Black and Yellow

"Black and Yellow" is a song by American rapper Wiz Khalifa from his third studio album, Rolling Papers. It was released on September 14, 2010, as the lead single from the album. The song was written by Khalifa, along with Stargate, who produced it. It was released as a CD single in honor of Record Store Day.[1] The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Wiz Khalifa's first number-one single in the US;[2] he would top the chart again in 2015 with "See You Again".

"Black and Yellow"
Single by Wiz Khalifa
from the album Rolling Papers
Released	September 14, 2010
Genre	Hip hop
Length	3:37
Label	Rostrum Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Cameron Thomaz Mikkel S. Eriksen Tor Erik Hermansen
Producer(s)	Stargate
Wiz Khalifa singles chronology
"This Plane" (2009) "Black and Yellow" (2010) "Roll Up" (2011)
Audio sample
file help

The song is about Khalifa's car, a yellow Dodge Challenger Hemi with black stripes.[3] He has stated that he got the car in those colors as a tribute to his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, whose official colors are black and gold, and its professional sports teams, most of whose colors are black and some variation of gold or yellow.[3] The song itself does not mention Pittsburgh or sports, although the song's music video made the connection to Pittsburgh explicit, showing various iconic locations in the city, as well as apparel associated with the football team the Pittsburgh Steelers, the hockey team the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the baseball team the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the year after it was released, "Black and Yellow" spawned dozens of remixes, parodies and remakes, both in the US and internationally, many of them made in tribute to a local sports team.[4][5][6] At Super Bowl XLV in 2011, which featured the Steelers competing against the Green Bay Packers, the Steelers used "Black and Yellow" as their fight song, while the Packers used a remix by Lil' Wayne called "Green and Yellow", marking the first time both teams at the Super Bowl had used the same song.[7]

Chart performance

On the issue dated October 2, 2010, "Black and Yellow" debuted at No. 100 on the Billboard Hot 100. It then dropped out the following week and re-entered at No. 64 on the issue dated October 30, 2010. On its eighteenth charting week, the song rose to No. 1 on the issue dated February 19, 2011, selling 198,000 digital copies that week.[8] "Black and Yellow" has sold 4,144,922 digital copies since release.[9]

Music video

The music video was directed by Bill Paladino. It was filmed in Pittsburgh and features sights of the city, including the U.S. Steel Tower, BNY Mellon Center, PPG Place, William Penn Hotel, Citizens Bank Tower, Union Trust Building, One PNC Plaza, K&L Gates Center the Three Sisters and Smithfield Street bridges, Station Square, Shannon Hall of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and the smoke stacks of the former U.S. Steel Homestead Works at The Waterfront adjacent to the city. The video also prominently features city icons such as the Terrible Towel, a rally towel for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and city sports in general, as well as Pittsburgh Pirates apparel. It was recorded in Chatsworth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA.

In popular culture

• In a 2012 commercial for the video game Madden NFL 13, Paul Rudd sings the song while playing the game as the Pittsburgh Steelers against Ray Lewis.[10]
• On April 7, 2014, Jimmy Kimmel Live! held a skit called "American Sign Language Rap Battle." Khalifa performed the song as three ASL-certified interpreters competed.
• The song was featured in multiple trailers for The Lego Batman Movie.

Remixes

The official remix, "Black & Yellow (G-Mix)" features west-coast rapper Snoop Dogg, Juicy J and R&B singer T-Pain. Wiz Khalifa has a new verse on the track. The song leaked on December 12, 2010 but was officially released on December 16.[11] A video for the remix was shot and was released on January 8, 2011. A remix by T-Pain, "Black & Yellow (T-Mix)", featured the verse that was later put on the official remix. An anime version fan remix was also made combining the song and Hidamari Sketch's opening music, Sketch Switch.

