DJ Khaled: Victory
interview Toshitaka Kondo | photography Pamela Littky
He wasn’t born or raised in the county of Dade, but DJ Khaled has become the Miami movement’s loudest supporter. With his web of influence now stronger than ever, rap’s newest renaissance man is ready for the takeover.
If leveraging relationships was a competitive sport, DJ Khaled would definitely be the champion. The fact that so many people genuinely like the energetic and hardworking 31-year-old born Khaled Khaled has been paying off in many ways. He’s now co-managing Orlando producers The Runners with DJ Nasty, building a production résumé that includes Fat Joe, Cam’ron and Clipse, and hosting his top-rated show, The Takeover,on Miami’s popular hip-hop station 99 Jamz.
The strength of his network was really flexed last year when he released his star-studded debut, Listennn: The Album, by recruiting heavy hitters like Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, T.I., and even getting former adversaries Beanie Sigel and Jadakiss to trade bars. After proving himself by moving 166,000 units, Khaled has upped the ante with his second album, We The Best. He’s even more ambitious this time around, shooting a $600,000 video for the monster lead single “We Takin’ Over.” Some say Khaled, some say Khaleeeed, but he prefers simply “The Best.”
SCRATCH Growing up in a Palestinian household, what type of music were you hearing?
Dj Khaled I’ve always been hip-hop. I used to breakdance; I was good at suicides. They used to call me Special K. I grew up on Nas, Jay-Z, Pun, Joe, EPMD and KRS-One. New Orleans was growing at that time. I used to work at a record store called Odyssey, where I sold [albums from] B.G., Lil Wayne and Birdman when they was independent. I remember how much they used to sell. I got adjusted to that sound and was like, “Yo, this shit is dope. These niggas is gonna be big.” I used to live in North Carolina, New Orleans, Orlando, then Miami, so I got to experience different sounds. To me, it made me a bigger DJ.
Being the biggest DJ in Miami, you must have a lot of pressure to break new artists.
I try to represent everybody that I can. You got a little freedom. The rule in radio on most stations is you play two hits and a new record. But it’s gotta be a new record that you know is gonna blow. Make sure you pick the right records or you’re not going to have a job. You’re supposed to support the home team, but it’s hard to please everybody. I always tell every artist, if your record ain’t getting played on the radio, break it in the strip club and on the mixtapes so stations are forced to play it.
Have you experienced getting offered a brown paper bag yet?
Niggas try to do it all the time, but I won’t take it. Somebody sent a picture one time of a nigga with a pile of money that said, “Yo, play my record.” That’s how creative these guys get. It was the funniest thing in the world.
As a member of Terror Squad, you were caught in the middle of the Fat Joe and 50 Cent beef. If you have issues with an artist, do you still play their records?
I don’t play no G-Unit records because they disrespected me and Joe. What type of person would want to beef with everybody? I don’t understand what type of life that is. But I don’t see them like that. And I’m everywhere. It’s weird. But if it’s in rotation [at 99 Jamz] I have no control. That’s a computer playing music.
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This is only a preview! To find out the full story on DJ Khaled and read the rest of the features, pick up the July/August issue of Scratch, on stands NOW!
15 Responses to "DJ Khaled: Victory"
Jun.12 at 4:16 pm
Kevin "Dj Big Kev" Collie says:
I have had a problem with DJ Kalehd for some time now. As an African- American DJ who only uses the “N” word with close fam and friends due to the fact that its so controversial in our community now, I find it hard to listen or read this middle-eastern man use it so freely. I being ” born n raised” in Florida would never let a person of his decent use the word in my presence. I had an issue with his boy Fat Joe throwing it around also, but he is in N.Y. and I’ll leave those cats to deal with him. But to be in the South doing that as much as Khaled does is a serious issue to me.I know he is in the national spot light now and thats cool but i think before gets another album out or signs any more deals the Black DJs from every region should demand an explanation. Thats all. Just a clear justification for his words. It won’t matter what he says if you ask me, but it would probably make him shut that part of his lingo up.
Jun.20 at 10:41 am
s.kamal says:
yo DJ BIG KEV . ur a stupid mutha fucka u no that . and ur not makin no sence . first of all lemme clear sumtin up for every black person out here . mutha fucka u aint a slave niether was ur parent or ur grand parents so dont gimme that nigga shit , if its said by sum one white guy than yes i tottaly understand . but a middle eastern . u no what they call us middle easterners ? ‘’sand niggas'’ exactly basically son if ur not white ur colored , it dont matter how dark or light u are. palestine is right off the continent of africa , so how come u gonna tell me cape verdians ppl can say it and they aint even from the continent but palestinians cant , how u gon tell me puerto ricans and dominicans can say it and they arent even close to the whole afro slavery era but middle easterns cant . we all in the struggle together wether ur black or brown ir dont matter and as long as its all love and respect than i dont care what any1 say.2nd of all how u gon say u dont want him to say it then be like well atleast he can explain him self . explain him self why ? the guy grew listening to hip hop and urban culture is what made him who he is and u want him to get on the radio and be like oh i think i can say the n word coz of …… ? fuck outta here nigga.
