Discuss “Wiz Khalifa’s ego soldiers on ”
Pittsburgh needs a music scene. Not just a “music scene” in the sense that touring bands grace Pittsburgh with their honorary presence, but also a “music scene” in the sense that the city can become a breeding ground for up-and-coming artists. Although the city is overflowing with creativity and talent, few artists become successful outside of the city limits — if they even make it that far.
Enter Wiz Khalifa, the city’s answer to the lack of native artists. Khalifa, whose real name is Cameron Thomaz, is a Pittsburgh high-school MC signed to Rostrum Records. He has a mixtape, entitled Welcome to Pistolvania, that is gaining recognition from local newspapers and radio stations.
A mixtape differs from a traditional record because...
Be heard
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Comments
Feb 28, 2006 at 09:55 PM
Apparently the article's writer is no down with the hip hop world and what we the average peeps like to bang when we ride or when we are "just chillin".
I own a copy of the cd and love it! It's hot and funky and it's sounds that I would be on the dance floor to in the club.
Wiz has definitely got flow! The youngster gots flow like Jigga and Nas. Simply a wordsmith who can tie words and phases together, not necessarily rhyming (most of it does) but bringing words together to create a visual image in one's mind when listening.
in additon, i love the fact the Young Brotha is well read and well versed, something you catch at a live performance, intelligent beyond is time.
When the time is right and he really comes out, Wiz is gonna have 'em saying "Kanye, who"?
Go ahead Wiz, get it crackin like a Pakistan!
Mar 01, 2006 at 02:06 PM
Wiz is honored to be compared to Kanye and Luda.
This commentary is part of the larger problem of men who have disdain for outspoken African American men. This artist's flow is self-confident and unapologetic for it. Wiz speaks to the disenfranchisement of young black men, police brutality, good kids getting in "the game" for lack of opportunity,the carelessness that educators have for "their" future,hopelessness and finally hopefulness. It is obvious this writer never interviewed Wiz Khalifa, ID Labs, ID Labs Management or Rostrum Records.
Mar 04, 2006 at 03:38 PM
Wow. What a terrible review. As a journalist and freelance writer who has taught at 2 major universities in the US, I am truly disappointed in Matt Sifferts obvious inability to write a review. Since when has review writing been about creating an editorial? There is absolutely nothing here that gives the reader any sort of glimpse as to what the album could present to a new listener. There isn't ONE single source, or even quote. If you don't like the album, that's fine, but shouldn't you leave that up to your audience to decide? Your role as a journalist is to present the facts and hope that your audience is intelligent enough to develop their own opinion.
Aside from the fact that your editor should have a finger shaken at him for allowing this to go to print, the opinion seems unfounded. Your knowledge of hip hop and the culture is apparently lacking. Next time you may want to consider:
1. Interview someone, anyone. Don't take your information from other news sources.
2. Everyone has an opinion, but a strong writer has the ability to share hers without spoon feeding (i.e. insulting your audeinve) Perhaps you should funnel your focus to the meat of what you are reviewing. Use your words to evoke senses and create emotion in your reader.
3. Do your research. Kanye is able to use samples of people like Ray Charles because he can afford to. DJ Huggy and the rest of the staff at ID LABS are incredibly talented, and many high ranking industry insiders would roll their eyes at your claims against them.
4. Hip hop is beyond the main stream audience that you seem to reference with your ode to Kanye. Check out allishiphop.com or from what has been buzzing around new york as a review about him on okayplayer.com.
Lastly, it's great that you took the time to listen to the cd, and write about what seems to be a young man with a ton of potential. I do agree, his track with Gene Stovall is the strongest the album has to offer, but in a pop music sort of way. Hip hop goes beyond top 40s hits, and if you listened to what Kanye has to say you would also know that he is disappointed in what the industry has done to the black community. Turning hip hop into a commercialized and capitalized industry has been destructive in many ways. So isn't it refereshing when a young and seemingly intelligent voice starts turning heads because he's not immediately trying to cash in all of his chips.
I happened to catch his show last night at New Evolution Studios, and was incredibly impressed at his ability to flow like one of the legends. I was so impressed that I plan to see him on Sunday at Mr.Small's for the show. Who knows, perhaps this could be Pittsburgh's "Kanye"!
Dec 27, 2006 at 02:36 AM
I'm just getting to this review, but I totally agree with the last person, "Too much hatin, not enough reviewin!" lol...nice try
Feb 14, 2007 at 06:36 PM
Prob the worst review ive ever heard as J-Hov once said "do you fools listen to music, or do you just skim through it"
Mar 02, 2007 at 01:01 PM
I read this article and was very upset and I am glad to see so many other people felt the same way. Pittsburgh will never have a music scene if haters like you (the writer) keep hatin. You should do your homework before you try to slander and bad mouth someone just to get your name in the school paper. Wiz is one of the best performers the burgh has to offer he is so laid back and very humble and soft spoken when you speak to him in person, hopefully the kids at your school brush pass this article because you have really made Wiz out to be something that he is not. Obviously your not to good at what you do because noone even seems to know your name. Get ya game up before you talk about somebody elses.
Apr 28, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Wiz Khalifa is Hip-Hop's future. The business is always seeking someone fresh to jump into the rap game. I think Wiz is ready to take his hsow on the road and be the new face of commercial hip-hop. So, like many people on here, I disagree with this article. Not objective at all. Give his fans a chance to see that he can make a name for himself in this business. "Say Yeah" is a hot track regardless of what anyone says. It's a smart move to pick a beat that everyone is familiar with.
May 06, 2008 at 07:34 PM
Wiz is the next lil wayne!!!!and thats all i have to say!!!
May 06, 2008 at 07:35 PM
Reppin tha 412!!!!
Aug 24, 2008 at 02:02 PM
this writer dont know hip hop when he hears it, welcome to pistolvania is one of my favorite mixtapes wiz's flow is so impeccable. i love every single one of his songs hes come out with and no other artist can do that for me at least