The Best Songs From Each DJ Khaled Album
We are fresh off another DJ Khaled release and it seems like as good a time as any to show love to one of the illest A&Rs to do it. Honestly I tried ranking the albums, but they all fall apart in a similar fashion. So let's just see which songs stuck out on each album.
Album:
Listen... The Album (2006)
Best Anthem:
"Holla At Me" (ft. Lil Wayne/Paul Wall/Fat Joe/Rick Ross/Pitbull)
Best Album Cut:
"Problem" (ft. Beanie Sigel & Jadakiss)
Staying Power:
I don't know if it's because of when I heard this album, but it actually might be the most consistent album out of all the DJ Khaled joints. I say this for two reasons. One I like more songs on this album than any other album but on a more nuanced note, each track feels like it should be on this album. There are no tracks that truly feel out of place. I find that's a rarity with Khaled affairs.
Album:
We The Best (2007)
Best Anthem:
"We Takin Over" (ft. Akon/T.I./Rick Ross/Fat Joe/Birdman/Lil Wayne)
Best Album Cut:
"Brown Paper Bag" (ft. Dre/Jeezy/Juelz Santana/Rick Ross/Lil Wayne/Fat Joe)
The Album as a Whole:
Funnily enough, I feel like the song that boasts a take over was actually DJ Khaled's cross over hit. Even if people didn't know they were enjoying a Khaled song they knew they were enjoying the song. This song was DJ Khaled's proper introduction into the mainstream. This album will be remembered because of that forever.
Album:
We Global (2008)
Best Anthem:
"Go Hard" (ft. Kanye West & T-Pain)
Best Album Cut:
"F*** The Other Side" (ft. Trick Daddy & Dunkrydas)
The Album as a Whole:
I didn't even remember this album existed. "Go Hard" made the cut strictly for the T-Pain hook. I think this album suffers from a dearth of memorable moments.
Album:
Victory (2010)
Best Anthem:
"Fed Up" (ft. Usher/Jeezy/Rick Ross/Drake/Lil Wayne)
Best Album Cut:
"Victory" (ft. Nas & John Legend)
The Album as a Whole:
This album in addition to having Usher sangin and rappin on a track has the anthem for any and everyone in "All I Do I Win." That will keep this album alive in people's memory even though I feel the remix, which is not on the album, is better.
Album:
We The Best Forever (2011)
Best Anthem:
"Im On One" (ft. Drake/Rick Ross/Lil Wayne)
Best Album Cut:
"Future" (ft. Ace Hood/Meek Mill/Big Sean/Wale/Vado)
The Album as a Whole:
I just wasn't a fan of the overall sound of this album. "Im On One" feels different from most other tracks and "Future" has dope verses from everyone involved especially Wale. The rest of this album doesn't really hold my attention.
Album:
Kiss the Ring (2012)
Best Anthem:
This album just straight up doesn't have any anthems.
Best Album Cut:
"They Ready" (ft. J.Cole/Big K.R.I.T./Kendrick Lamar)
The Album as a Whole:
It's not a good sign if the guy who's known for creating anthems can't muster one for his album. "They Ready" has a dope lineup and beat but doesn't even really feel like a Khaled track. It sounds like J. Cole had a dope track and hoped that the Khlaed exposure would be a good look. It should come as no surprise that Khaled is hiding his face on this cover.
Album:
Suffering From Success (2013)
Best Anthem:
"No New Friends" (ft. Drake/Rick Ross/Lil Wayne)
Best Album Cut:
"Never Surrender" (ft. Scarface/Jadakiss/Meek Mill/Akon/John Legend/Anthony Hamilton)
The Album as a Whole:
Much like Kiss the Ring, this album suffers from being extremely underwhelming. Note the look on the cover too! Drake did Khaled a solid and let him have an unofficial "Started From the Bottom" remix with Ross and Wayne. That works as a dope anthem. Otherwise we'd be without one here.
Album:
I Change A Lot (2015)
Best Anthem:
"They Don't Love You Know More" (ft. French Montana/Meek Mill/Rick Ross/Jay-Z)
Best Album Cut:
"I Swear I Never Tell Another Soul" (ft. Future/Yo Gotti/Trick Daddy)
The Album as a Whole:
This album is like Listennn in that I feel like there is definitely a specific sound on this album. Unfortunately, it's not for me on the whole. It may be my least favourite Khaled album based on my anticipation of it. This was burgeoning Snapchat Khaled. For some reasons his use of catch phrases and theatrics was really coming out and I guess I liked it. But this album didn't deseve the fun roll out that it got.
Album:
Major Key (2016)
Best Anthem:
"Holy Key" (ft. Big Sean/Kendrick Lamar/Betty Wright)
Best Album Cut:
"Nas Album Done" (ft. Nas)
The Album as a Whole:
This was the zenith of Snapchat Khaled. The memes were there, the snapchats were there I got the catchphrases I was pumped for vocals coming in. And you know what? Half of this album is pretty polished and good to go. This album definitely deserved all the attention and it's an album I think I'll enjoy going back to like Listennn.
Album:
Grateful (2017)
Best Anthem:
"Shining" (ft. Beyoncé & Jay-Z)
Best Album Cut:
"Good Man" (ft. Pusha T & Jadakiss)
The Album as a Whole:
Similar kind of roll out but I guess I'd run out of energy for Khaled. This might be as close to a Thriller style all hits album as Khaled will get. So good for him. There probably is something for everyone on this album except if you're a Drake fan and you live anywhere but the States. Then you'll have to go without the much publicized Drake vocals on this one. That oughtta make this album memorable!
-YG