History of Wiz Khalifa in Timeline
Cameron Jibril Thomaz, known professionally as Wiz Khalifa, is an American rapper from Pittsburgh. He debuted in 2006 with his album "Show and Prove" under Rostrum Records. His 2008 single "Say Yeah" achieved moderate success, entering the Rhythmic Top 40 and Hot Rap Songs charts.
September 8, 1987: Birth of Cameron Jibril Thomaz
Cameron Jibril Thomaz, who would become known as Wiz Khalifa, was born on September 8, 1987, in Minot, North Dakota.
1996: Settling in Pittsburgh
Around 1996, Khalifa moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his mother. It was here that he attended Taylor Allderdice High School and began to develop his passion for music.
2004: Discovery by Benjy Grinberg
Rostrum Records president Benjy Grinberg first learned of Wiz Khalifa's talent in 2004, marking a pivotal moment in the young rapper's journey.
2005: First Mixtape Release
Khalifa released his debut mixtape, "Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania," in 2005.
2006: "Artist to Watch" Recognition
Rolling Stone magazine recognized Wiz Khalifa as an "artist to watch" in 2006.
2006: Debut Studio Album Release
Wiz Khalifa released his first studio album, "Show and Prove," in 2006 after signing with local independent label Rostrum Records.
July 4, 2007: "Grow Season" Mixtape Release
Khalifa dropped the mixtape "Grow Season," hosted by DJ Green Lantern, on July 4, 2007, through Rostrum Records.
November 20, 2007: "Prince of the City 2" Mixtape Release
Khalifa's mixtape "Prince of the City 2" was released on November 20, 2007.
August 2, 2008: Performance at U92's Summer Jam
Khalifa shared the stage with The Game, David Banner, and Play-n-Skillz at U92's Summer Jam in West Valley City, Utah, on August 2, 2008.
September 2008: "Star Power" Mixtape Release
Khalifa put out his mixtape "Star Power" in September 2008.
2008: Taylor Gang Entertainment Founded
In 2008, Wiz Khalifa established his own record label, Taylor Gang Entertainment.
2008: "Say Yeah" Achieves Chart Success
Khalifa's Eurodance-influenced single, "Say Yeah," gained traction in 2008, entering the Rhythmic Top 40 and Hot Rap Songs charts, marking his first minor hit.
April 2009: "Flight School" Mixtape Release
Khalifa's mixtape "Flight School" came out in April 2009, released via Rostrum Records.
July 2009: Parting Ways with Warner Bros. Records
Due to multiple delays in the release of his debut album under Warner Bros., Khalifa made the decision to leave the label in July 2009.
July 31, 2009: Public Announcement of Separation from Warner Bros.
At a performance in Pittsburgh on July 31, 2009, Khalifa made a public statement, revealing that his professional relationship with Warner Bros. had ended.
August 9, 2009: "Teach U to Fly" Single and "How Fly" Mixtape Release
Khalifa released the single "Teach U to Fly" and the mixtape "How Fly," a collaboration with Curren$y, on August 9, 2009.
November 2, 2009: "Burn After Rolling" Mixtape Release
Khalifa's mixtape "Burn After Rolling" dropped on November 2, 2009, featuring him rapping over popular beats from various artists.
November 24, 2009: Second Album "Deal or No Deal" Release
Khalifa's second studio album, "Deal or No Deal," was released on November 24, 2009.
2009: Independent Album "Deal or No Deal" Release
Following his separation from Warner Bros., Khalifa independently released his second album, "Deal or No Deal," in 2009.
March 2010: South by Southwest Performance and XXL Magazine Feature
Wiz Khalifa performed at the South by Southwest Music Festival in March 2010 and was featured on the cover of XXL magazine's annual Top 10 Freshman list that same month.
April 14, 2010: "Kush and Orange Juice" Mixtape Release
Khalifa released his mixtape "Kush and Orange Juice" as a free download on April 14, 2010. The mixtape received an overwhelmingly positive response from fans.
April 2010: Khalifa Signs with Atlantic Records
Citing music industry insiders, New York magazine reported that Wiz Khalifa signed with Atlantic Records in April 2010. Although Khalifa did not confirm the signing at the time, this marked an important step in his career.
May 2010: Soundset 2010 Festival Performance
In May 2010, Wiz Khalifa appeared at the Soundset 2010 festival in Minneapolis, Minnesota, performing alongside Method Man & Redman, Del the Funky Homosapien, and others.
