Wiz Khalifa: How to Build Your Schedule to Make You Happy & Strategize Your Life 5 Years in Advance

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Wiz Khalifa: How to Build Your Schedule to Make You Happy & Strategize Your Life 5 Years in Advance"

Podcast Information:

• Title: On Purpose with Jay Shetty
• Host: Jay Shetty
• Guest: Wiz Khalifa
• Release Date: December 9, 2024

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1. Introduction

In this episode of On Purpose, host Jay Shetty welcomes the multi-platinum artist and Grammy nominee Wiz Khalifa. The conversation delves deep into Wiz's life, exploring his journey from humble beginnings to international fame, his personal struggles, family life, and his philosophies on happiness and strategic living.

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2. Early Life and Struggles

Wiz Khalifa shares insights into his upbringing in Pittsburgh, highlighting the challenges of growing up in an unsafe environment.

• Quote: “[02:19] Wiz Khalifa: The streets is crazy out there. I remember like one of my first friends getting shot and killed in seventh grade.”

Wiz discusses the impact of losing a sibling at a young age, emphasizing the emotional toll and his coping mechanisms.

• Quote: “[12:18] Wiz Khalifa: Probably I got a couple. I got, you know, my mom's name, I got my brother's name, my sibling who passed away. I got my little sister.”

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3. Career Beginnings and Breakthrough

Wiz reflects on his early career, including his initial record deal and the subsequent loss of that deal.

• Quote: “[19:08] Wiz Khalifa: It sucked for me, like just because in those days, like, if you had a record deal, like, that was it. And then if you didn't have a record deal, like, you were done.”

Despite setbacks, Wiz remained confident in his craft and the community he was building, which eventually led to his breakthrough.

• Quote: “[19:35] Wiz Khalifa: I just never knew what the next situation was gonna look like or how long or what that timeframe was gonna be.”

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4. Life as a Successful Artist

Wiz discusses the dichotomy of his life as a performer, balancing high-energy performances with moments of solitude.

• Quote: “[06:32] Wiz Khalifa: The craziest part of my life? I think the entertainment part is the craziest part. And I think it's because I can go from performing in front of 30,000, 40,000 people to either being in a dressroom, being in a plane, or being back in a bed all by myself.”

He elaborates on managing his energy and maintaining a positive relationship with his fans, which fuels his passion for performing.

• Quote: “[10:36] Wiz Khalifa: I think it has a lot to do with, like, my relationship with my fans, because I love the people that I do music for.”

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5. Personal Loss and Coping

Wiz opens up about the profound experience of losing his sibling and how it shaped his outlook on life.

• Quote: “[13:12] Wiz Khalifa: I am grateful that I was able to have, like, the last moments that I had and to be able to prepare for it. And it was something that I'm still dealing with.”

He emphasizes the importance of celebrating the life of his sibling by commemorating her birthday annually.

• Quote: “[16:11] Wiz Khalifa: Yeah, yeah, for sure.”

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6. Approach to Success and Business

Wiz shares his strategies for building and sustaining his career, focusing on long-term planning and disciplined money management.

• Quote: “[39:52] Wiz Khalifa: I always try to look at least five or ten years in advance.”

He discusses the importance of accountability and conscious spending to ensure financial stability.

• Quote: “[40:31] Wiz Khalifa: My best moves in business is just being accountable for everything.”

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7. Family and Fatherhood

Transitioning into his role as a father, Wiz describes the joys and responsibilities of raising his children, Sebastian and Cadence.

• Quote: “[52:33] Wiz Khalifa: It was super chill, man. It was fun just being normal and not really worrying about too much.”

He contrasts his parenting style with his own upbringing, striving to provide a balanced and supportive environment for his children.

• Quote: “[54:45] Wiz Khalifa: I think I'm gonna do it pretty much the same, just like, cater to her needs.”

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8. Thoughts on Masculinity

Wiz offers a nuanced perspective on masculinity, advocating for a balance between strength and emotional intelligence.

• Quote: “[73:53] Wiz Khalifa: I think I've always like approached masculinity just off of my vision of it and the most masculine and people that I respect... are usually the most like moderate and mild tempered and just chill.”

He emphasizes the importance of controlling emotions and being a positive role model, especially for his son.

• Quote: “[75:29] Wiz Khalifa: You have to work on both. And when you know what you're here for, you know, which time is to do which one.”

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9. Health and Fitness

Wiz discusses his passion for MMA and how martial arts have contributed to his mental and physical discipline.

• Quote: “[81:35] Wiz Khalifa: I think just getting punched in the face, you learn how to be calm and, like, not get emotional.”

He highlights the parallels between MMA training and life challenges, stressing the importance of resilience and composure.

• Quote: “[82:29] Wiz Khalifa: You have to fight back. You got three minutes, or you're gonna keep getting punched in the face.”

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10. Advice to Others

Throughout the conversation, Wiz offers valuable advice on maintaining authenticity, disciplined success, and prioritizing family over fleeting fame.

• Quote: “[21:05] Wiz Khalifa: I was good. Keep doing what you doing. You got it. You got it figured out, fool.”

He encourages upcoming artists to build a genuine fan base and plan strategically for long-term success.

• Quote: “[38:15] Wiz Khalifa: I think that there's levels to it. I think that a lot of people aim for like the surface level...”

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11. Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Jay and Wiz engaging in a rapid-fire "final five" segment, where Wiz shares succinct insights and personal reflections. Wiz emphasizes staying true to oneself, the value of family, and the importance of disciplined living.

• Quote: “[91:11] Wiz Khalifa: Just be you. That's from Snoop Dogg.”

Overall, the conversation offers listeners a candid glimpse into Wiz Khalifa's life, his approach to balancing fame with personal well-being, and his commitment to family and authentic living.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• [02:19] Wiz Khalifa: "The streets is crazy out there. I remember like one of my first friends getting shot and killed in seventh grade."

• [12:18] Wiz Khalifa: "Probably I got a couple. I got, you know, my mom's name, I got my brother's name, my sibling who passed away. I got my little sister."

• [19:08] Wiz Khalifa: "It sucked for me... if you had a record deal, like, that was it. And then if you didn't have a record deal, like, you were done."

• [06:32] Wiz Khalifa: "The craziest part of my life? ... being in front of 30,000, 40,000 people to either being in a dressroom, being in a plane, or being back in a bed all by myself."

• [10:36] Wiz Khalifa: "I think it has a lot to do with, like, my relationship with my fans, because I love the people that I do music for."

• [39:52] Wiz Khalifa: "I always try to look at least five or ten years in advance."

• [52:33] Wiz Khalifa: "It was super chill, man. It was fun just being normal and not really worrying about too much."

• [73:53] Wiz Khalifa: "I think I've always like approached masculinity just off of my vision of it and the most masculine and people that I respect... are usually the most like moderate and mild tempered and just chill."

• [81:35] Wiz Khalifa: "I think just getting punched in the face, you learn how to be calm and, like, not get emotional."

• [91:11] Wiz Khalifa: "Just be you. That's from Snoop Dogg."

---

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of Wiz Khalifa's discussion on On Purpose, providing listeners and those who haven't tuned in with valuable insights into his life philosophies and strategies for happiness and long-term success.

Transcript

[Jay Shetty]

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[Wiz Khalifa]

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You can set the pace that works for you and save money along the way. Visit SNHU.edu today to get started. The craziest part of my life. I can go from performing in front of 40,000 people to either being in a dress room, being in a plane, or being back in a bed all by myself. He is a multiplatinum selling recording artist, mini mogul, and an actor, which I'm about the one, the only.

[Jay Shetty]

Did you feel like a big break was coming?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I didn't know what that big break looked or felt like, but I knew that what I was doing was working. The gang banging and the drug selling, that's not really for me. But the looking cool, the having girls, the making music, I'm like, I like that part of it.

[Jay Shetty]

What's it like to get a record deal and then lose a record deal?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Oh, there's no bouncing back from that.

[Jay Shetty]

How unsafe was it where you were in Pittsburgh?

[Wiz Khalifa]

The streets is crazy out there. I remember like one of my first friends getting shot and killed in seventh grade.

[Jay Shetty]

Wow. When was your sibling who passed away.

[Wiz Khalifa]

She passed away, I think maybe seven years ago.

[Jay Shetty]

How was that experience for you, losing someone so close to you that you love?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I am grateful that I was able to have, like, the last moments that I had and to be able to prepare for it. And it was something that I'm still dealing with.

[Jay Shetty]

What's a misconception you think people have about you?

[Wiz Khalifa]

The number one health and wellness podcast, Jay Shetty.

[Jay Shetty]

Jay Shetty.

[Wiz Khalifa]

The one, the only Jay Shetty.

[Jay Shetty]

Hey, everyone. Welcome back to On Purpose, the number one health and wellness podcast in the world. Thanks to each and every one of you that come back every week to listen, learn, and grow. Today's guest is the one and only Wiz Khalifa, multi platinum artist and Grammy nominee who rose to fame with his 2011 debut album, Rolling Papers, featuring the hit Black and Yellow. Wiz won Best New artist at the 2011 BET Awards and top new artist at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards. His song See youe Again from the Furious 7 top charts in 95 countries and earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original song. Today we're talking about Wiz's newest album, Kush Plus Orange Juice 2. Please welcome to the show Wiz Khalifa.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Hey, what's up, man?

[Jay Shetty]

What's up, Wiz?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I'm chilling. How are you?

[Jay Shetty]

I'm good, I'm good. It's great to have you here.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah. Good to be here.

[Jay Shetty]

You walked in with this real chill energy today. I was like. It was very calming.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, I'm a super chill dude.

[Jay Shetty]

I love that, man.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

What's the first thing you do in the morning?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Smoke weed every day?

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, yeah, first thing.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Well, I take my dog out outside. I have a Doberman. He's a puppy, but he's a big puppy. He's like. He's 10 months now, and he wakes up pretty early, so I take him out and then I smoke weed.

[Jay Shetty]

Do you ever remember a day before that was the case?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I remember the days before that was the case.

