CREDIT: MELANIE ANDERSON
Wiz Khalifa played to an enthusiastic crowd at Budweiser Gardens.

Rapper Wiz Khalifa went wild on stage during his 2050 Tour stop at Budweiser Gardens on October 21, pleasing fans with a very interactive performance and surprisingly smooth dance moves. On top of his unique, upbeat vocals, Wiz brought a great energy to the stage that resonated with the crowd.

Before Wiz hit the stage, members of the Taylor Gang performed their own opening sets. LoLa Monroe was first, followed by Chevy Woods and Juicy J. Taylor Gang Records is an independent label founded by Wiz that features albums and mixtapes by Wiz himself, Chevy Woods, Juicy J, LoLa Monroe, Berner, and Tuki Carter.

Wiz got the party started with "Cabin Fever," followed by songs from his upcoming album O.N.I.F.C. (to be released December 4) and new mixtape Cabin Fever 2. He performed songs like "The California, "Let Em Know" and "Rise Above." He also thrilled the crowd with his incredible new song, "Remember You," a collaboration with R&B superstar The Weeknd. Halfway through the show fans sung along to "Young, Wild, and Free," an anthem he raps with Snoop Dogg (or Lion?) and Bruno Mars.

Wiz grouped his newer, less popular songs together at the beginning of the show, making it a bit slow for the average Khalifa fan waiting for his big hits. The wait, however, built up the crowd's anticipation and he definitely saved the best for last. During his performance of "Ink My Whole Body" girls in the crowd went wild as he removed his shirt, revealing his completely tattooed upper body and dancing provocatively on stage. He followed that up with the hit "On My Level," from his album Rolling Papers.

Amanda Bell is currently in the Corporate Communication and Public Relations program at Fanshawe and attended the show. She said she was impressed with the performance, "It was my first rap show at Budweiser Gardens. Security was tight and it was insanely loud, and I was not expecting him to be that good, but I was blown away; he was actually amazing live!"

Fans screamed as black and yellow lights lit the stage and Wiz begun singing his triple-platinum hit "Black and Yellow." The massive 2011 single became the unofficial anthem for the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers and really put the 24-year-old on the map.

"It was nice how he told everyone to get home safe," said Bell referring to his goodbye address to the crowd after "Black and Yellow." She added that "it means he cares about his fans. But, he was right on the money, he had amazing stage presence too, jumping around dancing everywhere." In addition to bright lights and fog, Khalifa's main prop on stage was a massive bong that occasionally spewed "smoke" when he mentioned smoking weed.

Just as everyone was beginning to leave, Wiz announced "there's time for one more song!" He performed "Work Hard, Play Hard," the lead single off the O.N.I.F.C. album. Everyone in the stands stood up, raised their hands in the air and rapped along to the easy-to-follow new song.

The Pittsburgh native kicked off his 2050 Tour in University Park, Pennsylvania at the beginning of October. The tour will travel through North America, wrapping up on December 6 in Fairfax, Virginia. Wiz completes his Canadian tour stops with shows in Calgary (November 2), Edmonton (November 4) and Vancouver (November 6).