Wiz Khalifa

Wiz Khalifa, born Cameron Jibril Thomaz on September 8, 1987, is an influential American rapper, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Though born in Minot, North Dakota, he became synonymous with the music scene in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His stage name is a combination of "Khalifa," an Arabic word meaning "successor," and a shortened version of "wisdom," a nod to his childhood nickname, "Wizard."

As the child of parents serving in the military, Khalifa experienced a nomadic upbringing. Before settling in Pittsburgh at the age of two, and later returning there as a teenager, he lived in diverse locations including Germany, Japan, England, and several U.S. states such as Georgia and Oklahoma. This constant movement forced him to adapt quickly to new environments, a process that eventually informed his songwriting and broadened his perspective on the world.