[Jay Shetty]

What were those days like?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I was in school, so I would just get up and iron my clothes and, you know, go off to school.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. Was there ever a time in your life where you tried to stop smoking or has that ever been a goal?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Nah, I never. I never really. Never really fell back off of it. I never had a reason to.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

What does it do for you that you feel it needs to be your first habit of the day?

[Wiz Khalifa]

For me, it just kind of gets me in a relaxing mood. I have a lot of things on my mind. Like as soon as I wake up. So it's like I'm here, I'm there, I'm everywhere. But if I smoke, I kind of chill, relax, put everything into its place. I write my goals down. I start to, you know, make some text messages or phone calls or whatever, depending on what the situation is. So everything just starts to come into place.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, you write your goals down regularly. Is that like a regular habit, a consistent habit?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely.

[Jay Shetty]

Walk us through what that looks like.

[Wiz Khalifa]

It's really like me kind of like just spitballing stuff. Whatever it is, like short term goals of mine, whether it be about clothing, music, family, visuals, content, just kind of like just writing the first ideas. Like really short, really just to the point, nothing really crazy. I have a blackboard, so I'll sit in front of the blackboard and physically write it. Or if I'm in my car or something like that, I'll write it down in my notes. You know what I'm saying? Just to like little reminders and things like that.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, I love that, man. How long have you had that habit for?

[Wiz Khalifa]

It goes on and off just due to like necessity, like how crazy my life is. So I just, I feel like I don't know how long it's been because I do it like so regularly. And then I look back and I see how much I've done and I'm like, wow, I've been doing this for a long ass freaking time.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah.

[Wiz Khalifa]

So I think it's kind of like a second nature type of thing for me.

[Jay Shetty]

What do you find is the craziest part of your life?

[Wiz Khalifa]

The craziest part of my life? I think the entertainment part is the craziest part. And I think it's because I can go from performing in front of 30,000, 40,000 people to either being in a dressroom, being in a plane, or being back in a bed all by myself. And it's like to go from that much energy to just be all by, like back by yourself, I think that's pretty crazy.

[Jay Shetty]

Walk us through what that feels like mentally. Like you just described two polar opposites. And the majority of people on the planet will never really experience those extremes. They might experience the loneliness in a room, but they won't experience the 30,000 people screaming your name.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Right.

[Jay Shetty]

Wearing your merch, you know, whatever it may be, singing along to your music. What are you feeling in the in betweens and the transition of that to that.

[Wiz Khalifa]

You have to have this thing, this thing where you kind of wind down and you know what is for where, like, you can't bring the stage home because eventually you have to, you know, wind down and go to sleep and wake up and do it again. And you can't be, you know, too turned off when you're on the stage because you have to bring enough energy to where somebody is way in the back and they can feel you. So it's really just like a projection of, like, you know, your energy and how you feel. And the majority of the times I'm in a great mood. I have great interactions with my fans and the people around stage and things like that. So it goes good. I'm in a great mood. But it's just a lot of this goes from really, really intense, and then it could just all just be shut off at one second. And I think that that's, like, the craziest part to me.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, I can relate. You know, I'd heard that before, and I can relate in a small, very small way, comparatively. But I remember doing my first ever live show in 2019. It was at the Ace Theater, or maybe 2018, something like that, in the Ace Hotel. And it was like, I don't know, 1500 people, 2000 people, maybe. It was my first ever show. And I remember walking off stage, jumping into the car to get driven back home. And it was just the strangest feeling. Like, it's so hard to explain it.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

And I wasn't, you know, it wasn't like, I don't do music, so I haven't got even with that experience, but I'm feeling connected with. With my audience. Then you get into the back of a black. You know, a black car. You barely know it. I didn't know anyone in the car with me. I was alone, and I'm driving home, and I just felt. I was like, wow. I don't even know how to describe the juxtaposition. And then I went on my world tour last year. We did roughly 40 cities around the world. And that was like, you're in a new place every day, and now you're feeling that every same thing every day. And so I know it's much smaller compared to what you've done, but to me, just getting that experience. And I remember that night, I was lucky. I came home and my wife had planned a surprise party, so all my closest friends were back in my house.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

And that kind of, like, it was a relief.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

But it. But it is a really weird feeling.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah. I don't think the feeling is smaller due to the crowd or whatever. I think the feeling is. The feeling.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah.

[Wiz Khalifa]

It's like when you're on a roller coaster and, like, you get back and, like, you're in your bed and you still feel like you're on the roller coaster. It's like. You know what I mean? So I feel like we still have that in common, even though it might be at different levels. And it's not even always 30,000 people. Sometimes it could be a private event, or sometimes it could be an event with some kids or something like that. To where it's like, you just get really two totally different parts of life, and they're both great. I love my normal life, and I love my work life, too. It's just the difference between them is crazy.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. What's helped you continue to love them and deal with that paradox, with that ease and comfort? What's really soothed your relationship with those, you know, challenging or crazy experiences that you mentioned?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I think it has a lot to do with, like, my relationship with my fans, because I love the people that I do music for, and they give me a really, really great response and reaction, not only to my performance, but to my music and just the appreciation that they have for it. So I appreciate them as well. And it makes it easier because I enjoy it, and I love to create. I love to be on stage. I love to be in front of people. Yeah. So it doesn't feel like I'm, like, doing anything out of, oh, I just want the money, or this is just for this certain reason is really, really enjoyable for me. So.

[Jay Shetty]

That's beautiful, man.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah. It's a great experience.

[Jay Shetty]

That's such a beautiful place to be.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah. Yeah. For sure.

[Jay Shetty]

Ye. Yeah. That gratitude to your community for being there for you, for being present with you.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, definitely.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. What's been, like, your craziest fan experience or fan interaction, a memory that you have with one of the audience members? That's.

[Wiz Khalifa]

I think the craziest stuff is when people, like, come up and get me to sign my name on them so they can get it tatted.

[Jay Shetty]

Wow.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Or they show me tattoos in my face on them. I think those are the craziest interactions. Cause I have tattoos. I'm covered in them, so I know how important that is. And to be, you know, just me as an artist and doing what I'm doing and to want to have people to want to, like, tattoo me on them is pretty. It's pretty tight.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. Have people ever done a lyric as well?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, yeah. They do lyrics, they do song titles, they do pictures, they do autographs. They do all types of stuff.

[Jay Shetty]

Wow.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

What's your most meaningful tattoo or one that really speaks to you?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Probably I got a couple. I got, you know, my mom's name, I got my brother's name, my sibling who passed away. I got my little sister. Yeah, probably, like, my family tattoos mean the most to me. The rest of them are just, like, stuff about life that I've learned throughout the way or things that I've called myself throughout life. Yeah. Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

When was your sibling who passed away?

[Wiz Khalifa]

She passed away, I think maybe seven years ago. I remember exactly how many years ago it could be. Like. Could be more or less.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. And how old was she then?

[Wiz Khalifa]

She would have been 40 now, so she was probably 33 when she passed away.

[Jay Shetty]

So you had some life together?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Oh, yeah. Hell, yeah. We grew up together. Yeah. Same mom, same dad.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. How was that experience for you, losing someone so close to you that you love?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I wouldn't say, like, rough, because you get through that type of stuff and you learn how to deal with it. But it's definitely a situation that I never would have expected. Like, we weren't sick growing up or anything like that. We were always the same. So it's like, when you get to a certain age, you don't plan on losing a sibling. And, yeah, it was just something that we had to deal with. And as her health declined, it was something that we knew was gonna happen. So it was like, all right, cool. Let's get ready for it. You know what I mean? And I am grateful that I was able to have, like, the last moments that I had and to be able to prepare for it. And, you know, my son has memories of my sibling and things like that. And her birthday was actually on Halloween, so we celebrate every year. Annually, we throw a party. So, yeah, it was definitely an experience, but, you know, it's something that I'm still dealing with. Like, you know, like, a lot of the times I'm doing, like, really, really well, and then sometimes it might. You know, it might hit me to a point where it's like, all right, you know, let me just slow down and kind of deal with this and. Or just think about it or talk about it or just whatever it is that gets me through it. But, yeah, it's just like, a continuous thing, for sure. Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

How did you prepare for it at the time? You said you kind of knew it was. You know, her health was diminishing over time. How did you prepare at the time? Like, were there specific rituals or things you did or memories you that stayed with you?

[Wiz Khalifa]

No, it wasn't really too many rituals or memories or anything like that. I was traveling a lot at the time, so I did make sure that I went home and spent some time with her before she passed away. And then my mom was really the one who was, like, right by her side the whole time, so she was giving me kind of like blow by blow of everything and just how the situation was gonna go. And I just did my best to try to make her as comfortable as possible for those last couple moments and. Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, that. I mean, it sounds like you said you're still dealing with it, even though it sounds like you made the most of that time.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

And now you're saying you reach out to people and talk about it. Who would you reach out to when you want to talk about something like that?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I would talk to, like, my Aunt Rachel. We had, like, you know, we all just laughed and joked and just had a real good time together. Talked to my mom, talked to my dad, talked to my baby sister about it. I most recently talked to, like, just one of my other aunties about it, just randomly, because I feel like we all feel the same and we all have losses and, you know, can relate in certain ways, even though it's not the best thing to be relatable about, but, you know, we feel similar about it, so it's cool to have those conversations and, you know, feel good about it afterwards.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. I love that you still celebrate her birthday.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, yeah, for sure.