June 2010: Khalifa Weighs Label Options
In June 2010, Wiz Khalifa stated to AllHipHop that he was working on a new album but had not yet decided on a label to distribute it, indicating he was considering his options carefully.
July 2010: Signing with Atlantic Records
Wiz Khalifa signs with Atlantic Records in July 2010, marking a significant step in his career.
August 2010: MTV's Hottest Breakthrough MC
In August 2010, Wiz Khalifa was named MTV's Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010, winning with nearly 70,000 votes. He beat out finalists such as Nicki Minaj, J. Cole, and others, marking a significant recognition in his career.
November 2010: Arrest During Waken Baken Tour
In November 2010, during his Waken Baken tour at East Carolina University, Wiz Khalifa was arrested for possession and trafficking of marijuana. He was released the next morning after posting a $300,000 bail and resumed his tour.
2010: Release of 'Black and Yellow'
In 2010, Wiz Khalifa released 'Black and Yellow,' his first single for Rostrum/Atlantic, produced by Stargate. The song received significant radio airplay and eventually peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
March 29, 2011: Release of 'Rolling Papers'
On March 29, 2011, Wiz Khalifa released his first studio album, 'Rolling Papers,' which debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 197,000 copies.
March 31, 2011: Performance at Emory University
On March 31, 2011, Wiz Khalifa performed at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia as part of the school's annual Dooley's Weekend.
June 2011: Collaboration with Tinie Tempah
In June 2011, Wiz Khalifa collaborated with British rapper Tinie Tempah on the single 'Till I'm Gone,' produced by Stargate. The single and its accompanying video were released at the end of the month.
June 26, 2011: BET Awards Win
On June 26, 2011, Wiz Khalifa was nominated and won Best New Artist at the BET Awards of 2011, solidifying his rising status in the music industry.
2011: Debut Album with Atlantic Records
In 2011, Wiz Khalifa released his debut album with Atlantic Records, marking a major milestone in his music career.
2011: "Rolling Papers" and Commercial Breakthrough
Khalifa's third album and major-label debut, "Rolling Papers," was released in 2011. The album, including the hit single "Black and Yellow," achieved commercial success, peaking at number two on the Billboard 200 chart.
2011: Beginning of Relationship with Amber Rose
Wiz Khalifa began dating model Amber Rose in early 2011.
January 2012: Purchase of Home in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Wiz Khalifa purchased a home in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, in January 2012.
March 1, 2012: Engagement to Amber Rose
Wiz Khalifa and model Amber Rose got engaged on March 1, 2012.
April 11, 2012: Announcement of Second Studio Album
On April 11, 2012, Wiz Khalifa announced that he would release his second studio album titled 'Only Nigga In First Class' (O.N.I.F.C.). The album later debuted at number two with 131,000 first-week sales.
December 12, 2012: "Wiz Khalifa Day" in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh City Council declared December 12, 2012, to be Wiz Khalifa Day in the city.
2012: Release of "O.N.I.F.C."
Khalifa's fourth album, "O.N.I.F.C.," was released in 2012, receiving similar critical and commercial acclaim as his previous work.
2012: "Mac & Devin Go to High School" Film Debut
Wiz Khalifa starred alongside Snoop Dogg in the stoner comedy film "Mac & Devin Go to High School" in 2012, marking his foray into acting.
April 17, 2013: Announcement of Collaboration EP
On April 17, 2013, Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y announced that they would release their collaboration EP 'Live in Concert' on April 20, 2013. The EP featured seven new songs.
June 24, 2013: Announcement of 'Blacc Hollywood' Album
On June 24, 2013, Wiz Khalifa announced that his fifth studio album would be titled 'Blacc Hollywood' and was set for release in 2013.
July 8, 2013: Marriage to Amber Rose
Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose were married on July 8, 2013.
September 3, 2013: Collaboration with Miley Cyrus and Juicy J
On September 3, 2013, Wiz Khalifa revealed that he had recorded songs with Miley Cyrus and Juicy J for his album 'Blacc Hollywood,' highlighting notable collaborations.
February 11, 2014: Release of 'We Dem Boyz'
On February 11, 2014, Wiz Khalifa released 'We Dem Boyz,' the first single from his album 'Blacc Hollywood.' The track helped build anticipation for the album.
May 25, 2014: Release of Mixtape '28 Grams'
On May 25, 2014, Wiz Khalifa released his mixtape '28 Grams' despite being arrested the previous day in El Paso, Texas for marijuana possession. His release from jail allowed the mixtape to launch as planned.
