Cameron Jibril Thomaz, known professionally as Wiz Khalifa, was born on September 8, 1987, in Minot, North Dakota. As the child of parents serving in the military, he moved frequently during his early years, living in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan before settling in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his mother around 1996. It was in Pittsburgh that Khalifa began to write and perform his own lyrics. By age 15, he was recording music at a local studio, I.D. Labs. His stage name is derived from "khalifa," an Arabic word for "successor," and "wisdom," which was shortened to Wiz as a child.
Career Beginnings
In 2005, Wiz Khalifa released his first mixtape, "Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania," which helped build a local buzz. This led to his debut album, "Show and Prove," released in 2006 through Rostrum Records. The album's success caught the attention of major labels, and in 2007, he signed with Warner Bros. Records. His first single under the major label, "Say Yeah," released in 2008, gained urban radio airplay and charted on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks. However, due to creative differences and delays in his album release, Khalifa parted ways with Warner Bros. Records in 2009 and released his second album, "Deal or No Deal," independently through Rostrum Records.
Mainstream Breakthrough
A significant turning point in Khalifa's career came with the release of his 2010 mixtape "Kush & Orange Juice," which was a free download and became a top trending topic on Google. This widespread attention led to a deal with Atlantic Records in July 2010. His debut single with the label, "Black and Yellow," a tribute to his hometown of Pittsburgh, became a massive success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. This was followed by his major-label debut album, "Rolling Papers," in 2011, which peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and featured other hit singles like "Roll Up" and "No Sleep."
Subsequent Albums and Notable Hits
Wiz Khalifa continued his success with a string of popular albums. His second album with Atlantic, "O.N.I.F.C.," was released in 2012 and featured singles like "Work Hard, Play Hard." In 2014, his album "Blacc Hollywood" debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, propelled by the lead single "We Dem Boyz." One of his most significant international hits came in 2015 with "See You Again," featuring Charlie Puth, from the "Furious 7" soundtrack. The song topped the charts in 95 countries and spent 12 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. He has since released several other albums, including "Rolling Papers 2" (2018) and "Multiverse" (2022).
Business Ventures and Personal Life
Beyond music, Wiz Khalifa has established himself as a successful entrepreneur. He is a well-known cannabis enthusiast and launched his own cannabis brand, Khalifa Kush, which offers a variety of products. He also co-founded the record label Taylor Gang Entertainment. His business interests extend to a gin brand, a mobile app called "Wiz Khalifa's Weed Farm," and he has been involved in acting. In July 2023, he sold a portion of his music catalog to HarbourView Equity Partners.
Wiz Khalifa was married to model Amber Rose from 2013 to 2016, and they have a son named Sebastian. He also has a daughter, born in 2024, with his girlfriend Aimee Aguilar.