#TBT: Mixtape Khalifa

Before Wiz Khalifa was a household name, he was on the mixtape grind. Before he was selling out stadiums, he was shelling out free material and making fans all over the internet. A few years later, the guy was everywhere.

Wiz is another example of how free music (and the internet) can lead to fruitful careers. If it wasn't for the highly popular Kush & Orange Juice mixtape, who knows if we'd even be writing this article today.

It didn't stop at Kush & OJ either, Khalifa continued to put out solid mixtapes like Taylor Allderdice, Cabin Fever (both 1 and 2), and 28 Grams. He just recently put out the collaborative freEP with Ty Dolla $ign, and we can't forget about B.A.R. either. The guy's a workhorse!

It's all paid off for Wiz, he continues to stay towards the top of the rap game, where he's been chillin' for a few years now. Today, we're going to take a look at some of the free music that helped him get there with a TBT Mixtape Khalifa.

Starting with the basics here...

This one was simply everywhere for a little while. Wiz over some smooth Empire of the Sun beats was a match made in heaven, and definitely a classic Mixtape Wiz cut.

Sampling Pink Floyd is a pretty good way to get stoners on your side. Wiz's 2009 mixtape definitely got some of those cats in his corner. Do you remember where you were when you heard this for the first time? 

Wiz Khalifa & Curren$y - The Check Point 

We can't forget that one time Wiz and Spitta actually released a full-length project. Let's remember it with "The Check Point."

Hi-Tek's psychedelic beat was first used on The Game's album for a great song with Nas. Even though the original was pretty serious, Curren$y and Wiz still just smoke weed all over it.

This one did wonders for Wiz Khalifa's popularity. The airy rap song has over 10 million plays on an unofficial YouTube channel. It's a smash hit, STILL.

This one was everywhere too. With over 35 million plays on Wiz Khalifa's YouTube channel, "Never Been" has to be one of the biggest mixtape tracks of the past decades. 

This one wasn't the most popular, but it did a really great job of demonstrating Wiz Khalifa's artistry. He's willing to take chances, do things that are a little unconventional, and always keep it light and wavy. He did that and then some on "Good Dank." 

Cabin Fever saw a Wiz Khalifa that was real comfortable with his fame, fortune and popularity. On "Phone Numbers" he boasts about his million dollar checks. He brings Big Sean and Trae Tha Truth along for the ride.

Another Cabin Fever cut, this time with Jeezy and Chevy.

Taylor Alderdice was a little bit of a return-to-form for Wiz Khalifa. After blowing up and hopping on club beats, he went back to his airy, leafy style of weed raps. It worked out nicely too, because the mixtape is some of his finest material.