roll)
This is not the life I chose, but it's the life that chose me
The money got me everywhere that all these hoes be
And they can't talk crazy 'cause they don't know me
'Cause if you know me, I'm out here dreaming
The party hoes, the cars and clothes, living like it's all I know
I found my lane and I won't change for nothing
There's only one way to go
The song "I" by Wiz Khalifa talks about the lifestyle that he lives and how it is something that chose him instead of the other way around. The song begins with the lines, "Rolling up in paper planes, Wonderin' if we need to change," which refers to Wiz and his companions smoking marijuana and questioning if they need to change their lifestyle. However, as the song progresses, Wiz talks about his love for money, beautiful women, and not changing for anyone. He mentions how he lives his life like he is in a movie and always wants the cameras to be on him so that he can be the center of attention. His lyrics also hint at how he has made it big in the music industry without a deal, and he prides himself on being authentic, which makes him stand out from the rest.
The second verse delves more into Wiz Khalifa's lifestyle and how he enjoys living it up. He mentions how his mixtapes are famous, and people watch his videos for his skills. He also talks about how he carries pre-rolled joints and always has kush in his mouth. Wiz mentions how he has become famous by being himself, and now, people want to be like him. Despite all of this, he doesn't let it all get to him and continues to live his life in the same way he did before he became famous.
Overall, "I" by Wiz Khalifa is a celebration of his lifestyle and how he enjoys living it up without any regrets. His lyrics are straightforward and honest about his love for money, fame, and beautiful women.
Line by Line Meaning
Rolling up in paper planes
Smoking marijuana rolled in papers, hoping for a better life
Wonderin' if we need to change
Questioning whether the current lifestyle is sustainable and whether a change is necessary
All I ever wanted was lights, cameras, action
Desiring fame and attention from society
People staring at night, cameras flashin'
Enjoying the attention from the media and people
Living the movie, not prepared to see the last scene
Living life like a movie without considering the uncertain future
All I want is the pretty women for the casting
Only desiring beautiful women to be a part of the extravagant lifestyle
Won't confront him, put your money where your mask is
Not willing to engage in violence, rather using wealth to solve a problem like a coward
You a chump, talk guns, but scared to blast his
Calling someone a coward for talking about guns but being too afraid to use them
Buy them bottles by the case, we don't gotta chase
Buying expensive and luxurious items without having to work hard for them
For the love of money, we in a million dollar race
Engaging in a competition with others to accumulate more wealth
Windows done tinted, niggas hate 'em, but I fish bowl
Having tinted windows on the car to maintain privacy, despite others disliking it
So I can let your ho see me while I'm in it, uh
Enjoying the attention from random women by displaying success and wealth in their alluring cars
See I ain't got a deal
Not currently signed to a recording deal
But everybody know that I ain't kinda real
Being authentically true to oneself and not conforming to mainstream expectations
I'm hundred dollar bill authentic, yeah
Being genuine and true to oneself, equivalent to a hundred dollar bill's authenticity
Hotel room, marijuana's in it
Staying in a hotel room where marijuana is being smoked
Chevy watchin' the game, your bitch she rollin' me planes
Watching a sports game while a woman rolls marijuana for them
Passport payin' my dividends for the fame
Traveling and exploring the world, while gaining fame and notoriety
Mind in the gutter, you niggas ain't in my lane
Being in a different category and level of success, while not adhering to societal norms
This is not the life I chose, but it's the life that chose me
Acknowledging that the current lifestyle is not a chosen path, but a result of circumstances
The money got me everywhere that all these hoes be
Having the wealth to travel and be in the same places as beautiful women
And they can talk crazy 'cause they don't know me
Allowing others to speak negatively about the lifestyle, because they do not truly understand it
Cause if you know me, I'm out here dreaming
Being a dreamer, desiring a better life and reaching for success
The party hoes, the cars and clothes, living life is all I know
The current lifestyle consisting of parties, women, and material items is all they know
I found my lane and I won't change for nothing
Finding success and staying true to oneself despite external pressures to conform
There's only one way to go
Believing that the only path is to continue on the current trajectory, towards more success and wealth
Now they cop the mixtapes and watch my videos
Having fans purchase mixtapes and watch music videos
Maybe 'cause I got bars like a serial code
Being considered a talented rapper, with lyrics comparable to a serial code
Louie pouch full of pre-rolled
Having a Louis Vuitton pouch filled with marijuana rolls
Mouth full of kush, mind on my zero
Having marijuana in the mouth, while focused on obtaining more wealth
Hoes always thought I was cute but wouldn't speak though
Having women find them attractive, but not being forward about it
Now they see me, and be jocking on my steelo
Women are now actively pursuing and flirting with them
On a private ride higher than a ski slope
Having access to luxurious and private modes of transportation, like a ski lift
I'm just flyin', haters try and clip my wings though, whoa
Feeling free and successful, despite negative opinions and attempts to bring them down
Now they see us and wanna be us
Aspiring individuals are now looking up to them and wanting to replicate their success
I'm partyin' poppin' bottles
Partying and drinking expensive alcohol
With models to meet and greet us
Being surrounded by beautiful women who are attracted to their success
Fuck her, follow, and then retweet us
Having women engage in sexual acts with them, then follow them on social media and share their brand
In the sky, so my nigga keep up
Reaching for success and flying high, making it difficult for others to keep up
This is not the life I chose, but it's the life that chose me
Reiterating that the current lifestyle was not a chosen path
The money got me everywhere that all these hoes be
Acknowledging that wealth and success bring them to the same places as the attractive women
And they can't talk crazy 'cause they don't know me
Allowing others to talk negatively about the lifestyle, as they do not truly understand it
'Cause if you know me, I'm out here dreaming
Being a dreamer and having aspirations for the future
The party hoes, the cars and clothes, living like it's all I know
The current lifestyle consisting of parties, women, and material items is all they know
I found my lane and I won't change for nothing
Finding success and staying true to oneself, despite external pressures to conform
There's only one way to go
Believing that the only path is to continue on the current trajectory, towards success and wealth
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cameron Thomaz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Clapz
When I say I'm a Wiz fan, I literally love hundreds of his songs, but damn this one hit me with the feels
Jays prostate
Every time he changes his style shit slaps
riko B
I love the grown man vibes
.. understanding diffrent perspectives and growing from them... I grew up with wiz on my lg phone as a kid from rolling papers 1 to now, you've aided in my growth wiz!! Thank you OG for spitting game to us!!
Jays prostate
Top gs only keep up your grind
Synchronic Official
The music and lyrics are very important in this album. Love it!
Sebastián Sánchez
So many people showing love to wiz, we need to appreciate real art
T always Talkin
Love the vibe of this track. Light a candle and chill groove
brittney miles
Love the smooth soulful vibe❤️
Becky Cohen
The shit hit definitely had me tearing up definitely needed to hear it
Thank you wiz
Bebe 82714
Why is it when you listen to wiz you get that blessed feeling?? It's otherworldly 😅💞