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.
We Dem Boyz
Wiz Khalifa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, ayy
Yeah, boyz
Yeah
Hol' up, hol' up
Hol' up, we dem boyz
Hol' up, we dem boyz
Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, hol' up
Hol' up, we dem boyz
Hol' up, we dem boyz
Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, we makin' noise
Hol' up, hol' up, we dem boyz
Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, pop a bottle
Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, if you suck and swallow
Smell that marijuana, they gon' follow
Throwin' money on her like she won the lotto
Pussy must be serious, hol' up
Scared of heights come face your fears, hol' up hol' up
Do it just like Nicki, gon' and bend it over
Say she never smoked, I turned her to a stoner
Young nigga but I'm ready
Oh, foreign girls call me sexy
And white girls gimme Becky
But first I gotta roll this joint, baby, hol' up, hol' up
Hol' up, we dem boyz
Hol' up, we dem boyz
Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, we makin' noise
Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, hol' up
Hol' up, we dem boyz
Hol' up, we dem boyz
Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, we makin' noise
Hol' up, hol' up, we dem boyz
(Oh my gosh, that was amazing)
Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, you drive me crazy
Number one, bitch, you can't replace me
Leave the club, these hoes be tryna chase me
You got a ass so fat let's make a baby
Damn, I'm smokin' weed in my Mercedes
Hol' up, these niggas broke, these niggas lazy
Man, they money slim, they actin' shady
I'm in my brand new car, who wanna race?
Ho, bitch, you ain't call my phone so why you showin' up?
I'm takin' them shots, all my niggas stay loaded up
Man, on the low all these hoes be actin' so material
Hol' up, man did you see her interior?
Hol' up, we dem boyz
Hol' up, we dem boyz
Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, we makin' noise
Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, hol' up
Hol' up, we dem boyz
Hol' up, we dem boyz
Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, we makin' noise
Hol' up, hol' up, we dem boyz
In "We Dem Boyz," Wiz Khalifa uses his catchy, repetitive hook to show how he, along with his boyz, are here to make noise and get recognized. The "hol' up" line reinforces this message, telling listeners to pause and pay attention. Khalifa highlights his luxurious lifestyle, smoking marijuana, and attracting women with his "sexy" persona. He also calls out those who try to copy him, asserting that he is number one and cannot be replaced. Overall, the song is a declaration of the rapper's power and success, encouraging listeners to join him in making noise and standing out from the crowd.
One interpretation of the song is that it celebrates the culture of hip hop and the importance of individuality within it. The repeated line "we dem boyz" can be seen as a nod to the phrase "we the people," highlighting the unifying power of hip hop and the importance of embracing one's community. Meanwhile, Khalifa's focus on his own success and fame suggests that individuality and standing out from the pack are crucial in the industry.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, ayy
Expressing agreement and urging everyone to listen attentively.
Yeah, boyz
A joyful exclamation emphasizing the camaraderie between the group of friends.
Hol' up, hol' up
Wait a minute, something important needs to be said.
Hol' up, we dem boyz
Pause, let me introduce us proudly as young, confident black men.
Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, we makin' noise
Stop everything, take a moment to recognize and acknowledge our success and impact on the hip-hop scene.
Hol' up, we dem boyz
Repeating our introduction to drive home the fact that we are a powerful collective of individuals.
Hol' up, hol' up, we dem boyz
Pausing again to underline the fact that we are not just individuals, but a united force to be reckoned with.
Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, pop a bottle
Wait, let's celebrate with some drinks and revel in our accomplishments.
Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, if you suck and swallow
Just a blunt reference to sexual acts, meant to be provocative and brash.
Smell that marijuana, they gon' follow
The scent of weed is so strong that others will follow us wherever we go, emulating our lifestyle.
Throwin' money on her like she won the lotto
Being so wealthy that we can indulge in excessive spending, treating women like objects to be won.
Pussy must be serious, hol' up
If a woman is engaging with us sexually, she must recognize our power and influence.
Scared of heights come face your fears, hol' up hol' up
Encouraging listeners to be bold and to face their fears, using an example of fear of heights as a metaphor for pushing one's limits.
Do it just like Nicki, gon' and bend it over
Explicit reference to having a wild sexual escapade, name-dropping Nicki Minaj for added pop culture relevance.
Say she never smoked, I turned her to a stoner
Boasting about having such an irresistible charisma that we can influence someone to take up smoking weed.
Young nigga but I'm ready
Despite being young, we are mature and poised to take on whatever challenges come our way.
Oh, foreign girls call me sexy
We have an international appeal and are viewed as desirable by women from different cultural backgrounds.
And white girls gimme Becky
We are so charming that even white women are drawn to us, using 'Becky' as a euphemism for oral sex.
But first I gotta roll this joint, baby, hol' up, hol' up
Before we can engage in any more debauchery, we need to take a moment to smoke a joint and relax.
Number one, bitch, you can't replace me
Emphasizing our importance and value, asserting that others cannot match us.
Leave the club, these hoes be tryna chase me
Women are so attracted to us that they follow us out of the club in droves.
You got a ass so fat let's make a baby
Making a crass and objectifying comment about a woman's physical appearance to suggest having a sexual encounter with her.
Damn, I'm smokin' weed in my Mercedes
A display of our wealth and success, being able to indulge in luxury while getting high.
Hol' up, these niggas broke, these niggas lazy
Warning listeners to stay away from unproductive, impoverished people who might hold them back.
Man, they money slim, they actin' shady
People who are not as wealthy as us are prone to act suspiciously and deceive others.
I'm in my brand new car, who wanna race?
Boasting about possessing a new, flashy car and daring others to challenge us.
Ho, bitch, you ain't call my phone so why you showin' up?
Dismissing an unwanted or unexpected person who is trying to claim our attention or friendship.
I'm takin' them shots, all my niggas stay loaded up
We are fearless and bold, taking shots at all comers while being backed up by our loyal friends.
Man, on the low all these hoes be actin' so material
Opining that women often value material possessions and wealth more than they do personality or character.
Hol' up, man did you see her interior?
Commenting on a woman's physical appearance again, this time emphasizing her car rather than her body.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Noel Fisher, Cameron Thomaz, Kemion Cooks, Maurice Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@domoetker3967
Holla we dem Smashed and Grabbers, Holla
Holla, we da Home Invasion Boyz, Holla
Holla, we da School dropoutters, Holla
Holla, Holla,Holla, we da famous Sucker Punchers, Holla
Holla, We are buy most wigs and shower caps Boyz, Holla
Holla, we are Tarane Burke, Holla
Holla, er are Dr.Rashah BLM, make some noise, Holla
Holla, We're not a nuisance, Holla, the world depends on us, Holla
Holla, lets go smashed and grabbed, Holla
Holla, we are all George Floyd, Holla
Holla, we want more unemployment benefit, and another one ☝, Holla
Holla, Holla
@chicken
Who Else is Listening in February 2024?🔥👇
@gstickz_
Literally
@tinatee3488
Today, right now infact
@jackmemphis3203
yep there are numerous situations where im just like "we dem boyz" and then I gotta listen to it
@Evosoul1993
🎉🎉🎉
@yourneighbour2401
My first time in years but yes
@Theyfw_adri
2023 and still playing this on repeat 🔥🔥
@xkeamxkeam5366
Yep😂😍
@jselect7502
Great song to get gains too 💪🏾
@musiccapricorn918
soulja boy is the best