[Jay Shetty]

That's a beautiful way to think about it.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, definitely.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. It's such a hard balance, I find, in terms of mourning or grieving someone's death and then celebrating the life you had with them.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

And it's such a fine line, and often you're pulled in either direction. But I think it's so important that we do celebrate life and memories we had with someone and celebrate their life as well.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Absolutely. I just look. I look at it as like, if she was still here, we'd be partying. So let's not stop the party.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. That's beautiful. I was. I was diving into career whiz, and I feel like when someone like you becomes as successful as you've become and, you know, is dropping successful hits here and there, you almost forget the journey that they've been on and the graph that they've been on. And I was really fascinated by that because it hasn't just been, like, a smooth, easy, linear journey. I think people think of success as, like, you tried something out it worked. And now you're this, you know, this big phenomenon. And yours had lots of twists and turns when, like, what was your life like before black and yellow compared to what it is now? What was it like before that?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I would say it was pretty normal, like it was pretty regular. I was just, you know, like any other 20 something year old. I think just the way that we were working and traveling and like going on the road and kind of the money that we were dealing with, a lot of it was getting reinvested back into the business. So I was making money, but I was spending money on myself and like, not even in a big way, but it would just be, you know, hotels, travel, things like that. So I was putting myself through like courses and business and how to like, you know, make money, spend money, reinvest, blah, blah, blah. I was doing all of this stuff naturally, but it wasn't on that level yet because we hadn't met, you know, anybody who was in the game. We hadn't had business managers or anything like that. So it was just, you know, me and my friends, we were kind of just really, really hustling and making the best out of, out of what we knew how to do.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, I mean, did you feel like a big break was coming or did it feel like, God, we don't know how this is gonna go?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Well, being that I already had a record deal and then essentially lost that record deal, I didn't feel like a big break was coming. I didn't know what that big break looked or felt like, but I knew that what I was doing was working. And I knew that the people who were into me and the movement that I had created, I knew that that was more popular than the mainstream and what was really, really popular at the time. So I was really confident in that. But I didn't know like a big moment was coming or anything.

[Jay Shetty]

What's it like to get a record deal and then lose a record deal?

[Wiz Khalifa]

It sucked for me, like, just because in those days, like, if you had a record deal, like, that was it. And then if you didn't have a record deal, like, you were done. So to have one and then lose it is like, oh, there's no bouncing back from that. Like, I never knew anybody who bounced back from that. But in my mind, it was never over. I never counted myself out. I just never knew what the next situation was gonna look like or how long or what that timeframe was gonna be.

[Jay Shetty]

Like, where did that confidence come from? I love how self assured you were. That like what you were doing in the community you were building was resonating with what you were doing.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

Where does that come from? Because I think, like you said, so many people today who might be listening, and they. Maybe they just, you know, got kicked out of a job. Maybe they got rejected from their record deal. I remember when I. When I was first coming up with the idea for this podcast, six ago, I had a production company and a partner that was going to launch the show with me. I went away for the holidays, Christmas holidays, came back, and then I was told that it wasn't on anymore. So I remember that feeling and having to launch the show on my own. If someone's going through that right now, how did you maintain that composure and that confidence? Like, no, we're doing something here.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

We may not know when that breaks coming, but we're going to keep moving.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah. I think it was just by, like, standing on the things that I believed in and the stuff that made me most comfortable, and if I wanted to show it, I was going to show it. If I wanted to talk about it, I was going to talk about it. It might not have been what everybody else would have considered was going to take somebody to the top, but it made me feel free and I enjoyed myself by doing it. And I think just in turn, a lot of people have fun enjoying watching me do it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

If you could give your younger self any advice before Black and Yellow came out, what would it be?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I was good. Keep doing what you doing. You got it. You got it figured out, fool.

[Jay Shetty]

Is there. Is there anything you would have liked to have known for how to deal with it afterwards?

[Wiz Khalifa]

No. No. Everything that I. That I learned and that I figured out along my way, I think happened in its time and how it was supposed to. And it's positioning me for even greater points in my life as well. Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

Where does that come from? Because that's such a peaceful thing. And like I said, from the moment you walked in, there's such a peace and ease about you. In an industry where people can get jaded, people can get ruffled, they get flustered, how have you kept that peace and composure for yourself? Like, where's that coming from?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Really? Like, just my goals in this shit. I have my own personal goals, and I've reached a lot of my old goals that I was trying to do, and I reached them by being myself and doing exactly what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it. So, you know, knowing that that's possible and seeing that it doesn't make me want to rush to the next point or the next situation. I'm comfortable waiting for what's mine and, you know, just seeing what, how everything plays out as opposed to, you know, trying to make it be somebody else's story. Like I feel like my whole story and everything as far as my life, if I see it, I wanted it. It's just a matter of time until I get it. So, you know, I just wait that amount of time and you know, just keep, just stay down and just, you know, just be very, very. Like have a lot of gratitude for where I'm at and what I've done so far. And even when I was coming up, I was really, really happy with what I had. So the more and more that I started to get, it wasn't because I wasn't happy where I was at and I had to get more, it was just. Cause I was so happy. It just, you know, just kept turning into more and more. So I just keep it like that.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. There's a beautiful quote that says when you're grateful for what you have, you'll receive more to be grateful for. And I think it's true that gratitude expands. But it's beautiful hearing you say that. Did you learn that from anyone? Did anyone teach you, mentor you, guide you? Or is this an internal thing that's kind of evolved over time?

[Wiz Khalifa]

This is definitely some internal that's evolved over time. And it's like gotten me really, really far dealing with people in business or dealing with the law or dealing with just different personalities in general as far as, like, just getting what I want creatively and not, you know, freaking losing my mind and, you know, just being able to talk to people and have clear conversations with an understanding of, you know, what works, what's real and what's not, and what we can make real.

[Jay Shetty]

Hey, I'm Jay Shetty and I wanted to invite you to a brand new interactive no charge workshop, Renew you that I'm eager to share with you. Over the years, I've worked with thousands of people across the globe and I've noticed a common theme. Many of us are feeling stuck, overwhelmed or disconnected. We're going through the motions of life, but not really living. Does that sound familiar? Are you feeling burnt out, uninspired, or like life is just passing by without meaning? Maybe you're struggling to make the impact you know you're capable of. Or perhaps you're craving deeper connections with others. If any of this resonates, then I want you to know that change is possible. And it starts with the choices you make Today. In this workshop, I'm going to share five simple yet powerful steps that can help you reignite your passion, purpose, and joy. These are the same principles that have helped me and countless others reshape our lives from the inside out. And I know they can do the same for you. You'll walk away with actionable strategies to revamp your daily routine, find your true purpose, and create meaningful connections. And the best part, this workshop is completely free. These changes don't require massive overhauls. It's about making small, intentional shifts that can lead to big results. This workshop is more than just learning. It's about doing. I'll be guiding you through reflections and exercises that will help you start creating the life you've always dreamed of, right here, right now. Go to www.reneworkshop.com to access this at no charge and start building a life that's not just lived, but truly loved.

See you there. What's been the hardest conversation you've ever had to have with someone?

[Wiz Khalifa]

The hardest conversation I've ever had to have was someone. I think the toughest conversations that I have to have are when I have to explain my ideas. Yeah. Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

Because.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Because I'm so hyped up about it, like, before it start, before I verbalize it. And then as soon as I start to say it, I just feel like the level of intensity of it just comes down. I'd rather just do shit sometimes and, like, just show you. And, like. But I learned, you know, by working with so many other people how valuable it is to, like, have a team. So I learned how to be able to express, you know, what I'm thinking and have that go through a whole process, and then we make it real.

[Jay Shetty]

That's so true, man. I feel like that sometimes, like, you can see it in your head.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

But then you're like, you can't press play on the projector, and then it comes out. And so when you're explaining it, everyone's looking at you like you're crazy.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, exactly.

[Jay Shetty]

And you are right. Sometimes I do feel we live in a time, in an industry where people have heard so many ideas that until you see something, you don't even understand it.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Right.

[Jay Shetty]

And I feel like when you look at music or you look at movies or film or TV or whatever it is, when you watch something, you're like, oh, that was amazing. But, like, someone, when they talked about it, no one wanted to buy it.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Right.

[Jay Shetty]

Did you find that record labels and people that you've worked with the music, always understood you immediately or no. You kind of had to go prove and show.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Oh, man, they didn't know what to do with me. Like, there was no clue what to do with me early on. That's why I lost my first record deal, because when I came in, the song was really good and it was a sample from a popular song that people, you know, was really recognizable. But after that it was like, well, what do you do? Do you make like five more of these songs or like, what are we gonna do? And they really didn't understand, like, me being from Pittsburgh, me smoking weed, me being lyrical, me, you know, being a cross between, like, you know, really, really hard hip hop culture, but then like really cool, trippy hippie skating. You know what I'm saying? Earthy mother.

[Jay Shetty]

This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. For me, the best part of the holidays is going home to spend time with my family. There's just nothing like being all together, catching up, sharing laughs. It's the kind of cozy that you can't get anywhere else. December just has this magic way of bringing out the best moments, right? And while some love to bundle up in a soft blanket with a steaming mug of hot chocolate or settle in for a holiday movie marathon, therapy can offer that same comfort in a deeper way. It's not only about working through major challenges. It's a space to understand yourself better, to learn positive coping skills that make everyday moments feel light, and to set boundaries that protect your peace. Therapy can empower you to show up as your best self and carry that sense of inner calm with you no matter what the season it is. And if you're thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It's entirely online, designed to be convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist, and you can switch therapists anytime for no additional charge. Find comfort this December with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com jstop3 today to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp. H E L p.com jstop3 Sometimes life can seem challenging, and overcoming problems can seem impossible. But when you focus on your problems, it can keep you from seeing the good in your life. One thing that helps me when I need a change in perspective is acknowledging the small wins in life. I encourage my team to pay attention to small wins because it helps them see positive outcomes and the steps that they're achieving on the road to a bigger goal. Use the power of small wins to shift your outlook and you will start to see positive changes. State Farm is also there to help you find personal wins and celebrate the small things in life. The State Farm personal price plan helps you create an affordable price just for you. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can bundle and save with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state. If you're like me, you don't just want fast Internet service. You need it. And believe it or not, there are plenty of places in America where people don't have access. That's why this story is so important. AT&T recently completed an AT&T fiber buildout to more than 20,000 customer locations in Oldham County, Kentucky. So the entire community now has access to high speed connectivity. Now you know what high speed Internet can do for a regular person.

[Wiz Khalifa]

But how?