September 24, 2014: Announcement of Divorce from Amber Rose
It was announced on September 24, 2014, that Amber Rose would be filing for divorce from Wiz Khalifa, citing irreconcilable differences.
2014: Cannabis Sponsorship and "Khalifa Kush"
By early 2014, Wiz Khalifa was being sponsored by The Cookie Company, a medical marijuana dispensary, for his cannabis use. He partnered with them to create his own strain called "Khalifa Kush."
2014: "Blacc Hollywood" Tops the Charts
In 2014, Khalifa released his fifth album, "Blacc Hollywood," which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, marking his first album to achieve this milestone.
January 23, 2015: Featured on 'Uma Thurman' Remix
On January 23, 2015, Wiz Khalifa was featured on a remix of the Fall Out Boy song 'Uma Thurman,' showcasing his versatility in collaborating with artists across different genres.
March 31, 2015: EP Release with Ty Dolla $ign
On March 31, 2015, Wiz Khalifa released an EP titled 'Talk About It in the Morning' with fellow Taylor Gang artist Ty Dolla $ign, adding to his portfolio of collaborative projects.
December 15, 2015: Release of 'Cabin Fever 3' Mixtape
On December 15, 2015, Wiz Khalifa released the mixtape 'Cabin Fever 3,' continuing his tradition of dropping new music to engage his fanbase.
2015: Joint Custody of Son
As of 2015, Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose have joint custody of their son.
2015: "See You Again" Achieves Global Success
Wiz Khalifa's single "See You Again," featuring Charlie Puth, was released in 2015 as part of the "Furious 7" soundtrack. The song became a global phenomenon, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks.
February 5, 2016: Release of 'Khalifa' Album
On February 5, 2016, Wiz Khalifa released his album 'Khalifa,' following his announcement during the Golden Globes on January 10, 2016. The album contributed to his expanding discography.
May 24, 2016: Release of Single 'Pull Up'
On May 24, 2016, Wiz Khalifa released 'Pull Up,' a standalone single to promote his upcoming sixth album, 'Rolling Papers 2,' which was eventually released on July 13, 2018.
2016: Appearance on Cooking Show with Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg
In 2016, Wiz Khalifa appeared on a cooking show with Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg where the main ingredient was cannabis.
2016: Lawsuit Against Former Manager
In 2016, Wiz Khalifa sued his former manager Benjy Grinberg and Rostrum Records over a '360 deal' he claimed was unfair. He sought $1 million in compensation, punitive damages, and attorney fees, marking a significant legal battle in his career.
2016: Launch of Khalifa Kush Cannabis Brand
Known for his cannabis use, Khalifa launched his own brand, Khalifa Kush, in 2016.
May 2017: Beginning Martial Arts Training
In May 2017, Wiz Khalifa started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai.
April 24, 2018: Private Muay Thai Seminar with Saenchai
On April 24, 2018, Yokkao hosted a private Muay Thai seminar with Thai boxing legend Saenchai for Wiz Khalifa at Unbreakable.
2018: Controversy Over 'Hot Now'
In 2018, Wiz Khalifa faced controversy over the line 'smoke got my eyes lookin' Korean' from his song 'Hot Now.' Some found the line racially insensitive, to which Khalifa responded by saying he meant no offense and had Korean friends who were not offended.
2018: "Rolling Papers 2" Matches Predecessor's Success
Khalifa released his sixth album, "Rolling Papers 2," in 2018. The album matched the chart success of its predecessor, "Rolling Papers."
April 20, 2020: Release of 'The Saga of Wiz Khalifa'
On April 20, 2020, Wiz Khalifa released a new EP titled 'The Saga of Wiz Khalifa,' featuring collaborations with artists like Tyga, Logic, Mustard, and Ty Dolla $ign.
May 2020: Collaboration with Travis Barker
In May 2020, Wiz Khalifa featured on a new song titled 'Drums Drums Drums' with Travis Barker, adding to his list of notable collaborations.
2021: Competing in The Masked Singer
In 2021, Wiz Khalifa competed in season five of 'The Masked Singer' as 'Chameleon,' finishing in third place and showcasing his versatility as a performer.
2022: Khalifa Kush Expands Nationwide
Khalifa Kush expanded its reach in 2022, becoming available in dispensaries across the United States.
April 2023: Announcement of First BJJ Match
In April 2023, it was announced that Wiz Khalifa would be participating in his first BJJ match under the High Rollerz ruleset.
2023: Release of Four Mixtapes
In 2023, Wiz Khalifa released four mixtapes: Star Power, See Ya, Khali Sober, and Decisions.
