It’s hard to make it in hip-hop if you’re from New York City, Cali, or Chicago because there are probably a million others trying to make it too. But what happens when you come from a place where no one is trying to make it? A place where nobody is looking for talent? This is the case with Pittsburgh’s finest, Wiz Khalifa.

The first hip-hop artist from Pittsburgh to have a major label release, it wasn’t easy to get where he is. Through years of grinding independently and getting his buzz up, Wiz finally attracted the attention of Warner. Recently he released his hit single, “Say Yeah” and the rest is history. He is now signed to Warner and has a full-length album dropping. Sixshot.com caught up with Wiz to discuss his hometown, the differences between being independent and major, and his new single “Make It Hot”.

Sixshot.com: Alright man, I’m sure you get asked this constantly but “Say Yeah” is a real different song. How did it come together?

Wiz Khalifa: It actually was real simple man. I’m in the studio all the time just recording and a producer that I work with sent me over a beat CD. That beat was on there and I thought it was hot. I did the song and everybody liked it. When I brought it to my label they like it too. It’s just a hot record.

Sixshot.com: How are the hip-hop fans reactin g to the fact that it’s a house beat? Do they recognize it?

Wiz Khalifa: Yeah a lot of people recognize that it’s a house beat and I get a lot of compliments about the flavor I put on it. Really, it’s a hot dance record and it’s getting a lot of spins in the club.

Sixshot.com: You had a single deal with Warner and now you officially have an album deal. How did that come about?

Wiz Khalifa: The single was a hit and I think that Warner saw my work ethic. I’m always working hard and I’m always in the studio recording new music so it was really a perfect fit. I got the second single now and hopefully that will do well too. They saw the potential and everything made sense so we decided to make it an album deal.

Sixshot.com: What can we expect to hear on this album?

Wiz Khalifa: The album is gonna be big man. There’s gonna be a lot of people on it. It’s gonna be real and heart felt music. I put a lot into my music and it’s all about the fans so they could definitely expect a hot album from me.

Sixshot.com: A lot of people claim to have put places on the map but you’re literally putting Pittsburgh on the map as one of if not the only hip-hop artist from there to have a major label hip-hop release. How does that feel?

Wiz Khalifa: It definitely feels good. Nobody from Pittsburgh has been able to reach this position so it’s definitely a big accomplishment for me to be able to do it. Now my goal is just maintaining my position and just to keep making that good music.

Sixshot.com: You were on the grind independently for a long time. Was it a big change going from independent to major?

Wiz Khalifa: It’s definitely cool. We actually had an independent label before and we still do a lot of things independently but we decided we needed to take that next step. There are things that a major label can do that an independent just can’t get done. There are place a major can reach that an independent can’t so it was a logical move on my part. I figured that Warner was a good place to build a foundation for my career and it’s definitely somewhere where I would like to be for a long time and build a career here so overall it was a good look. There’s a certain level I want to reach and I felt the only way to do that was to take it to the majors.

Sixshot.com: The single was huge and I don’t like to use this term but did it raise your profile a lot in terms of inside the industry?

Wiz Khalifa: Yeah definitely man. I mean there are a lot of dudes that want to work with me now because of the success they saw I had with the single. They like the style so a lot of people are approaching me to put in work. The music is just more recognizable now and I even feel like the fans can relate better. When I’m doing shows now it just feels like a totally different reaction. 

Sixshot.com: Are you touring a lot more now?

Wiz Khalifa: Oh yeah man, we been going all over the place. I have been touring for like the last six months just trying to hit every possible market that’s out there whether we’re doing shows or hitting the radio. It’s hard work and it’s a grind but it’s a great way to really connect with the fans and get yourself out there.

Sixshot.com: Is it a cool experience getting to go from city to city seeing the different crowds and everything?

Wiz Khalifa: It’s definitely cool for me. When you’re traveling and you get to see so much it feels like you’re living a different life. It feels like something you’d be hearing about or seeing on television so to actually be doing it and living it is just a blessing.

Sixshot.com: As a new artist do the low record sales concern you at all?

Wiz Khalifa: It’s always a little bit of a concern but at the same time there are artists who are selling records which means that it’s definitely possible to still do it. You can’t just make music and put it out there. You have to put everything into the music and you have to make sure that you’re talking to your fans. You have to make sure that you relate to your fans. An artist who has always been able to reach his fans is Eminem because he really connects with them.  He sells DVD’s and he sells a lot of records because of that connection with the fans and I hope I can connect with mine on that type of level.

Sixshot.com: There are so many independent artists out there. What do you think was they key for you that made it so you were able to be noticed and be successful in the industry?

Wiz Khalifa: One thing I always had was a really great team behind me as far as my publicist who I’ve been working with for a while and the rest of the team. Other than that it’s really just the music. I feel like the fans can relate to it and they feel the passion that I have for the music and the passion that I put into it. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some great producers as well before I even had a record deal so that helped me as well. I worked hard and I did it constantly and I think the industry just saw that and saw that I had a great product to offer so if you work hard enough for long enough eventually it’s going to happen.

Sixshot.com: As far as your label, what do you want to get accomplished with that?

Wiz Khalifa: As far as my label I’d just like to make it so there are good tours and of course good music. I just want to build a solid career for myself and give some people the opportunity to also build careers in this industry.

Sixshot.com: Alright Wiz so what’s coming up that we can check for?

Wiz Khalifa: The new single is out now called “Make It Hot”. It’s a hot song and the fans a re responding well. The album is going to be coming out as well so everybody should be on the look out for that. And a lot of tours man, I plan to keep on touring a lot, just getting out there for the fans and making some new fans.

Sixshot.com: Alright Wiz you got a lot of fans. Anything you’d like to say to them?

Thanks for supporting me. I appreciate that. Keep supporting me. Keep hitting me up on Myspace. Keep checking Youtube for my video and just keep watching because there’s gonna be a lot more coming. www.myspace.com/wizkhalifa

Any questions or comments can be sent to FiveAngelsNYC@aol.com