[Jay Shetty]

How about a farmer? Suddenly it's easier to sell cattle, buy feed, research fixes for broken machinery. You get the picture. I think that's fascinating. It doesn't matter what you do for a living these days. You need to be connected. And now the big part. This isn't just a Kentucky story. ATT is on track to cover more than 30 million locations with fiber by the end of 2025. So the opportunities Oldham county got connected to AT&T is bringing them to millions of people across America. And that's good news for all of us.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Connecting changes everything. Att, there was no cross between that. At the time. You really had to be like big white T, like chain, you know what I'm saying? So a lot of labels didn't understand what to do with me. And it wasn't until I built my fan base of people who believe the same thing that I believe in. And I was able to travel and do shows and then they were come and see the show and they'd be like, these mothers are going crazy over this dude. Like it doesn't matter what we say or what we think is dope. It's obviously, you know, there. And I feel like that whole format, you know, has been done a lot. Like especially in rock and roll and pop music where the act will be bigger in real life than they are, you know what I mean? To other people, like they're bigger in real life than they are. Like to hype, like as far as the hype goes, once they started to see that, that was my situation. And that's when people started to pick up on me.

[Jay Shetty]

Was that the way you built this audience that understood you? Was it performing live? Do you feel like that was the significant part for you in creating this amazing connection you have with your audience?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, absolutely. Performing live, going to a lot of different colleges and festivals before they were as big as they are now. Like stuff like south by Southwest and the really like grassroots underground stuff is like what built, you know, us. And we packed into a van and just went on our own tours. Just up and down and just drove ourselves. And then on top of that, YouTube had just came around. So, you know, I was recording myself and putting my vlogs on YouTube. I called it day to day. And I still do these to this day. They're like a compilation vlog of like a week in my life. And I just started doing it. Cause I was like, my life is so crazy. Nobody sees it and it's so much fun and there's so much like stuff that goes on. I was like, so I might as well turn it into like, you know what I mean? A little ten minute short.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah.

[Wiz Khalifa]

And it worked. It worked a lot. It helped sell a lot of merch, it helped sell a lot of tickets. It helped build a really consistent fan base of people who are still here to this day.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. Do you remember any of those trips, certain places you went to where something crazy happened that you caught on camera.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Man, it's all on camera. So you can.

[Jay Shetty]

So you can see anyone that stands out to you.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, I mean, I think like there's really classic episodes. There's like an Australian tour with me and A$AP Rocky. You see like me and J. Cole in his early days. You see me and Currency in our early days. You see a lot of artists. You see me and Kendrick in his early days. You see me with Nipsey Hussle. Yeah. You see like the whole community of people who we really came up with who are like OGs in the game now. But this really classic footage of us when we all just started out. Mac, Miller, a lot of people. Everybody, man, everybody who you listen to now was in those day to days, like originally.

[Jay Shetty]

How did you guys all meet each other back then? Like, how did you connect?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, we were connect, I guess.

[Jay Shetty]

There was no Instagram dm. Maybe there was. Maybe there was no.

[Wiz Khalifa]

We would connect through Twitter, right? Yeah, Twitter was the vibe back then. There was no ig. We weren't like dming each other on there, but we would connect through Twitter and Clothing. If anybody needed clothes or weed, like, we would all hit up the same peoples for clothes, weed, and you know, just vibes and stuff like that. And we just all clicked. And as we started to like take off on different levels, we would just bring each other with us based off of who we, you know, not really like the most, but were who we were closest knit with at the time or who it made the most sense with.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. What's it like watching Kendrick then and Kendrick now?

[Wiz Khalifa]

It's really dope watching Kendrick then and then now because we all came up together so we were all doing the same things. We were all speaking to the same crowd and we were at different levels in our career. And I just remember performance wise, Kendrick would kind of like scream on stage. Like, he didn't sound like he did on the record, but now he's like one of the best performers and he's like one of the. You know what I'm saying? The guy's really carrying it for our generation. So to see him like just jump up levels and levels and levels through like hard work and branding and, you know, just being around the right people at the right times, bringing people along with him, like Baby Came and all of them, you know what I'm saying? He just really doing every move to the T of how you're supposed to do it.

[Jay Shetty]

And has J. Cole evolved as well during the.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Cole is the same thing. It's like, you know, we all started out just the homies, like trying to get a verse on each other's tapes. And now dudes are like elite rappers up there, you know what I'm saying? And it's like, it's cool to see him have his own festival. It's cool to see he doesn't have to do as much work throughout the year. But when he does drop, people pay attention how they're supposed to. He does great tours and like, as a, as a performance artist and as a substance artist, I feel like he has a type of career, like that's all you can ask for.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, that's powerful. What does it feel like you were saying there? Like, in some ways things have changed. Like, what's changed for up and coming artists today? Like, what are they doing right? What are they doing wrong? How would you advise someone if you were starting out from scratch?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

Today again, how would you approach your career differently or in the same way?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I think that there's levels to it. I think that a lot of people aim for like the surface level where it's like you get One or two things and you're good, and that's what takes you to the top. But usually that works against you because you'll have that spike, but then you'll go back down and you'll have to go back up again. It's really difficult to have that spike and to have that feeling of validation and like, oh, yeah, everybody's with me, blah, blah, blah. And then, boom, they're not with you. And then you gotta try to do something to get them back on your team. So, you know, a lot of people are gonna wanna go that route, but it has a lot of negatives that come with it on the back end. And it's a really good time for artists to cultivate a real fan base, Whether it be in front of people's eyes or whether it be behind the scenes. It's a really great time to cultivate a fan base of people that understand you, understand your slang and how you dress and what your lifestyle is about and really push that to the forefront. Let that slowly build. And eventually, whether it's a year, two years, three years, or five years, you know, you're always making a little bit of progress here, here, there, and wherever you land at, you're gonna permanently be there.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

There's a lot of people today who get told, you've only got 12 months. You had your hit. You've got 12 months to make as much money off of you as possible. Like, a lot of people hear that. Like, hey, look, your career is not going to be that long. Let's make the most we can. What would you say to someone who feels that fear themselves or gets told that, like, hey, look, you had one hit. Let's just, you know, crush this peak.

[Wiz Khalifa]

If somebody tells you that you better get some drugs and start selling them, Use that money, Flip it. Nah, get some real estate. Cause I mean, like, somebody who only has a year plan in you, and they're like, yo, you're only gonna be here for this amount of time. They're gonna move on. They're gonna find other artists or different people to represent, and you're gonna be asked out. Like, so any artist or any personality who somebody is already talking about, like, the limit of the lifespan of their career, they should definitely be worried and not try to race to do the most in that amount of time, but to try to figure out how to extend that lifespan. So let's take what that person just told you and let's try to figure out, you know, what the next five years looks like instead of the next 12 months.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, that's good advice.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, definitely.

[Jay Shetty]

How far into the future do you look when you're planning music, work, life?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I always try to look at least five or ten years in advance.

[Jay Shetty]

Wow.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

How different is where you are today from where you looked at where you'd be five to 10 years ago?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I'm doing way better business wise than I've ever done. Not just making money, but managing money. And I feel like I'm getting better and better at that. And you know, that's what's going to take me, you know, into the, into the future as well, is not only just, you know, the making of the money, but the money management.

[Jay Shetty]

What have been your best moves in money management or business that you think people could learn from?

[Wiz Khalifa]

My best moves in business is just being accountable for everything. I think in rap music we get so caught up on the lifestyle and we're like, I have to have this or if it's a new truck, I'm buying that. But me, I'm more like, I'm only going to spend this much on clothes this month. If I want a new car, I'm going to wait a year and a half until I get it, you know what I mean? Or I'm gonna move money from this account to spend on this. So this is here and that's there. And you know, we can still pay for tour and you know, how much are we spending on tour, how much are we making off of tour, how much comes in off of merch on top of the other businesses and things like that. But really the money management, like the everyday type of spending where it's like, you know, you could get carried away buying too many clothes or, or getting too many nice rooms or, you know what I mean? And I have a lot of luxuries that come with my life, but I could also do without a lot of that stuff too. So the unnecessary stuff and knowing what the stuff that is not really needed paying attention to that not letting just those things just slip through the cracks. Cause they all add up and shit. So I think just being way more conscious of that type of stuff.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. Did you learn that the hard way because you were overspending or did you learn that because you saw other people before you overspending?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Luckily, I didn't get to a point where I overspunt or overspent. I just received large ass amounts of money and with that comes advice and you know, so it's like yearly or quarterly, you know, we need to have these conversations where it's like, this is what the money looks like we had to spend for this because of that, or, you know, you had a little bit of fun spending this, so let's just bring it back on this, this, that, and the other thing. And just throughout time of having those conversations, you start to figure out where the unnecessary spending and the problems come from. Or even if you start to create little different issues, you'd be like, okay, this isn't really working in our favor, so we need to wiggle out of this. And, you know, even if it's spending this big chunk over here, that's gonna take away from the continuous spending, that's kind of like bleeding and taking away. So just to learn that and have that visual in my head, you know, while I'm making decisions, A lot of people, they feel like they're being controlled if somebody's telling them that. But for me, it's a choice. It's like, do you want to be broke 20 years from now, or do you want to be having more money 20 years from now? All right, well, this is how you do it.

[Jay Shetty]

So, yeah, good advice, man. It makes sense.

And it's.

It's hard to do in the moment because you just. You want to get that thing or you want to buy that thing. And it applies across the board. What. What's the dumbest thing you ever bought? And now you look back go, oh, God, that was dumb.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Man. I don't think it was ever, like, one dumb thing. I just used to be dumb how I bought stuff. Like, I would see anything and just like it and buy it. It didn't matter how much it cost. If it was a car I wanted it, I would buy it, like, right then and there. Sometimes it'd be a watch or something like that. And, like, a lot of these watches I don't even have no more.

[Jay Shetty]

So it's like you gave them away or sold them?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Sold, gave away, lost. Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

And what was the best investment you've ever made?

[Wiz Khalifa]

It'd probably be, like, some stocks or it's like some percentage of a business that I've invested in. Yeah, I've had multiple, but there's some really good ones that I put some money into that. It's gonna come back in some really good ways.

[Jay Shetty]

I hope people get inspired by hearing you talk about how sometimes you gotta put off those big purchases, wait a year for that car. Because I think when we're young, especially, and you come into even a little bit of money, which feels like a lot of money, it's so easy to spend and just get carried away. And especially now, I feel like with all of us just ordering things off of Amazon and everything else all day, it's like you have no idea how much money you spend.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Oh, for sure.

[Jay Shetty]

It's so easy.

[Wiz Khalifa]

It's super easy to look up and however much, just be gone. And when it's gone, it's gone.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah.

