Capp

Back in 2007, Penn State University sophomore Will Dzombak was running a student promotion company when he helped organize a charity concert at the Delta Upsilon fraternity house, where an up-and-coming rapper named Wiz Khalifa was booked to perform. Tickets were only $10, and the show was meant to raise money for a fraternity brother who had been injured by a drunk driver. At the time, few realized this small fraternity event would spark a connection that would eventually change both Will’s and Wiz’s careers. During his visit to State College, Wiz needed a place to crash, and Will offered up his apartment. That weekend planted the seeds of a personal and professional relationship that quickly grew. The following summer, the two teamed up to organize a tour, and Wiz soon became a regular in Happy Valley — performing at fraternities, rush events, and eventually larger campus venues. Those early shows at Penn State became part of the foundation for Wiz’s rise, and they gave Will valuable experience in managing artists and putting together live events. After graduating from Penn State, Will went on to become Wiz Khalifa’s manager and co-founded Taylor Gang Entertainment, the label and management company that helped propel Wiz into stardom. Together, they built a career that produced chart-topping hits like “Black and Yellow” and “See You Again,” Grammy nominations, and international tours. Will himself became a highly respected figure in the music industry, managing not just Wiz but a roster of artists under the Taylor Gang umbrella.