Star of the Show

By Gary Lee and Charleco Scipio

In light of our tribute to Marilyn Monroe, the quintessential starlet, we have been on the topic of fame and fortune. In terms of music, one particular song that comes to mind is the 8th track from Wiz Khalifa's long anticipated and highly acclaimed studio album "Rolling Papers". It is the theme song to anyone who is or has been in the spotlight. It gives the essence of stardom at it's finest.

The song itself gives you the feeling of arriving at a red carpet event with all electric eyes on you. The lights are on bright and rarity radiates off you as you embrace fame. The crowd loves you. They wave, they smile. They take pictures because it really lasts longer. The song gives you your 15 minutes of fame in about 4.

Wiz Khalifa vividly expresses the pro's and cons of the game and the fame that comes with it, giving you a glimpse of the lifestyle of the rich and famous.

"The best moments of my life Never pealed this much plastic off of Polo in my life Rarely gon' to see, smoking with ya wife Plus anything you want I can afford to buy it twice"

There is no doubt that he has experienced the good and the bad of this condition that only plagues yet blesses a few. Starting from Pittsburgh in 2004 to his first album release in 2010 he has risen in the industry and made a name for himself.

Wiz Khalifa, his real name Cameron Thomaz moved around from country to country due to his parents being in the military,. At one point the young tattooed spitter lived in Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom but when his parents divorced he finally settled in the city of Pittsburgh, the place where he fell in love with hip-hop. There he attended Taylor Allderdice High School, and at the young age of 16 sold his mixtape's and featured on other Pittsburgh artist tracks. The work Thomaz put in was not over looked, it got the attention of Benjy Grinberg, Rostrum Records President. A contract was eventually signed and there, Khalifa released multiple mixtapes under the Rostrum Records banner, but none got him commercial attention like his 8th tape Kush and Orange Juice. Due to fame, success, and his number one single Black and Yellow, and ode to his hometown Wiz Khalifa was declared his own day in the city of Pittsburgh .

Not just anybody can take being a star. The saying "Everybody Is A Star" is simply being unrealistic. Even those who have what it takes to be a star may or may not be the same person when the shine wears off. It could be a good or bad change depending on the individual. Take it from Chevy Woods:

"I guess the difference is we ain't thinking the same. So if I'm guilty of change, I guess I'm the one to blame."

Anyone can aspire to reach stardom, yet most simply look at the good side, the money, the praise. The bad side gets overlooked.  The fake people in real people's clothing, the sudden neediness of those around you, the criticism and judgments and most common, the envy. All this in too big of a dose can make some people go crazy. Even the great Marilyn Monroe was not all smiles behind closed doors.