Wiz Khalifa doesn't care if the music industry loves him — his fans do

CBC

3 days ago

Hip-hop culture might glorify materialism and fame, but Wiz Khalifa was never interested in that. The multi-platinum selling rapper recognizes that being a great artist is about staying dedicated to your work, not chasing validation from celebrities.
"I don't really care about the outside noise," Khalifa says in an interview with Q 's Tom Power. "I'm into real life. And the realest thing ever is my fans, and the connection with them. And I'm on the road. I am on the internet every day. Nobody is putting this together for me. So nobody can pull the rug from underneath me if I tell them no."
WATCH | Wiz Khalifa's full interview with Q's Tom Power:
Wiz Khalifa models his career after legendary rapper Snoop Dogg. Like Snoop, Khalifa has expanded beyond music into acting, plus he has his own signature weed strain for sale. He says he looks up to Snoop's success, but more importantly, he's inspired by his relentless drive.
"I learned about staying active from Snoop," Khalifa explains. "He's got everything that anybody could wish for, when it comes to legacy and respect and all of that. And he still gets up every day, and he works…. And he extends himself and he makes other people's lives better."
The 37-year-old rapper says that See You Again ft. Charlie Puth is one of his most meaningful songs. It was a huge hit — See You Again was No.1. on the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks — but also, Khalifa says it's an emotional song that many people hold close to their heart. He's honoured to have a track that resonates with his fans so deeply.
"Unfortunately, a lot of people deal with a lot of loss… I think that song helps people cope," says Khalifa. "Artists wish they had a song that impactful and that successful… and that will be here forever. I'm blessed to have one of those records and I feel really grateful.... People cry every time I perform it."
WATCH: Official music video for See You Again ft. Charlie Puth
When he reflects on his rap career, Khalifa is proud of everything from his breakout mixtape Kush & Orange Juice in 2010, to his newest record Kush + Orange Juice 2. But he doesn't look back for too long. Khalifa is focused on the future: he just keeps doing the work, and he encourages the next generation of artists to do the same.
"Stay consistent, learn your audience, and trust your vision," Khalifa says. "A lot of the things that are gonna keep you around later are the things that you're doing now… the stuff that people don't see. So just watch where you place your values, and really set yourself up to win in the long run."