Wiz Khalifa, Chevy Woods to perform at Siegel Center

Maya Earls
Spectrum Editor

Rapper Wiz Khalifa, known for his hits “Young, Wild and Free” and “Black and Yellow,” will perform a concert at the Siegel Center on April 10.

Khalifa is scheduled to perform at the Siegel Center with Chevy Woods, who is currently signed to Khalifa’s label Taylor Gang Records. Woods met Wiz Khalifa in 2003 at ID Labs studio in Pennsylvania, according to MTV.com, and was featured on Khalifa’s ninth mixtape “Cabin Fever” in 2011. Woods’ fourth mixtape, “Red Cup Music” featured Juicy J, French Montana and Mac Miller. In an interview with MTV, Woods said “Red Cup Music” was the moment when he found his own style as an artist.

“I think I found myself when I put that tape out,” Woods said. “Some laid-back, cool music.”

His most recent mixtape, “Gangland II” was released in October 2013. Woods said he is currently working on his debut studio album with Taylor Gang Records, in an interview with hotnewhiphop.com.

Born Cameron Jibril Thomaz, Khalifa released his first mixtape in 2005 at the age of 18 titled, “Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania.” The following year, he released his first studio album titled, “Show and Prove.” By 2009, Khalifa signed his second record deal with Rostrum Records, and toured with Wu-Tang Clan member U-God. Khalifa was featured on the cover of XXL magazine in 2010 as the “Rookie of the Year.” During that time, he released a free mixtape online titled, “Kush and Orange Juice” which became a trending topic on Twitter. Khalifa said his use of the internet helped him gain a steady following, in an interview with Interview Magazine.

“Anybody who cannot embrace the power of the Internet is just limiting themselves,” Khalifa told Interview Magazine. “The Internet let me bring people into my world-and for free, so that when it came time to support what I’m doing and pay for it, they wanted to.”

Khalifa’s first single with Rostrum and Atlantic Records,” Black and Yellow,” was released in 2010, eventually placing number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Even though the song refers to Khalifa’s hometown of Pittsburgh, Penn., it was adopted as VCU’s unofficial theme song during the men’s basketball Final Four run in 2011. Khalifa won “Best New Artist” at the Black Entertainment Television Awards, and was nominated for five Grammy Awards between 2012 and 2014. Even though making it big as an artist can be overwhelming, Khalifa said he managed to stay in control, in an interview with Interview Magazine.

“I’m really learning every day and just taking control of the situation,” Khalifa said. “Where I had it all locked down on the underground level, now I’m doing the same at the industry level, which is pretty exciting.”

Khalifa announced on Twitter in June 2013 his fifth studio album will be named “Blacc Hollywood.” Khalifa released album’s first single “We Dem Boyz” in February 2014. He said he recorded material with Adele and Miley Cyrus, but they have not been cleared for the album, says Fuse’s website. The album has no set release date.

Wiz Khalifa and Chevy Woods will perform at the Siegel Center on April 10 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for VCU students and $25 for non students. Sales are restricted to people 17 and older. Tickets can be purchased at Breakpoint in the Commons, at the Siegel Center Box Office, or through vcuathletics.com.