[Wiz Khalifa]

And to me, I feel like you have to go through that. You have to really feel that and understand it and whatever you believe in. I believe in God. So it's like that's God telling me, like, okay, you spent this much, it's gone, you're gonna get more. But you need to deal with the feeling of you having it and it being gone. And then now we'll see what getting more feels like. But some people, when they have it and it's over with, they don't even know what that bounce back feels like or looks like. So, you know, unfortunately, the best way to learn is to go through it.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, you're right.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, yeah. But afterwards, like, you know, it's on you after that, like you gonna keep doing the same thing over and over or you gonna learn from, you know, what happened.

[Jay Shetty]

What does your relationship with God look like?

[Wiz Khalifa]

My relationship with God is the shit. I pray all the time. I thank God all the time. Yeah. A lot of people, there's certain people who don't feel like God is like a higher power or anything like that. But I like to just imagine that my God is just like chilling up in the sky with a big deep voice. The sun could be going down and I could be driving and the Hotel California could be on. I'd be like, thank you, God. You know what I mean? Cause the situation just feels wrong. Right?

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

And what does God say to you in God's deep voice?

[Wiz Khalifa]

You're welcome. You're supposed to have this.

[Jay Shetty]

That's awesome. Has that always been there since you were young or is that it's come with time as well?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, definitely since I was a teenager. Definitely since I was like, I could remember, you know, being in like 9th, 10th. No, probably even like 8th, 8th grade. Just praying every night, thanking God for a wonderful day, asking him to bless everybody that I care for. Yeah, just like really cool stuff. Like just normal, normal ass shit that I want the world to feel.

[Jay Shetty]

What would you pray for? What else apart from other people to be safe.

[Wiz Khalifa]

I was in a crazy ass place when I lived in Pittsburgh, so I definitely asked for like that safety. The older I get, you Know, I ask for, like, patience and understanding and things like that. You know what I'm saying? So just regular shit?

[Jay Shetty]

Well, that's not regular. That's pretty deep.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. How unsafe was it where you were in Pittsburgh?

[Wiz Khalifa]

It's super unsafe in Pittsburgh, man. Like, the streets is crazy out there. Friends of mine started getting murdered when I was in, like, seventh grade. Like, I remember, like, one of my first friends getting shot and killed in seventh grade.

[Jay Shetty]

Wow. And then when did you leave Pittsburgh?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I came to Pittsburgh permanently when I was in middle school, and I stayed throughout high school. And I probably didn't dip until I was, like, 23 years old.

[Jay Shetty]

Right, because you moved around a lot growing up, right? At least as far as I saw.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

Probably, like, every Japan.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah. Every two years, I would bounce around, and my mom was always in Pittsburgh, so I would go live with my dad for two years, and then I would come back to Pittsburgh. Then I would go live with my dad, and then I would come back to Pittsburgh. So I was in Pittsburgh in third grade, and I was also there for middle school, and then I came back for high school. And then other than that, I lived, like, in Oklahoma, South Carolina. Japan. Yeah, those were a couple other places.

[Jay Shetty]

What was your favorite place?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I think Japan was my favorite place.

[Jay Shetty]

How old were you when you were in Japan?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I was in, like, fifth or sixth grade.

[Jay Shetty]

Okay.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

What was that like? I mean, Japan at that time. But now I feel like everyone's like, japan's the place to go.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah. It's cool when you're, like, exploring Japanese culture, but I just realized, like, as an adult, that that shit was kind of fucked up. Cause it was like, I'm living on an American base in Japan, right? And, like, just the concept of, like, Americans occupying Japan, it was like, you never find a Japanese base in America, but, like, we have the audacity to, like, go over there and just be like, here. Here's our base. We're gonna operate as Americans. We're gonna send our kids to school here. Don't teach them your language, Nothing. It's just gonna act like America in Japan. So that's. That's. Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

So you never learned Japanese?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I learned a little bit of Japanese, but it was, like, basic. It wasn't, like, really any, like, diving into the culture or anything like that. Like, it's just you live on post and you travel from one base to another base, and that's pretty much what it was.

[Jay Shetty]

How do you think that experience impacted you now? Like, how is that. That childhood experience of Moving around, darting around every two years defined who you are today.

[Wiz Khalifa]

It was cool because I was able to just be a regular kid, and I was able to, like, meet friends and different groups of friends and run around and play and knock on doors and ride bikes and climb hills and stuff like that. So it was super chill, man. It was fun just being normal and not really worrying about too much. I think the older that I got and the more settled that I got in Pittsburgh, that's when I started to, like, figure out, you know, who I wanted to be later in life. But in those early years, it was just all about, like, being a kid and just playing with my friends.

[Jay Shetty]

When you saw all of that around you, how did you have. What gave you that feeling to dream and to want something more? When you're seeing, like, the violence around you, you're saying it's a rough neighborhood, what's given you the ability to go? There's more to life than this.

[Wiz Khalifa]

I think it was just, like, knowing that I had talent with music. I always did music since I was younger. My uncles and my cousins were older than me. They were like, you know, 15, 16, all the way up to almost, like 20 years old. And I was like, the baby. I'm 13 years old, so I'm really kind of trying to do what they're doing, but I'm picking the parts that make the most sense for me. So it's like the gang banging and the drug selling and the guns and all that shit, I'm like, that's not really for me. But the looking cool, the having girls, the getting money, the making music, I'm like, I like that part of it. So that's what I always really stuck to. Like, just. Even as a kid, like, I was just like, I'm gonna just do what I know is cool for me, which is just making music. And, you know, that's kind of like what led me on my path.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. How could you? How did you stay away from all of the other things? Because sometimes those can look cool when you're young. They can. They can be attractive when you're young and powerful.

[Wiz Khalifa]

I didn't really stay away from it. I definitely, like, you know, the older that I got and, you know, the more fun I started to have. I kind of was in and out of that stuff, but it wasn't for me, you know, like, just. It's a lifestyle for some people, and for a lot of those people, like, they're still doing it now. And for me, it was just kind of like, you Know, being a kid or like a rite of passage type thing, or it's, like, product of my environment type stuff, you know, like, the little stuff that I would get into is, like, I'm here, so, you know, I'm getting down. Like, I'm not gonna be the only one who's not down. You know, you grow out of that stuff, too, and you learn from that stuff as well. So. I learned from the things that I did do, and I learned from the things I didn't do as well.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. I mean, now you're a father yourself.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

How do you feel looking now from the perspective of being a dad? You've been a father to Sebastian for a while now.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Right.

[Jay Shetty]

And then you just had a daughter. Cadence, I believe. Congratulations.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Thank you.

[Jay Shetty]

And, like, what's it been like to be a father to Sebastian? And then how is your views of fatherhood changing now that you've had a daughter?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, it's been really good having Sebastian and having a boy, especially at his age. He's 11 now. And there's just certain instincts that are starting to kick him, you know, where it's like, he was a young boy, now he's like a young man. And he's growing into more of a young man every day, really. And just that programming of life and discipline and being polite and on top of just everyday stuff of handling his emotions with his friends and things like that. It's a really fun experience going through all of that with him. Cause I'm able to remember what it was like for me as a kid. So instead of just, like, telling him the rules and what you should and shouldn't do, it's more like guiding him of, you know, how to, you know, navigate through these situations, which is really, really fun. And I had that with my dad as well. He was always, you know, there for me and talked to me about a lot. And he was way more disciplinary than lenient. And I'm a super lenient parent with my son. But I'm also, like, really real with him. And he's able to be real with me, and he's able to talk to me about, you know, real life things. And when I think about the stuff that I did when I was, you know, coming up, you know, by the time I was his age, I was doing a lot more stuff because, like I said, my uncles and my cousins were older. And I'm just thankful that I was able to have those experiences and know what's appropriate and what's right and what's not. So I'M able to monitor what goes on with him and what will affect his behavior later. And then just having a baby girl, I think it just adds to it now because I'm able to just give all types of love. Like, I got the tough love with my boy and then I got like, just the sweetness of having a daughter, which, you know, helps. Helps out a lot.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. How do you think you're gonna shift your strategy as she grows up?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I think I'm gonna do it pretty much the same, just like, cater to her needs, like whatever she needs. If she's like super girly girl, then we doing, you know, ballet and we doing dance and we doing drama and we doing all the girly stuff. And if she's a tough girl, then we doing kickboxing and we doing whatever else to rough her up. We do horseback riding. We do whatever we wanna do, like, you know what I'm saying? There's no. The sky's the limit. But, you know, keep her active, keep her entertained and just cater to her needs.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. What's Sebastian into right now? Like 11 year old. What's like, his obsession?

[Wiz Khalifa]

He loves basketball.

[Jay Shetty]

Okay.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, he loves to play basketball. He's really just now learning, like, the fundamentals of it, but he's good at it. He's an athletic kid and he's like, it's good to see him, like, roughing around with the boys, like, being one of the boys. They talk shit to each other. They get in each other's faces and like, they really get after it. So he's like gravitating towards basketball more than anything. Just that and just being with the friend, being with his friends, like, just being a kid.

[Jay Shetty]

Were you ever any good at basketball? Was that.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, Hell yeah. I. Cool. I never had like, official training, like, what he's going through, but if I did, bro, I'd be so much better than I actually am. And I'm really, really good. So I would be like, I'd be deadly if I knew how to do what he's learning right now.

[Jay Shetty]

So you could give him some pointers.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Along the way, just like naturally. You know what I'm saying? Hell yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, I love that. And you never did ballet or anything? Or anything?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Nah, nah, I never did that. I did, like acting classes and shit like that. I was in like, speech and drama and all of that shit. But never no dance, though.

[Jay Shetty]

Did that help? Speech and drama classes? Like, how did that?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I think that helped. Yeah, I think it helped a lot because it was like, you know, you learn how to project your voice and all of that stuff, and you learn how to, like, hit cues on stage and, you know, just kind of like, get outside of yourself in front of people where you're still yourself, but then you're like, outside of yourself. I definitely think that helped for my performance. Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

If Sebastian came up to you and was like, I want to be a rapper, too.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

What would you say to him?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I'd be like, let's go, the studio's downstairs.

