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Writer's pictureCharles Luberisse
May 5, 20216 min read

Album Review: DJ Khaled - Khaled Khaled

Written By: Mike Double G

 

Grade = 79% or 3.5 ⭐️

Track List - 54 Minutes

  1. THANKFUL (Feat. Lil Wayne & Jeremih) 5:29 ✅

  2. EVERY CHANCE I GET (Feat. Lil Baby & Lil Durk) 3:57 ⭐️

  3. BIG PAPER (Feat. Cardi B) 2:40 ⭐️

  4. WE GOING CRAZY (Feat. H.E.R. & Migos) 3:16 ✅

  5. I DID IT (Feat. Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Baby, & DaBaby) 2:45 ⭐️

  6. LET IT GO (Feat. Justin Bieber & 21 Savage) 2:46 ✅

  7. BODY IN MOTION (Feat. Bryson Tiller, Lil Baby, & Roddy Ricch) 5:06 ⭐️

  8. POPSTAR (Feat. Drake) 3:20 ✅

  9. THIS IS MY YEAR (Feat. A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Big Sean, Rick Ross, & Puff Daddy) 4:27 ⭐️

  10. SORRY NOT SORRY (Feat. Nas, JAY-Z, & James Fauntleroy) [Harmonies by The Hive] 4:19 ✅

  11. JUST BE (Feat. Justin Timberlake) 3:44 ❌

  12. I CAN HAVE IT ALL (Feat. Bryson Tiller, Meek Mill, & H.E.R.) 4:30 ❌

  13. GREECE (Feat. Drake) 3:39 ✅

  14. WHERE YOU COME FROM (Feat. Buju Banton, Capleton, & Bounty Killer) 3:42 ❌


DJ Khaled has “ANOTHER ONE!” with this new LP. When Khaled says “WE THE BEST!” he’s not just boasting, it’s a fact. DJ Khaled is known for getting the best rappers in the game and putting them all on one album. This year's line up might not be as strong as some of his previous projects but it still has plenty of star power. DJ Khaled is also known for having an album that is made for the summer time. With the world starting to come out of quarantine he dropped this album at the perfect time.


Most of this album includes DJ Khaled veterans like Lil Wayne, Big Sean, and Rick Ross, but we do see some new faces. Some of those artist include Lil Durk, Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby, Roddy Ricch, and A Boogie wit da Hoodie. Besides the rappers we also get guest appearances from R&B sensation H.E.R. and tracks from the two biggest “Justin’s” in the world. Justin Bieber is on his third straight Khaled album while Justin Timberlake makes his Khaled debut on the song JUST BE. Most of the artists only appear once on the album, but Drake, Bryson Tiller, and H.E.R. all appear twice while Lil Baby is featured on 3 songs.

When looking at the new artist who made the cut I am happiest for A Boogie. He has been the clear king of New York City since dropping his LP Hoodie SZN at the end of 2018. A Boogie put in the bulk of the work on the song THIS IS MY YEAR. A song featuring Big Sean, Rick Ross, & Puff Daddy (Yes Puff Daddy, not P Diddy or Diddy). This is one of the more unique songs on the album and it is one of DJ Khaled’s favorites. On his New Music Daily interview Khaled stated he was proud of how he was able to produce the record. Boogie is the youngest NYC artist on the tape but not the only one from the city. We also see rap legends Nas & JAY-Z collaborate on SORRY NOT SORRY.


DJ Khaled Feat. Lil Wayne & Jeremih - THANKFUL

The album opens up with THANKFUL. A song featuring Lil Wayne & Jeremih. After that song Khaled goes with the two hottest artists in the game. EVERY CHANCE I GET features 2020 MVP Lil Baby and the potential Star of 2021, Lil Durk. With track 2 always having the bar set high, these two guys did not disappoint. Baby and Durk have an album coming out called The Voice & The Hero. If this song is a preview to that album then we might have an instant classic coming May 28th.


