Wiz Khalifa Takes Unreleased Music To Diplo’s Finish Line

Wiz Khalifa gave runners more than a finish-line celebration when he joined Diplo onstage to tease unreleased music in Los Angeles.

The rapper ran the November 8 race before making his surprise appearance, according to Diplo’s announcement through Sacks & Co.

“This song has been in my head for a long time, it’s an anthem that helps me do hard things,” said Diplo. “It gets me out of bed and on a run when I don’t have a lot of gas in the tank. It reminds me how far I’ve come and how bright I know the future will be despite the daily struggles we all face. I hope it motivates my fans and the community we’ve created with Diplo’s Run Club to keep showing up.”

The sold-out event brought the producer’s Run Club back to Los Angeles State Historic Park for a morning built around miles and music. Its advertised course stretched through Chinatown and past the Los Angeles River before the post-race concert brought everyone back together.

Wiz’s appearance adds another rapper to a rollout that’s turning Diplo’s races into listening sessions for an upcoming companion project. A$AP Ferg already joined him in New York, while San Francisco got unreleased music featuring Too $hort and Kah-Lo.

Diplo also previewed Keep Your Head Up in Los Angeles before releasing the song November 9. “This song has been in my head for a long time, it’s an anthem that helps me do hard things,” Diplo said in his supplied statement.

Diplo has been recording with longtime collaborators to put together tracks aimed at runners and athletes. Some of that music is already available in an exclusive mix that race participants can access through the location-based Echoes app at Run Club events.

The Los Angeles schedule put the race start at 9 A.M. and Diplo’s set at 11 A.M., leaving the party for after the workout.

Participants’ registration included festival admission alongside their race entry, shirt and finisher medal, so the music was built into the day’s plans.

For Wiz, the appearance comes as he’s building on a return to Warner through 10K Projects and another round of RIAA certifications. His singles Black and Yellow and Young, Wild & Free with Snoop Dogg both reached Diamond status last month.

The new deal also reunites Wiz with 10K Projects president Marsha St. Hubert, who worked on his breakthrough album Rolling Papers. That 2011 release carried Black and Yellow alongside Roll Up and No Sleep, linking his latest move to those early hits.

Diplo’s Run Club next reaches Gallagher Square at San Diego’s Petco Park on November 21.