Khaled & God are synonymous, in this instance…
Social media superstar, rapper, producer and all-around teddy bear DJ Khaled blew the roof off last week when he released his new album God Did out into the world, the thirteenth record from the platinum-selling maestro charging out the gates to one of Khaled’s most positive receptions yet.
Clocking in at a total of 57 minutes long, the new offering from the ‘I’m The One’ producer is quintessential Khaled: laid back, soulful, hard-hitting and infectious. It also helps that he’s got a tracklisting bursting with top-notch collaborators, with the likes of SZA, Drake, Ye, Kodak Black and numerous more lending their talents to the record.
It’s definitely in the running for hip hop album of the year, and a standout amongst Khaled’s long-spanning discography. Thus, we figured we’d take a deep dive into it, and take you all along for the ride. Check it below.
Beginning with the melancholic opener ‘NO SECRET’ ft. Drake, DJ Khaled sets a moody soundscape for the following hour, taking full advantage of the Toronto don’s crooner inclinations for a quick but effective insight into the depth of feels God Did has in store for the listener.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmDMreV4s4Q
It’s a sentiment immediately followed up on in the title track, with Khaled literally preaching a sermon about God, love and life. Except, this sermon somehow features Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, JAY-Z, John Legend and Fridayy (one hell of a congregation). The accompanying autotuned hook of the song title adds to the overall immersion of the track, and with verses from the likes of Lil Wayne, JAY-Z and Rick Ross, it’s a home run in every sense of the word.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7JPFeh8MT0
The larger than life nature of the record continues ‘USE THIS GOSPEL’, which sees Eminem and Ye going in with lyrical and melodic utterances with precision. It’s an example of one of the album’s (and Khaled’s) main strengths: pairing artists together and maximising both of their artistries. It’s not only evidenced in ‘USE THIS ‘GOSPEL’, but also the following track ‘BIG TIME’ with Future and Lil Baby.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh6DuYynq7c
But good things also come in threes, which is perfectly shown when DJ Khaled becomes the third Migo on ‘PARTY’ ft. Quavo and Takeoff, with the two going ham atop a moody beat curated by Khaled himself. The track signifies the more hip hop-focused part of the album, with the following cut ‘STAYING ALIVE’ ft. Drake and Lil Baby similarly planting its feet in the genre with ease.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQWjvQrtpC4
After this album, we’re convinced Future and SZA need to make a whole EP together, the two joining forces for a heartfelt bop in ‘BEAUTIFUL’. Khaled’s production is eerily reminiscent of the early 2000s here; chopped soul samples and descending piano lines bringing equal measures of euphoria and vulnerability. SZA’s verse is without doubt the highlight however, the ‘Love Galore’ singer serving up the emotional highpoint of not only the track, but the album as a whole.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfhhZ86Lu1Y
From then on, the project doubles down on its hip hop genesis, with following tracks ‘IT AIN’T SAFE’, ‘LET’S PRAY’ AND ‘FAM GOOD, WE GOOD’ all quality works that prove Khaled’s affinity for the genre. ‘BILLS PAID’ ft. Latto and City Girls, however, is a nice change of pace that has both mainstream and underground appeal. Here, Latto and City Girls serve up hard-hitting verses that are deliciously satisfying.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EmHHcwZ96M
A personal favourite of the record is easily ‘WAY PAST LUCK’ ft. 21 Savage, the College Dropout-inspired beat setting an emotive backdrop for 21 Savage to deliver his trademark brand of storytelling on top. It’s by this point in the album you realise just how varied the soundscape of God Did is as whole, with Khaled having bounced between hip hop, soul, and other genres up to this point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFl2ezHvMRw
Of course, not all good things can last forever, with the album beginning to wrap itself up with ‘Juice WRLD DID’ ft. the man himself. Obviously, any song featuring Juice is gonna be crazy emotional, but having the fallen rapper ad lib over a simple beat for three minutes is pure bliss.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU3y5QpwXJc
As we near the very end, however, Khaled tugs at the heartstrings with a 20-second snippet of his kids Asahd and Aalam talking to him in their youthful voices. Longtime adherents of Khaled’s music know he’s no stranger to including his children in his works. Yet, it’s still just as emotive on ‘ASAHD AND AALAM CLOTH TALK’ and then some.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZL53Rb3d20
Finally, Khaled God Did comes to a close with ‘Grateful’ ft. Vory, a fitting track that takes influence from gospel and R&B as the two take turns affirming their gratefulness for “everything” in their lives. The song is most definitely a love letter to the soul genre, with a euphoric sample and church-reminiscent keys crafting a mood bubbling with feeling and optimism, an apt summary for Khaled’s music as a whole.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JWplYk8H7c
DJ Khaled’s new album ‘God Did’ is out now. You can buy/stream it here.