Track listing

• Digital download[12]

1. "Black and Yellow" (Explicit Album Version) – 3:37

• Digital download (G-Mix)[13]

1. "Black and Yellow" (G-Mix) (featuring Snoop Dogg, Juicy J & T-Pain) – 4:38

Remakes and freestyles

Many remakes have been made, mostly in tribute to other sports teams, referring to their respective pair of colors. Some of the notable remakes include:

• "Purp & Yellow" by The Game, Snoop Dogg, and YG, representing the Los Angeles Lakers.[2] This version also had a remix produced by DJ Skee, with a rock-instrumented backing track; a music video for the DJ Skee remix featured the artists as well as members of the Lakers.[14] An extended mix was released the next day, also featuring Kendrick Lamar, Joe Moses and Thurzday.
• "Rossonero (Red and Black)" by Denny La Home feat. Jake La Furia - Italian version performed by two Italian rappers. The colours refer to Italian football club AC Milan.
• "Eff Australia" by Rucka Rucka Ali - an anti-Australian song parody to the tune of the original.
• "Green and Yellow" by Lil Wayne, representing the Green Bay Packers, who defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.[2][15]
• "White and Navy" by Fabolous representing New York City, and the New York Yankees.[2]
• "Black and Yellow (Mike Tomlin)" by Wale, in reference to the Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin.[16]
• "Yeah Carmelo" by Maino, in reference to Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks.[16]
• "Black and Red" by Jermaine Dupri representing the Atlanta Falcons.[17]
• "Black and Orange" by San Quinn representing the San Francisco Giants in their 2010 World Series victory.[18]
• "White and Purple" by Chet Haze (son of actor Tom Hanks), representing Northwestern University.[2][4][19]
• "Black and Yellow" by Tyler Ward and Crew and Cobus, a rock version.[20]
• "Black and Ghetto" by Serius Jones describing the lifestyle of being an African American gangster.[21]
• "Green and Purple" by Kritikal which refers to marijuana and the culture surrounding it.[22]
• "Black and Yellow" by Chris Cobbins
• "Gold N Blue" by 6'6 240 about West Virginia University's football team the West Virginia Mountaineers.[23]
• "Black Camaro" by T-Pain, Fabolous, Maino and Young Jeezy representing the return of the Camaro in 7 years for the 2010 Fifth Generation Camaro.

In addition, a number of freestyle versions have been released, of artists rapping over "Black and Yellow"'s instrumental track, without any overt reference to the song or to sports teams. These include versions by Crooked I (who included a chorus of "packing metal"), Donnis, Young Jeezy, Tyga, Novi Novak, and Layzie Bone and Flesh-n-Bone of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.[16]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2010-11) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[24] 24 Australia (ARIA Urban Singles)[25] 9 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[26] 44 Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[27] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[28] 46 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[29] 7 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[30] 26 Denmark (Tracklisten)[31] 12 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[32] 2 France (SNEP)[33] 38 Germany (Official German Charts)[34] 31 German Airplay Chart[35] 91 Ireland (IRMA)[36] 14 Italy (FIMI)[37] 37 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[38] 44 New Zealand (RIANZ)[39] 21 Poland (Polish Airplay New)[40] 3 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[41] 26 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[42] 28 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[43] 44 UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[44] 2 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[45] 5 US Billboard Hot 100[46] 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[47] 6 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[48] 1 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[49] 18 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[50] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2011) Position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[51] 60 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[52] 62 US Billboard Hot 100[53] 31 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[54] 41 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[55] 14

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[56]	Platinum	70,000^^
Canada (Music Canada)[57]	3× Platinum	240,000^*
Germany (BVMI)[58]	Gold	150,000^^
Italy (FIMI)[59]	Platinum	50,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[60]	Platinum	600,000
United States (RIAA)[61]	6× Platinum	6,000,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References

