Rap star Wiz Khalifa paints Intrust Bank Arena black and yellow

Before going onstage Thursday night at Intrust Bank Arena, Wiz Khalifa had some words for a local radio host’s unborn baby.

The pregnant Miranda, of The Hitman and Miranda fame on Power 93.5, said the rapper had a private conversation with the baby backstage moments before being introduced to a crowd of about 4,000 as the headliner for Powerhouse Jam II, the arena’s second-ever hip-hop concert.

“I don’t know what he said,” Miranda told the crowd. “I think he was saying a prayer or something. It was really cute.”

Khalifa, who appeared first in a black baseball cap and jean jacket, soon was shirtless with his trademark dreadlocks whipping about as he rapped for more than an hour.

His set of close to 20 songs included many of his pop-crossover hits, such as “Young, Wild and Free” and “Roll Up,” but the crowd was never louder than when Khalifa performed the tracks “Black and Yellow” and “We Dem Boyz.”

The rapper – who was born in North Dakota, but spent his formative years in Pittsburgh, Pa. – also slowed down his high-energy, party-themed performance with the reflective 2015 smash hit “See You Again.”

Before leaving the stage, Khalifa commented that he felt the love from the crowd of mostly millennials. The 28-year-old artist even worked the Sunflower State into his lyrics, substituting “Kansas” for “Cali” in his song “Work Hard, Play Hard.”

Many of Khalifa’s songs reference pot, and there was at times a hint of marijuana smoke in the arena, but, aside from a few spectators being ushered out, the show seemed to go off without a hitch.

Opening for Khalifa were Kevin Gates, Luke Nasty, Dreezy, XV, DJ Bearfoot and Yo Gotti, who brought the crowd to its feet with his hit “Act Right.” Rap star Lil’Wayne appeared in the first Powerhouse Jam last year. Both concerts were presented by Power 93.5.

This story was originally published June 10, 2016 at 12:44 AM with the headline "Rap star Wiz Khalifa paints Intrust Bank Arena black and yellow."