Breakout hip-hop star Wiz Khalifa at Covelli

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Rapidly rising hip-hop star Wiz Khalifa is already the king of the game in his hometown of Pittsburgh, but Saturday’s outdoor concert at Covelli Centre will be his first Youngstown appearance.

The timing couldn’t be better. Khalifa is fresh off winning MTV News’ “Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010” online contest. The poll was limited to up-and-coming talent.

The Covelli show is part of the rapper’s North American tour, which will hit about 50 cities before it wraps up in November.

The 22-year-old Wiz introduced his laid-back style more than five years ago when he released his first mix tape (“Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania”).

His debut album, “Deal or No Deal,” came out in November. It reached the top spot on the iTunes hip hop chart and cracked the top 10 on iTunes’ overall album chart.