Khaled’s last two summer bangers were I’m The One' and No Brainer. Both records starring Justin Bieber. On this album Justin Bieber is featured on LET IT GO. A song that also includes 21 Savage. This song will be popular but not as big as BODY IN MOTION. That is the record that is going to dominate your radios and streaming services. The song features Bryson Tiller, Lil Baby, & Roddy Ricch. This shouldn’t be surprising as all 3 of these guys have been on top the charts. Bryson was as high as number two when he was featured on Wild Thoughts'. Another Khaled record which also featured Rihanna. Roddy Ricch has had 3 number one records on Billboard’s Rap Airplay, Rhythmic Songs. Ballin', High Fashion, and The Box. As far as Lil Baby, where isn’t he on the charts?


Khaled is a genius when it comes to making collaborations. Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby have worked together a lot since bursting on the scene in 2019. They are both featured on one of my favorite records I DID IT. A song which also features Post Malone and Lil Baby. Post Malone put both DaBaby and Lil Baby on his LP Hollywood’s Bleeding. Lil Baby and DaBaby have also worked together on songs like Baby and the Life Is Good (Remix) with Future and Drake. More recently Megan and Lil Baby have a hit with the On Me (Remix).


DJ Khaled Feat. Lil Baby & Lil Durk - EVERY CHANCE I GET

While Khaled made songs with artists he knew would work well together he also got creative with some of his pairings. The Justin Bieber and 21 Savage collaboration is an odd pairing. Justin Bieber is the biggest pop star in the world and his target audience is young girls. Meanwhile, 21 Savage is a gangster rapper who appeals to street guys. The two artists are very different but Khaled was able to make it work and both guys delivered. Another first time collaboration would be H.E.R. and the Migos on WE GOING CRAZY. This song is a classic Khaled anthem with some Latin flair.


Most of the songs had multiple artists but a few artists had the chance of flying solo. Cardi B and Justin Timberlake had their own Khaled record while Drake had two of his own. All three artists are the best of the best. Cardi B is arguably the best female rapper in the game. She was the first female to win a Grammy for best rap album. Justin Timberlake is a pop icon who will be eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2028. Drake has definitely been the best rapper the last decade. He might even be the best artist overall in the last 10 years.


Drake obviously thinks he’s the best artist in the world and doesn’t even consider himself a rapper any more. One of his songs on this album is titled POPSTAR. On this record Drake shows he can stay fresh by switching up the flow and rap with the best of them. The song GREECE is another hit, but on this record Drake sings uses a more melodic flow.

DJ Khaled Feat. Buju Banton, Capleton, & Bounty Killer - WHERE YOU COME FROM

Cardi shines on BIG PAPER reminding everyone that she is still at the top of her class and has a long way to go before falling off. What separates Cardi B from other female rappers is her delivery. Her presence on a track demands you to pay attention and appeals to both men and women. This record might be even better than her last Khaled record Wish Wish.


I am a Justin Timberlake fan but have to admit that JUST BE is not one of my favorites. Honestly this song felt like a song meant for Chris Brown. It’s possible Chris Brown couldn’t make a studio session because of Covid. Brown has worked with Khaled a lot so I was surprised to not see him on this album.


I think Khaled did a good but not great great job on this album. It’s hard to miss when you're working with so much talent but Khaled has made better projects. To be fair this album must have been hard to put together because of quarantine. It must have been hard getting these artists together in the same studio. This makes me believe that a lot of this album was made over computer screens. When people are in different states it’s hard to get on the same vibe as the other person when making a song.


DJ Khaled Feat. Nas, JAY-Z & James Fauntleroy and Harmonies By The Hive - SORRY NOT SORRY

I also think that releasing both POPSTAR and GREECE nearly a year before the album came out made the album feel somewhat light. If you do not include those two tracks then we only get 12 new records which isn’t much by DJ Khaled standards. Khaled has released singles prematurely in the past but when the album came out he always had enough new material to make it feel fresh. His best album Grateful had 23 songs and this album only has 14. This might be because Covid-19.


I would like to see Khaled work with more new artists. Every artist has their relationships but there is a lot of young talent that missed the cut. Some of those artists include NBA YoungBoy, Lil Uzi Vert, Denzel Curry, and Jack Harlow. Other than that and giving the circumstances, Khaled put together a good project. The album will be a summer time favorite and don’t be surprised if “BODY IN MOTION” turns into a number one record. I gave this album a 79% or 3.5 ⭐️s which is a solid project.


Download: Khaled Khaled


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