Roll Up

Album: Rolling Papers (2011)
Charted: 42 13
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the second major label single released by Pittsburgh rapper Wiz Khalifa. The song acts as the follow-up to his breakthrough hit "Black and Yellow," which was titled after his hometown football team's black and canary color scheme. Khalifa explained that the song's inspiration was a resource he's familiar with. "Really, I just needed another single and we were trying to come up with a look and then me and [my manager] talked about it," he told MTV. "We talked about it for three minutes. And then I came up with that song."
  • A song called "Roll Up" from the album Rolling Papers must be about marijuana, right? According to Khalifa, that's not the case; it's about being willing to "roll up" and see your girl whenever she needs you. Khalifa told MTV News: "I was trying to be funny, be clever as possible," said Wiz. "It's for the chicks. It's for guys to sing to chicks. And it's just a fun song."
  • The song was previously released in September 2010 as the lead single on Los Angeles producer and rapper Terrace Martin's EP Here, My Dear with Khalifa as a featured artist.
  • Khalifa's summer-love anthem features production by the Norwegian team Stargate, who were also responsible for his breakout hit "Black and Yellow."
  • Khalifa explained during an UStream session that there were a few reasons for the album title. "It's called 'Rolling Papers,' like the papers that you roll, the papers that I roll, the papers that we smoke. But it's deeper than that too. I thought of this before I even started recording the album and before it was a full idea. It's not just about the weed thing. It's bigger than that. My career really took off when I started smoking papers.

    The second reason I called it 'Rolling Papers' is when I left Warner Bros., I sort of got my 'rolling papers," he continued. "I got my contract, f---ing rolled up and smoked. And I was able to walk and I was able to leave and I was able to do my thing and I was able to capitalize off that. The third reason why I named it 'Rolling Papers,' I quit writing a long time ago. I stopped physically writing it down or putting it in my BlackBerry or iPhone. I write notes down, but I don't write whole verses, so it was like saying goodbye to the paper. The paper's rolling out too."
  • The song's music video finds Khalifa courting his love interest, who is played by R&B singer Cassie.

Comments: 1

  • Jake from St. Louis, MoThat makes me sad. Thought it was about weed with weed customers lol
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Petula talks about her hits "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway," and explains her Michael Jackson connection.

Dr. John

Dr. JohnSongwriter Interviews

The good doctor shares some candid insights on recording with Phil Spector and The Black Keys.