Atlantic Records has announced the signing of acclaimed rapper Wiz Khalifa, an outcome of a deal with Rostrum Records, the rapper’s longtime independent label. The Pittsburgh-based hip-hop sensation is currently at work on his much-anticipated label debut, slated for release in early 2011.

Recently named MTV’s Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010, Wiz is set to embark on a massive North American tour dubbed the Waken Baken Tour, which kicks off on Thursday, September 16th at Philadelphia’s The Trocadero and then continues through late November.

Having already released a steady stream of popular mixtapes, Wiz blew up big-time, earlier this year with the release of his blockbuster, Kush & Oragne Juice. The mixtape proved to be a genuine online phenomenon, quickly becoming the #1 search topic on both Google and Yahoo, as well as a #1 trending topic on Twitter, with the hashtag, #kushandorangejuice.

Inspired by hip-hop’s greatest artists but determined to pave his own lane, Wiz Khalifa first made waves after an encounter with Rostrum Records’ founder Benjy Grinberg. The label head instantly recognized a superstar on the rise and Rostrum soon released Wiz’ first mixtape, Prince Of The City, and the subsequent debut album, Show and Prove, in 2006.

Wiz' next album, Deal or No Deal, was released in November of 2009 and landed in the #1 spot on iTunes Top Hip Hop/Rap Albums chart thanks to the huge buzz generated by his indefatigable grassroots grind.