[Jay Shetty]

What advice would you have for him to find his voice?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Studios downstairs.

[Jay Shetty]

Just get in there.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Get in there, start rapping.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yep.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Hell, yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

Would you want that, or you're kind of open to whatever?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, I wouldn't mind, especially the way that I'm implemented in the game. Like, I do what I want to do. I'm not, like, nobody controls me. Nobody tells. Nobody's, like, working me harder than I needed to be worked or anything. So I see the same vision for him, especially in the age that we're in. So it's like, if you're going to be an artist, you're going to be in complete control of everything. So it starts now.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. Yeah. The team was saying that you plan a lot of your life around him. Yeah, they were saying that, like, sports, games and things like that. Like, you've really taken that idea of an artist should be in control of their own life. Yeah. Walk us through that mentality, that mindset.

[Wiz Khalifa]

A lot of people focus so much on their work and they think, like, that the work is going to come to an end at some point, or they have to sacrifice things that are important for work. And I believe the opposite. I think I should sacrifice work for my family and it should just be the other way around because of how much that work and how fortunate I am to be in the situation where I put in a lot of work, I've done a lot of things so I don't have to, you know, feel this sense of urgency that things aren't gonna go my way if I miss out on something or if I, you know, speak up and just try to make sure that everything works out how I would rather at work. And, you know, I had the point in my life where I would be in the studio every day, or I would be, you know, a different country every day, or I would be, you know, a show fitting, a signing TV appearance, blah, blah, blah. I would do all of these things back to back to back to back to back. So I've done that already, but now it's more Important for me to just wake up, work out, spend time with my family, make sure that he is at his best because he needs to go to practice, he needs to train every day for him to be successful later on in life. And if I'm not there to, like, motivate that, either he's gonna get it from somebody else, I don't know who, or it's just not gonna happen at all. And that's my job right now, is to make sure that he's successful. So, you know, if I miss this or if that doesn't go the way that it's supposed to, I'm cool with that. Because in the end, he's gonna get to be as successful as he needs to be.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, that's beautiful, man. Because I feel like there's such a. It's wonderful to hear. Because I feel like we're living at a time where there's such a pressure to constantly be relevant, to constantly, like, keep up with, you know, what everyone's doing. And now you've got a million platforms to stay relevant on, and everyone's doing this and that. And so it sounds like you've created, like, a healthy detachment.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

Between who you are at your work and who you are at home.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

And that's quite a beautiful thing.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, I see that better working out long term. Like I said, I look like five, ten years into the future. And me chilling and me and my family seems way more realistic than me, like, ripping and running around still, so I might as well get used to it.

[Jay Shetty]

Did you feel your dad was super involved in that way as well? You were saying?

Sometimes life can seem challenging and overcoming problems can seem impossible. But when you focus on your problems, it can keep you from seeing the good in your life. One thing that helps me when I need a change in perspective is acknowledging the small wins in life. I encourage my team to pay attention to small wins because it helps them see positive outcomes and the steps that they're achieving on the road to a bigger goal. Use the power of small wins to shift your outlook and you will start to see positive changes. State Farm is also there to help you find personal wins and celebrate the small things in life. The State Farm personal price plan helps you create an affordable price just for you. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can bundle and save with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings, and eligibility vary by state.

[Wiz Khalifa]

The holidays are here and so is the IKEA Winter Sale. Now's your chance to make the holidays a little more magical and less expensive. Save up to 50% off on select items in store and online now through January 7th. Plus IKEA loyalty members get an extra 10% off on sale items. And if you spend $2.99 or more on a single order before December 10th, enjoy free delivery. Need help managing the clutter of decorations? Ikea Storage Solutions will keep your home tidy from toys and tinsel. Having extra guests over checkout offers on select dining furniture to make more room for the piece people who matter most this time of year. Don't wait to finish your winter wishlist. Shop the Ikea Winter Sale in store or online now until January 7th. Visit ikea-usa.com wintersale for more details. Term supply offer Valid dates may vary us only while supplies last. Selection may vary by store and online. See store in ikea-usa.com wintersale for complete terms. Restrictions apply.

The all electric Chevy Equinox EV combines everything you need when you're Ready to go EV starting at 34,995, the 2025 Equinox EVLT give you an impressive balance of all electric range safety features for peace of mind and effortless technology, including the 17.7-inch diagonal display screen, all at a price you'll love. The Chevy Equinox EV is the fun to drive all electric SUV that gives you what you need to do exactly what you want. The manufacturer's suggested retail price excludes tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Dealer set's final price. To learn more, visit chevy.com Equinox EV yeah, yeah, absolutely.

My dad was super involved with me, especially like through my teenage years. A lot of my time that I spent like early in the studio was with my dad. Cause he built a studio and was running it. He didn't know about music and he didn't know about any of that stuff. But I told him I was into it and he built a studio and was like, all right, learn how to use the equipment, start writing songs, put an album out, do this, do that. And I did it all. And he was like, damn, I didn't know you was really gonna do it. I'm like, yeah, this is what I wanna do. So like just through, you know, seeing how important him being involved with what I was passionate about took me to the level that I'm at. It lets me know like whatever my son and my daughter are passionate about, I have to experience those Things with them. I can't just give them money and provide it for them. I have to actually do it with them. And that's gonna make a hell of a difference.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. How does your dad feel about seeing you now?

[Wiz Khalifa]

My dad loves it, man. He's, like, in awe, like, all the time. And I think out of everything, he understands, like, how hard I work too, and he's really proud of it. Sometimes he gets a little bit worried. Like, he's like, is this too much? Like, you know what I mean? Like, I know you do a lot. And I'm like, nah, it's cool. I'm built for this. Like, this is what I do. So he sees how much I work and he sees how much effort I put in, like, constantly. But he's really proud of me.

[Jay Shetty]

What's something you learned from your mom?

[Wiz Khalifa]

The value of family. Yeah, my mom taught me the value of family. She always kept me around my family members. She kept me around my cousins, my aunts, my granddad. She even keeps me around my dad's side of the family, and they got divorced when I was two years old, but she still hangs out with my dad's sisters, my aunts.

[Jay Shetty]

Amazing.

[Wiz Khalifa]

My cousins, and all that on their side. So she keeps me in touch with them. She keeps my kids in touch with them. She does the whole genealogy of the whole family. Like, my mother is so family oriented, and that rubbed off on me as well.

[Jay Shetty]

That's beautiful. What's a misconception you think people have about you? If they have one at all?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I don't think at this point there is any misconceptions. I think there's just learning more about me. I think that the more people learn about me, the more they see how chill, how educated, how well spoken, and, like, thought out a lot of things that I do are. And they start to really understand why the people who love me, you know, whether it's my music or I changed their life in whatever way, they start to understand, like, where that comes from.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. What's something about you that people may not know that you'd like them to understand? Along those lines?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I think right now I just want people to know, like, how you said, like, how detached I am from the whole success world. Like, I'm cool with it, but, like, that's not the goal and it's not. And a lot of people say, like, oh, well, you have money, so it's easy for you to say that. But I think you just reach certain points in your life where different things are important. No matter how much money you have. And, you know, some people. I'm 37 years old, some people reach my age, and this is the time that they start their business, and they're like, I'm gonna go hard and I'm gonna build my empire now. I was just lucky to have got a head start in my 20s, build my empire, and now I really understand, like, you know, how to sustain it and maintain it and keep it going for the next 10, 20 years. And those are the things that I'm really, really working on along with the music, you know, which is super duper important, but it's really just about, like, making this thing last.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. And I don't. I think you're right. I don't think it's about how much money you do or don't have. I think anything can become a drug and you can get addicted to.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

And I remember, you know, Kevin Hart was sitting in that chair and he was talking about how success became a drug for him. He was just addicted to more and more of it. And so it's easy for you to get addicted and obsessed and just. And you're actually saying, well, actually, I'm. I. I don't want to get addicted.

[Wiz Khalifa]

No. Yeah, no. It's my work, it's my job. It's what I'm really, really good at. And I don't never want to give that up for, you know, a normal life or anything like that. But I do value my normal life as much as I value, you know, the. I value the 30,000 people on stage, but I also value being in my bed alone at night when the lights are off. But I love it.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. Yeah, I appreciate that. And I think. I think we need more of that healthy thinking, because I think if you only like one or the other, or if you start to detest one or the other, that's when it starts to get scary. Like, a lot of people love being in the audience. They don't like being alone, or a lot of people are like, oh, God, I hate being with the fans now, and I love being alone. And I think both of those can lead to a lot of pain internally.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah. You have to work on both. And when you know what you're here for, you know, which time is to do which one. I spent a lot of time working on the other side of it to where I love my job and I love what I do, and I'm very grateful to be able to make the amounts of money doing what I do. But that's not everything to Me, I work as hard on my personal life as I do on that side of it. I'm in the, you know, if I'm in the studio 12 hours or if I'm on a plane, you know, 16 hours, and I barely get any sleep and I don't eat, and I do promo and I do a great show, and I do a meet and greet, and I smile and I take everybody's picture. That's all part of the game. That's me going hard to make sure that that part of it lasts. When I'm by myself, I'm waking up at a decent time. I'm going to sleep at a decent time. I'm working out. I'm spending these certain hours. I do yoga. There's just certain things that go with the process. And then, like you said, planning things around my kids. So it's like I'm making sure that I'm spending this family time where it's not. They're getting the short end of the stick off of anything. So I'm working passionately and hard on my normal life the same way that I do in my professional life. And sometimes it takes more energy in normal life than it does in a professional life.

[Jay Shetty]

I agree with you. Yeah, sometimes it's easy to be disciplined at work, but to actually show up for your family and be disciplined at home requires a whole nother thing.

[Wiz Khalifa]

And a lot of people, they run from that because it's easier to, you know, just put all the. Put all the guilt and responsibility, oh, I gotta work. It's my job. It's this. It's easy for you to do that. Take some time, you know what I'm saying? You know, be a little bit nervous, be a little bit uncomfortable, be a little bit bored. But you're not gonna be bored if you're around people you love. Like, I'm never bored around my kids. But, you know, take. Be passionate about your normal life as well.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, it sounds like you have so much order and discipline in your life. Like, when I'm hearing that, I'm like, sounds like everything's very structured and organized and intentional. Yeah, it's not like this random, like.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, it's not random at all.