1. "Record Store Day – Wiz Khalifa". Record Store Day.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
2. "Wiz Khalifa's "Black And Yellow" Spawns A Litany Of Remixes To Remember". MTV.com. February 5, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
3. "Black and Yellow by Wiz Khalifa on Songfacts.com". Retrieved July 3, 2013.
4. Mapes, Jillian (January 13, 2011). "Watch: 4 Remakes of Wiz Khalifa's 'Black & Yellow'". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
5. JNR (February 26, 2011). "'Birmingham – Blue and White'". YouTube. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
6. Seany (February 26, 2011). "'Rot & Weiß'". YouTube. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. Szalai, Georg (February 4, 2011). "Wiz Khalifa Explains Super Bowl Song 'Black and Yellow' (VIDEO)". The Hollywood Reporter.
8. Trust, Gary (February 10, 2011). "Wiz Khalifa's 'Black And Yellow' Tops Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
9. BuzzJack Entertainment Forums. "US Top 200 Songs in Digital Era - (11/15/2014) - BuzzJack Music Forum". buzzjack.com.
10. Black & Yellow - Madden NFL 13: Madden Forever Trailer, YouTube
11. "New Music: Wiz Khalifa f/ Snoop Dogg, Juicy J, & T-Pain – 'Black & Yellow (G-Mix)'". Rap-Up.com. December 16, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
12. "iTunes – Music – Black and Yellow – Single by Wiz Khalifa". Itunes.apple.com. September 14, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
13. "iTunes – Music – Black and Yellow (feat. Juicy J, Snoop Dogg & T-Pain) [G Mix] – Single by Wiz Khalifa". iTunes.apple.com. April 3, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
14. The Game and Snoop Dogg release the video for 'Purp & Yellow' remix, Jeff Weiss, Pop & Hiss: the L.A. Times Music Blog, February 21, 2011
15. Ziegbe, Mawuse (February 4, 2011). "Lil Wayne Calls 'Green And Yellow' 'Perfect' Comeback Remix". MTV.com. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
16. "Rating The Remix: "Black And Yellow"". PrefixMag.com. November 8, 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
17. "Wiz Khalifa: le Hit "Black And Yellow" et l'album "Rolling Papers"". MusiqueRadio.com. February 2, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
18. Port, Ian (November 3, 2010). "Video for S.F. Giants Ode 'Black & Orange' Brings Out City Rappers En Masse". Retrieved March 2, 2011.
19. "Tom Hanks son…next great rapper?". Candy95.com. January 13, 2011. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
20. Maloney, Devon (May 1, 2011). "Uncharted Territory: DJ BL3ND Still On Top, Childish Gambino and Zaz Debut". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
21. Jones, Serius (December 4, 2010). "Serius Jones Black and Ghetto music video". Retrieved December 30, 2012.
22. "Kritikal Green and Purple music video". December 29, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
23. "The anatomy of 6'6 240's `Gold N Blue'". September 11, 2008. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
24. "Australian-charts.com – Wiz Khalifa – Black and Yellow". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
25. "Top 40 Urban Albums & Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. February 28, 2011. Archived from the original on February 27, 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
26. "Austriancharts.at – Wiz Khalifa – Black and Yellow" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
27. "Ultratop.be – Wiz Khalifa – Black and Yellow" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
28. "Ultratop.be – Wiz Khalifa – Black and Yellow" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
29. "Wiz Khalifa Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
30. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201112 into search. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
31. "Danishcharts.com – Wiz Khalifa – Black and Yellow". Tracklisten. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
32. "Wiz Khalifa: Black and Yellow" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
33. "Lescharts.com – Wiz Khalifa – Black and Yellow" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
34. "Offiziellecharts.de – Wiz Khalifa – Black and Yellow". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
35. German Airplay Chart Archived April 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on 2011-06-03
36. "Chart Track: Week 11, 2011". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
37. "Italiancharts.com – {{{artist}}} – {{{song}}}". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
38. "Dutchcharts.nl – Wiz Khalifa – Black and Yellow" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
39. "Chart #1766 – Monday 28 March 2011: Top 40 Singles Chart". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. March 28, 2011. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
40. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay New. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
41. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201111 into search. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
42. "Swedishcharts.com – Wiz Khalifa – Black and Yellow". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
43. "Swisscharts.com – Wiz Khalifa – Black and Yellow". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
44. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
45. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
46. "Wiz Khalifa Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
47. "Wiz Khalifa Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
48. "Wiz Khalifa Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
49. "Wiz Khalifa Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
50. "Wiz Khalifa Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
51. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2011".
52. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2011". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
53. "Best of 2011: Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
54. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
55. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
56. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2011 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
57. "Canadian single certifications – Wiz Khalifa – Black & Yellow". Music Canada.
58. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Wiz Khalifa; 'Black and Yellow')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
59. "Italian single certifications – Wiz Khalifa – Black & Yellow" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 2, 2019. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Black & Yellow" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
60. "British single certifications – Wiz Khalifa – Black and Yellow". British Phonographic Industry.
61. "American single certifications – Wiz Khalifa – Black & Yellow". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 22, 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 

External links

• "Black and Yellow" music video on YouTube
• "Black and Yellow (G-Mix) ft. Snoop Dogg, Juicy J & T-Pain" music video on YouTube