It seems as if DJ Khaled has only been here for a couple years but that is far from the case. Khaled has been working consistently for over a decade in Hip-Hop. His ability to get all the features he does is a testament to that statement. With all his connections it’s easy to see why he is well loved and highly regarded in the industry as one of the more prominent producers. Since 2006 Khaled has been a name, maybe not the star he has become, but a name nonetheless. Him being in the game for so long shows how hard it is and how long it takes to reach the level he has. For those thinking that time has passed or feel too old, Khaled was already 30 when he put out his first project titled “Listennn... the Album”
Many might not know this, but The Miami producer is actually from Louisiana. Khaled was born in New Orleans but moved to Florida in the 1990’s. Originally he started out as a DJ and a radio host before linking up with the Terror Squad and promoting them. This would explain his close ties to Remy Ma and Fat Joe to this day. The group also included the late great Big Pun, Cuban Link, and Tony Sunshine.
If you could believe it, his most recent album is his 11th studio album which is not an easy feat. Even when dropping an album a year the amount of work that has to be put in his amazing and should be congratulated. Only with a work ethic that resembles one of a man who is trying to be great can something like this occur. Khaled has always worked with well-known artists such as Rick Ross, Jeezy, and Kanye from the beginning to name a few. So, people believed in the vision, but he believed in himself which is what matters the most. Before the Snapchat fame and all the sayings, he was grinding which is the story for the majority of artists.
ALBUM REVIEW
The album gives off summer vibes which of course comes at the prefect time for the great weather coming soon. Track 1 starts off with Jamaican Reggae legend Buju Banton on the intro with a piano that sets the tone and is rugged but lends itself well for Banton to flow so seamlessly on it. Track 2 gives us a beat from Tay Keith which resembles “Never Recover” from Gunna and Baby’s“Drip Harder” project. Cardi does her thing on it and will definitely have every girl rapping along while we get a feature from 21 Savage. It’s great to hear from 21 as he has been laying low since the incident earlier this year with ICE. On Track 3, Khaled taps Chris Brown who was a given to be on this album for arguably the most summer sounding song on this entire album. This record features the legend Wayne and Big Sean who we haven’t heard much from in a minute. It could be safe to speculate an album coming soon from him as well. Track 4 garnished some attention that I saw on my feed weather it was people who didn’t like the Outkast sample or they didn’t like SZA on it the record. I enjoyed it and thought that it was great to ride around and dispelled all the rumblings that SZA can’t truly sing. Track 5 gives us a sultry intro in Spanish before the record truly starts and it sounds so dope and gave me chills on the first listen. The record itself sounds like something out of Childish Gambino’s “Awaken My Love” album. Meek Mill is continuing his momentum from his last album and with the help of Jeremih and J Balvin makes a record that could be played at the end of the night at clubs. Now I’ve had my fair share to say about Post Malone on “The D.A.M. Podcast”but I could never deny his talent. On Track 6 he and Travis do an amazing job harmonizing on this record and it could be from either of their projects.
This was a great place to end the first half of the album. With the recent passing of Nipsey Hip-Hop has been in a different space. This is a death that shocked so many and has been mentioned every single day since then. Nipsey’s impact reached outside of Hip-Hop and touched more than he could ever imagine. An amazing man and a great rapper this was a great moment for the album. Nipsey is a great story teller and underrated at that. With his ability to flow so easily like he’s not even trying. Track 7 sees Nipsey speaks on his grandma, mother, and father. The line that will have people in tears is when he speaks about his love for Lauren London. John Legend caps off the track as he is known to do on records. We start off Track 8 with another amazing voice in CeeLo Green. Instead of a West Coast legend this time we move to the east and have Nas spitting rhetoric that him and Jay-Z have been spitting for the last couple of years now as they get older. On “Weather the Storm”, Track 9, many will hear a dope sample but i hear “Love I’m Good” by Joe Budden as they both used the same sample. Meek is back and tells us the story of him in the system and growing up in the streets in the way he knows how, and it will always sound dope. Lil Baby makes the song as well and gives us his take on his come up and fame now. When you hear the horns, you can always assume it’s a Rick Ross Track. Ross and Jeezy as I mention before having worked with Khaled since the beginning and nothing has changed. Track 10 two reflect on their careers as they have given so much and done so much to change it. Whether it’s Jeezy in the early stages of trap or Ross with MMG and teaching us game they both are legends in their own rights. Track 11 is my favorite sample by Jodeci, and Lil Wayne is on the album for the second time, this time with Gunna. They both do it justice and Gunna kills it with his melodic flow. Track 12 is “Top Off” with Jay-Z, Beyonce, and Future which we’ve heard before so there’s no reason to go into it. I’m just surprised to hear it on this project. So I’m immeditaly going to contradict my last point because I prefer this song much more than the previous one. Track 13 is another one of my favorites as Justin Bieber comes in for the hook and Chance and Quavo rap alongside him. Not much more to say as this song has already come out in the past. Track 14 sees Sean reminisce about the past and how he and Khaled both have come up and the strength it takes to stay in the game. Track 15 the last one ends the way it began. Buju Banton once again blesses us with his voice and a guitar sample famously done by Carlos from “To Zion” off Lauryn Hill’s album.
SCORE
STANDOUT TRACKS
- “HOLY MOUNTAIN” (FT. BUJU BANTON & SIZZLA, MAVADO & 070 SHAKE)
- “JUST US” (FT. SZA)
- YOU STAY (FT. MEEK MILL, J BALVIN, & LIL BABY)
- ★ “HIGHER” (FT. NIPSEY HUSSLE & JOHN LEGEND)
- ★ “FREAK N YOU” (FT. LIL WAYNE & GUNNA
RATING — 8/10
Overall this album is not only a great listen, but it will be a dope album to either jam to or chill to this summer. I expect to be hearing it a lot along with me playing it almost daily myself.
POST REVIEW EXTRAS
Recently DJ Khaled was on MTV with Sway getting interviewed on his album, Nipsey Hussle and more.
ENJOY!!!