[Jay Shetty]

Every day is very regimented.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, it's definitely regimented. You know, I look at my schedule regularly. I'm updating the schedule regularly. And it just really built to make me happy. Like, I'm cool with everything that I have to do as long as I'm happy. Like, you know what I'm saying? And if we talk about it and we arrange it and we put it in all the times that it's supposed to be. I'd be really, really happy and I would love to do it, but when things start coming out of left field and you have your idea of what an appropriate time is, and we didn't run that by each other, like, that's not going to make me happy to do this. And I'm doing this because I love it.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. I saw your men's health video with the mma, which has become your fascination and, I guess, workout routine for a couple of years now. I feel. Where did that start and how did that come about?

[Wiz Khalifa]

A lot of my big homies were getting. And when I say big homies, I mean security. They were getting into MMA and doing jiu jitsu and just martial arts and just meeting all types of people. And this was like almost 10 years ago. And they were just telling me, like, bro, this is the next wave. Like, everybody's about to be doing this, blah, blah, blah. This and other thing. You gotta get into it. You gotta get into it. I'm like, yeah, it's cool, but, you know, I'd rather like, you know, smoke weed and be in the studio. You know what I'm saying? But as soon as I started working out, I just developed a passion for it out of nowhere. And it didn't make me slow down smoking any. I was able to still get stoned. But I love training and I love working out and I love learning new things. So it just kept building on top of each other and just building and building. And then I just started to develop some skills that were still sharpening to this day.

[Jay Shetty]

Do you go to watch as well, or you just like training?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Oh, yeah, I watched the show as well. Yeah. I got a company called PFL that I'm involved with. I go to their shows all the. I mean, I go to their fights all the time. I go to boxing matches. There's wrestling matches, there's jujitsu matches, there's all types of stuff. Combat sports is like, as you've seen, has grown so much and so many influencers want to do it. And it's just a really good lifelong thing, too. Like, it's gotten popular for how much money it makes people and things like that. But as a lifelong practice, like, I would suggest that for any and everybody.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. If there are men who are watching who want to get into health and fitness, what would be your best advice for them? To motivate them, inspire them, let them know how important it's been for you and it could be for them.

[Wiz Khalifa]

I would just try to paint the scenario of you being about late 30s, out with your kid. Somebody like is just in your face and your kid is standing right there and you only got 30 seconds to prove to your child that you're their protector or somebody who's finna get whooped. Start working out now.

[Jay Shetty]

That's hilarious. It's funny because my next question was going to be about like, you know, I feel like masculinity is such a big talking point right now. And you know, a lot of men feeling like they've inherited the mistakes made by men in the past. And so men carrying around a lot of judgment, men feeling left behind in the conversation. The different things you've talked about today and the way you're organizing your life, like masculinity is a very broad spectrum. It's not just one way.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Right.

[Jay Shetty]

And so have you ever thought about that, raising a son for yourself? The message you put out, I feel like rap and hip hop had a version of masculinity before and that's right. What are your thoughts on that?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I think I've always like approached masculinity just off of my vision of it and the most masculine and people that I respect and just the situations that I look at as what, you know, a man should model themselves as are usually the most like moderate and mild tempered and just chill and kind of, you know, observant and just guiding the situation and any way that you can position yourself to be that type of person. I've always felt like that was the more, you know, respectable thing. And we all have feelings and we all have emotions and that's where like training in combat sports, it helps you like to put all of that stuff in the right place because when you get a chance to get that stuff out, you realize where it has a place at where it doesn't. And a lot of people, they don't have a place to get that stuff out. So they think that they're being masculine by like shouting or yelling or being rude to somebody. But really that should be like the last case scenario, you know what I'm saying? That's why I say protecting your child. Because I would never use what I know to hurt anybody unless it was to protect my family or myself. It wouldn't be in any other situation because to me that's not cool, that's not tough, that's not even what it's for. So I think the idea of masculinity, it Just comes from whoever is putting it out at the moment and what they've learned from it. And, you know, the world judges the way that it does based off of their experiences, because they think, you know, the most mean or the most scary or this, that, and the other thing, but they haven't. They show that. But there's not a lot of real situations that people are in that prove that that's the right thing. And from my experience, what's proven the most is the most mild, chilled, moderate people are the ones that you should probably be, like, the most worried about. So the more that you can position yourself in life to have an understanding of your own emotions and be in control of your reactions to things, I think that just makes you more looked at as what people would consider masculine or a leader or a provider or something like that, rather than, like an emotional, you know, person.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, that's a really powerful answer, man. I feel like you kind of feel the world going through two extremes where it's like, masculinity used to be this bravado, chauvinistic, arrogant, you know, alpha male type. And then it swung to, like, being vulnerable and soft and this. And now I kind of feel like it's kind of swinging back the other way. Yeah. And it's almost like. I like how you described it, because it's not really hard or soft. It's kind of like the person who can, like, calm it down, guide it, move it along, knows what to do with everything.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Exactly, exactly. Cause I've seen both, you know, and I've been around, like, growing up in Pittsburgh, you see a lot of dudes where it's like the street N type is, like the hyper masculine. But a lot of those dudes end up, like, going to jail, getting shot, or when they come home from their jail, they're not who they used to be. And all of that masculinity kind of goes away when you see, like, the perception of this person go away and you see who they really are. So it's like, deep down, who really are you inside without this whole thing that you're, like, putting off on people. And men have a lot of pressure, especially, like, growing up. Cause we're more competitive. We're, like, really competitive. So it's like, I could see it with my son, like, being in sports with him and his friends, you know what I mean? They just off rip, just go to this certain type of personality, and I'm like, bro, you know, you're like a better teammate if you tell dudes, like, yo, good shot. Like you know what I'm saying, Good job, I see you, blah blah blah. But they don't understand that now as kids they're so competitive and they're so at each other's throats.

[Jay Shetty]

Sometimes life can seem challenging and overcoming problems can seem impossible. But when you focus on your problems, it can keep you from seeing the good in your life. One thing that helps me when I need a change in perspective is acknowledging the small wins in life. I encourage my team to pay attention to small wins because it helps them see positive outcomes and the steps that they're achieving on the road to a bigger goal. Use the power of small wins to shift your outlook and you will start to see positive changes. State Farm is also there to help you find personal wins and celebrate the small things in life. The State Farm Personal Price Plan helps you create an affordable price just for you. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can bundle and save with the personal price Plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.

[Wiz Khalifa]

The holidays are here, and so is the IKEA Winter Sale. Now's your chance to make the holidays a little more magical and less expensive. Save up to 50% off on select items in store and online now through January 7th. Plus IKEA loyalty members get an extra 10% off on sale items. And if you spend $2.99 or more on a single order before December 10th, enjoy free delivery. Need help managing the clutter of decorations? IKEA Storage Solutions will keep your home tidy from toys and tinsel having extra guests over. Checkout offers on select dining furniture to make more room for the people who matter most this time of year. Don't wait to finish your winter wish list. Shop the Ikea Winter Sale in store or online now until January 7th. Visit ikea-usa.com wintersale for more details. Terms apply. Offer valid dates may vary us only, while supplies last. Selection may vary by store and online. See store in ikea-usa.com wintersale for complete terms. Restrictions apply.

The all electric Chevy Equinox EV combines everything you need when you're ready to go. EV Starting at $34,995, the 2025 Equinox EVLT gives you an impressive balance of all electric range safety features for peace of mind and effortless technology, including the 17.7-inch diagonal display screen, all at a price you'll love. The Chevy EQUINOX EV is the fun to drive all electric SUV that gives you what you need to do exactly what you want. The manufacturer suggested retail price excludes tax, title, license, dealer fees, and optional equipment. Dealer sets final price. To learn more, visit chevy.com equinoxev and.

Sometimes that carries on in life, but I think you just have to have an example of somebody to, like, let you know, like, yo, it's cool to just be, like, chill. And you know what I mean? Like the homie. It's cool to talk shit sometimes, too. Cause that shit is fun, but, like, at the root of it, y'all still gotta be friends and care about each other and take care of each other. And that's the more, you know what I mean, brotherly dope part about it, other than going at each other's necks.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. And we need to see that modeled more. It's hard. You don't see it that much. So it's hard to know as a man how to do that. But you're right. If you look at the best athletes in the world, they're the ones who kept their calm when things were tough, Right? They weren't the ones spewing anger. And it's interesting because mma, I think people who haven't been trained in martial arts or don't know people who have often can think of it as, like, combat sports are, like, angry. But have you learned any practices from MMA that you feel apply really well to what we're talking about right now?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I think just getting punched in the face, you learn how to be calm and, like, not get emotional. When somebody hits you in the face and you still got three rounds to do work, or you still got three minutes in a round or five minutes in a round to do work, like, you can't let your emotion. You have to be calm, you have to think, you have to remember your footwork, you have to remember your breathing, you have to remember defense so you don't get hit again. There's way more to the story than just, I got punched in the face. And a lot of people will never really get that lesson or get that feeling of, I got hit and I gotta keep it moving. You know, most people want something to happen as soon as they get hit, but, you know, I think just through martial arts, and it sounds extreme and it sounds crazy, but I think everybody should get punched in the face.

[Jay Shetty]

I know what you're saying, though. I get what you're saying. It's only at that point do you know how tolerant and still you are. Cause up until then, you can be like, oh, I'm super chill. I'm calm. But it's responding to the.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah. And there's a lot of dudes who's like, if somebody punches me in the face, I'll kill him. But, like, no, you won't. You gotta fight back. You got three minutes, or you're gonna keep getting punched in the face. So it's like. It's fun when you just remove everything and hit somebody in the face.

[Jay Shetty]

How often do you get punched in the face when you're a.

[Wiz Khalifa]

We do sparring off and on, especially. Cause I gotta do, like, appearances, and that's what I was looking for and shit like that. Cause anything could happen. Like, my nose rings could come out. I could get black eye. Like, my forehead could get split.

