Wiz Khalifa Explains 'O.N.I.F.C.' Album Title
Wiz Khalifa puzzled his fans when he announced his album title last year. Now the “Black and Yellow” MC breaks down the meaning behind O.N.I.F.C.
“It’s the Only N-Word in First Class,” said Wiz, revealing what the acronym stands for during an interview on Shade 45’s “Sway in the Morning” radio show (via MTV News).
The title takes a page from Mobb Deep member Prodigy’s 2000 debut Head Ni**a in Charge. “It’s inspired by Prodigy’s H.N.I.C.,” added Wiz. “When he dropped that, I felt like that sounded so strong.”
But O.N.I.F.C. also tackles the more serious issue of racism he’s encountered while traveling through airports. “I was just talking about me being a young rich dude and being black,” he explained. “It looks crazy to them when I walk up to them and show them my ticket or I’m going in priority seating, They’re like, ‘You’re sure?'”
Despite his fame and success, he still can’t ignore the darker side of being a young black star. “It’s a good feeling and then it’s like a bad feeling because it’s like, ‘Damn, why do you feel like that about me,'” he said.
Wiz has been in the studio with Pharrell, Chris Brown, and Adam Levine working on the follow-up to his 2011 major label debut Rolling Papers.