Wiz Khalifa

Wiz Khalifa’s skill and versatility has pumped some fresh blood into street rap. The Pittsburgh MC put out his first full-length album, 2006’s Show And Prove, at age 19; his first single for Warner Bros., “Young’n On His Grind,” followed in 2007. He soon parted ways with Warner, however, sticking with Pittsburgh’s Rostrum Records for 2009’s Deal Or No Deal. Tracks like Deal’s “Goodbye” prove he’s comfortable—actually at his best—stretching beyond the smooth, funky-chill raps of “Grind” and his tattoo anthem “Ink My Whole Body.” Khalifa isn’t done label-hopping just yet: In March, he celebrated the release of his Atlantic Records debut, Rolling Papers, featuring the lead single and Steelers’ anthem “Black And Yellow.” In June of 2011, Khalifa took Best New Artist honors at the BET Awards, certifying his status as one of hip-hop’s premier young talents.

Updated 09/19/2011