[Jay Shetty]

You gonna protect the face?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, for sure. So when I know I'm not having to do too much, that's when we usually do some sparring. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Or we'll do light sparring where it's not like, you know, nobody's in too much danger.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That makes sense.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

He's trying to figure out how you. How you're doing that. Yeah. No, I'm really glad we dove into the masculinity. I just feel like it's such a need right now. And I want, you know, men and women to both feel like, you know, that we're kind of having these conversations that I think sometimes on the bigger screens, you don't see them.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

You know?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah. And I think it's like, the word masculinity has gotten, like, so abused.

[Jay Shetty]

Oh, interesting.

[Wiz Khalifa]

To where people, like, think it's a bad thing. And it's like, there are good examples of masculinity. Like, I have a daughter, so she has to see what a masculine. She has to see what a provider is like. She has to see what somebody who is gonna make her feel protected as well as cared for. And, you know, all of the things that describe what real masculinity is beyond, you know, what you can do physically to somebody or even financially, you know what I'm saying? Emotionally being there for her, there's a lot of things that me having the right types of masculinity are gonna be, you know, positive for her to see.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. 100%, man. And with this new album, what was the energy that you put into it? Like, it's a sequel, so there's that. Was there something you were trying to revisit and bring back?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, I think I'm Just revisiting. Like when I did cushion orange juice, the style of it was like, you know, stoner kid, everybody just smoke weed, be cool, be chill. And this is the soundtrack to the lifestyle. And I've done a lot with my music to where I've, you know, had my take on what I think music should sound like at certain points. I've had, you know, my take on what I think are like, really big, huge records and what those should sound like. And then I've also just experimented with, you know, what street culture is at the time and just was popular to the kids. And I think with cushioned orange juice, it really resonated with people because of the lifestyle that it created and the things that I talked about in that lifestyle and the way that the music sounded and grooved with that lifestyle. So just being aware of that and knowing what type of chaotic state that we're in right now, I just felt like it was the perfect time to just reintroduce people to a more laid back chill, just smoke some weed and vibe out, you know, and create a whole crowd of people who want to do the same thing. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

And it's interesting, right? Like, you. It's like you're chilled out, but then you're super productive.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

How do you hope that your audience kind of feels both of those as well? Because it's been.

[Wiz Khalifa]

It's been good. Because I think just. Just through experience, I've learned that the majority of people who listen to my music end up bossing up.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, I love that.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah. Like, there's a lot of artists now, you know, who were in like middle school, high school when cushion orange juice came out, or they watched my day to days and they're like, man, this is what really, you know, let me know. This is what I needed to do to be an artist, or I studied you every day, blah, blah, blah. Or I dropped out of college and I got my friends and, you know, we started our label and now we're Big Sean and blah, blah, you know what I'm saying? So, like, I've seen a lot of people who have taken my blueprint and turned it into, you know, exactly what I've done with it. So I think the message gets across really, really well that, you know, you be a pothead, but you be productive and you boss up and put all the homies on. I think they get that, that message really well.

[Jay Shetty]

I love that.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah. Thank you.

[Jay Shetty]

How does. How does it feel that see you Again is the second most viewed video on YouTube? Music video of all time. I mean, that's insane.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, it's pretty cool.

[Jay Shetty]

How does that feel?

[Wiz Khalifa]

It feels good. I think it feels better that I'm able to, like, walk around. Because most people, they. They would think that if your video is that popular or if you have that much success, that you're just, like, not even real. But, like, to me, I could still go to my son's games. I could still, you know, go pick records out. I could still go to the gym without a fleet of security with me. So, like, I didn't sacrifice my sanity to be the second most viewed person in the world. So I'm happy about that.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, and it's such a great song, too, to be known for.

[Wiz Khalifa]

I feel it's a really good song. And shout out to Charlie, too, man. Like, Charlie did his thing. And the whole process of, like, making that song was like, a dream come true because it was for a soundtrack. So you never know how that's gonna go. There was, like, 10 other people who were supposed to be on the song. So, you know, me writing a verse, I was just, like, writing a verse. I wasn't like, this song's gonna change my life. I need to sit down. I was just like, yo, yeah, there you go. It's a dope verse. I love the verse and shit. But they were like, it really connected with the people who were doing the movie at the time and, you know, shout out to Weave and Constance and Will and everybody. But we just kind of, like, just shaved it down and it just ended up making sense with it just being me and Charlie on there. And that song has taken us, like, super duper far.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, it's dope, man. It's amazing. What was your motivation to go sober from alcohol?

[Wiz Khalifa]

My motivation to be sober from alcohol was just I had drank for so long, since I was able to drink, I've been drinking, and I never seen a reason to really stop. Cause, like, I just love partying. I love being around people. I love, you know, just being a vibe. After one, I think it was one show, I just got, like, completely wasted, which was normal. But I was like, man, I don't really have too many, like, memories of places. Like, I was like. I mean, like, I love doing these shows and shit. Was like, I don't be remembering, like, you know what I mean, anything. I was like, I want to kind of, like, experience this stuff, remember where I'm at, remember the people who I'm dealing with, actually enjoy it and not just be, like, turned up, you know? So, yeah, it was just a time of, like, just gathering information, and I'm real happy for that.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. Was it hard to break away?

[Wiz Khalifa]

No, it wasn't difficult at all. I think when I want to do something, I'm good at it. Like, if it means something to me, I have my own reasons for doing it. Nobody's making me do it or even I feel like even if somebody made me do it, if it was, like, a challenge or something like that, or if, like, I had to for legal reasons or something like that, I wouldn't have a problem doing a lot of things. But, you know, for me, it's just my lifestyle is so free, and it's so fun. So half of the time it's like, why would I stop? But if I make up a reason for myself, I usually end up sticking to it. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

Wiz, at the start of the interview, I asked you, what's the first thing you do when you wake up?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

What's. What's the last thing you do before you go to bed?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Last thing I do before I go to bed? Kiss my son and my daughter.

[Jay Shetty]

Nice.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

I love that.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah.

[Jay Shetty]

Beautiful, Wiz. I end every episode. You've been amazing. So generous with your time. Great. Just great energy. I've really enjoyed spending this time with you, man. Yeah, I appreciate you. I feel like I've learned so much about you today that I didn't know for sure.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Thank you.

[Jay Shetty]

We end every episode with a final five. These have to be answered in one word to one sentence maximum.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Okay.

[Jay Shetty]

And so, Wiz Khalifa, these are your fast five. Final five. The first question is, what's the best advice you've ever heard or received?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Just be you. That's from Snoop Dogg.

[Jay Shetty]

Nice. Question number two, what's the worst advice you've ever heard or received?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Change your name from Wiz Khalifa.

[Jay Shetty]

2.

[Wiz Khalifa]

I don't know. They just told me that that name wasn't gonna work.

[Jay Shetty]

Why didn't. Why didn't they like the name?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Cause it's just too different. You know what I'm saying? Like, it didn't sound like nothing. It didn't give off. You didn't get any visual from that back in the day when I told you that that was my name. So a lot of people, close people to me was like, I like you. You can rap. You're really cool, but you need to change your name. And it ended up working out for me because in the years that I was being discovered, it's a brand new name. So when you Google that Name. I'm the only thing that comes up. So it was, like, one of the most googled names, like, you know, for that year. So the thing that people told me wasn't gonna work ended up working.

[Jay Shetty]

I love that. Where did it come from?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Wiz is short for wisdom, and Khalifa is leader and successor.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, yeah. How did you come across the word Khalifa?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Because that's Khalifa. My parents are. Well, my grandparents. My granddad is Muslim. Right, right.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. Very cool, man. I think it's a dope name.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Thank you, man.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, it's cool.

It's cool.

I love this hat, too.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yeah, Good look.

[Jay Shetty]

I saw this on your merch yesterday when it came out.

[Wiz Khalifa]

New merch. I'm a walking billboard, baby. All I wear is me.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah. I love it. Question number three. What's something that you used to value that you no longer value?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I used to really enjoy going to nightclubs. I don't enjoy it anymore because I feel like the music isn't the same. I feel like people don't really dance anymore. Like, they're just in, like, sections, just kind of chilling, and it just kind of defeats the purpose of going out. Like, I never went out just to look cool. I would go out to get girls, and I really don't, like, chase women all like that no more. And I think it's just the polite thing to do. Like, normally, like I said anymore, because, like, normally, even being in a relationship, I would just be like, yo, this is part of my life. Like, you know what I'm saying? I'm gonna be around hella chicks. Get used to it. You know what I'm saying? That's what I would do before, like, but now I don't really, like. I don't really care for that shit no more.

[Jay Shetty]

Question number four. How would you define your current purpose?

[Wiz Khalifa]

I would define my current purpose as a leader and as a provider and as somebody who a lot of people look up to. So it doesn't matter what I get personally. It's more about what I do for. For others.

[Jay Shetty]

And fifth and final question. We ask this to every guest who's ever been on the show. If you could create one law that everyone in the world had to follow, what would it be?

[Wiz Khalifa]

Smoke weed every day.

[Jay Shetty]

I love it. Wiz Khalifa. Christian oranges, too.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Yep.

[Jay Shetty]

Thank you so much, man.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Thank you.

[Jay Shetty]

This is so much fun.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Thank you. I had a good time too.

[Jay Shetty]

Yeah, I hope you did, man.

[Wiz Khalifa]

I like your jeans too, man.

[Jay Shetty]

Thank you, man. I appreciate it. If this is the year that you're trying to get creative, you're trying to build more. I need you to listen to this episode with Rick Rubin on how to break into your most creative self, how to use unconventional methods that lead to success, and the secret to genuinely loving what you do. If you're trying to find your passion and your lane, Rick Rubin's episode is the one for you.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Just because I like it, that doesn't give it any value. Like as an artist, if you like it, that's all of the value. That's the success comes when you say I like this enough for other people to see it.

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[Jay Shetty]

We know you're uncertain about psychics.

[Wiz Khalifa]

Is this fortuneteller you found on a forum legit?

[Jay Shetty]

Your one true love is me.

[Wiz Khalifa]

That's why California psychics reject 98% of the psychics who apply to work with us.

[Jay Shetty]

We guarantee if your reading isn't life changing, it's free.

[Wiz Khalifa]

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