Jun.20 at 10:42 am
s.kamal says:
yo DJ BIG KEV . ur a stupid mutha fucka u no that . and ur not makin no sence . first of all lemme clear sumtin up for every black person out here . mutha fucka u aint a slave niether was ur parent or ur grand parents so dont gimme that nigga shit , if its said by sum one white guy than yes i tottaly understand . but a middle eastern . u no what they call us middle easterners ? ‘’sand niggas'’ exactly basically son if ur not white ur colored , it dont matter how dark or light u are. palestine is right off the continent of africa , so how come u gonna tell me cape verdians ppl can say it and they aint even from the continent but palestinians cant , how u gon tell me puerto ricans and dominicans can say it and they arent even close to the whole afro slavery era but middle easterns cant . we all in the struggle together wether ur black or brown ir dont matter and as long as its all love and respect than i dont care what any1 say.2nd of all how u gon say u dont want him to say it then be like well atleast he can explain him self . explain him self why ? the guy grew listening to hip hop and urban culture is what made him who he is and u want him to get on the radio and be like oh i think i can say the n word coz of …… ? fuck outta here nigga.oh and this is comming from an egyptian by the way . and just incase ur stupid ass dont know were that is ITS AFRICA ! am out 1
Jun.25 at 8:23 pm
JD says:
This dude is such a homo. I hate how he thinks he’s black and how he walks. Everybody laughin at dis clown here in Phoenix, he get’s play cuz other people are on his tracks, and his beats aren’t even dope. And Fat Joe is even gayer. peace
JD
Jun.26 at 9:44 am
Dj Plus says:
First off S. Kamal, u got a point but ya facts ain’t right. Dominicans and Puerto Ricans are all mixed with African heritage and their people were formed out of the slave trade cuzzo. Africans was brought to America as well as South America and the surrounding islands. “Nigger,” was intended for blacks - anything mixed with black as well. So, Khaled has no REASON to use the word. I myself don’t stress the use of the word from other races really - but it makes no sense to me why other races feel the need to use it. Why would I call you daddy if you wasn’t my pops? Why would I call you my mama when I got my own? Why say nigga if you ain’t black? Thats all I’m sayin - big ups to Big Kev - I feel you man.
Jul.2 at 2:11 am
Lenny says:
Glad im not the onley one who feel’s this way im from la and now live in oakland and im tired of asians sayin it when we was beefin with them back in da early 90z.S.kamal is a rasict bicth who soaked up some rap(2Pac/snoop/jay)and thinks he know everything listen towel head no one said anything about slavery were talkin about a wack DJ and a corny fat fuck(how u gonna be a don and havent made shit close 2 Life After Death)makin money off us and pimpin us at the same time and we were brought here you came on your own so you dont like fuck you ya cunt fuck jus like yo moma cunt.
Jul.8 at 10:55 pm
ST-BOOBA says:
THIS MESSAGE IS GOING STRAIGHT TO Kevin “Dj Big Kev” Collie. FIRST THING TO SAY PALESTINIAN PEOPLE ARE MIX BETWEEN WHITE AND BLACK SO THEY ARE (BLACK,BROWN.WHITE) YOU DUMB A.S.S GO LERN A BIT BE4 YOU START BLOWIN S.H.I.T AND IF YOU FEEL JEALOUS OF Khaled’s biggest success GO AND WORK HARD AND BE LIKE HIM OR BETTER instead of always bitching about how much better ARE NIGGAZ IN DA SOUTH OR DA EVEN TALKIN ABOUT THE (N) WORD!!
BY THE WAY AM HALF PALESTINIAN HALF SENEGAL’S CAN I USE THE (NI99AZ) WORD!!! MANE WHICH TYPE OF N.I.9.9.Z YOU ARE!! FL GOT TO MUCH STUPID MUTHAFUCKAZZ ALL AROUND POSTED IN DA GARBGE!! STAND UP FOR FREE WORLD NOT THE WHITE MAN WORLD YO STUPID FAKE A.S.S.
Jul.8 at 11:08 pm
LINDA says:
palestine is afarica but because of the state of isreal they are in the middle east and arabs in europe call themselfs black because they are all from north africa countrys as morocoo and egypt and all this countrys and palestine is the number 1 black-brown country in the middle east,about the nigger word in africa they dont use it because they conseder that they are not salves anymore.only black american who use the niggar word.Khaled is such a dj in miami but when you take a look about the rappers around the world arabs in europe and uk are the number 1 in the world and they control the whole european union with thier ghetto rap-hiphop music even they are taken Australia and i think they are much better than the us hiphop because they dont sing of bling jewl and cars and girls and money because who sing about this things dosnt have it and arabs in europe have it and dosnt sing about it. check out a rapper called Massiv in Germany or Bushido or in france 113 and many more all of them are arabs and they consider themself african and they love africa more than afro-american, you guyes have to lern alot about middle east culutre before you say anything. Peace
Jul.11 at 11:30 am
kaka says:
Y’all so concerned bout the “N” word that y’all losing focus on the disingenuous nature dude brings to the table. I knew him as a nice respectful rich palastinian kid that wanted to fit in so bad he basically paid for his friends. He used to carry DJ Nasty’s record crates while paying for his gas and buying his drinks. My point is hard work didnt get him where he’s at unless bribing people to to deal w/ your jock-riding personality is considered hard work. Dont get me wrong, he IS a nice guy. But there’s alot of people bustin’ they ass and really reppin the streets for this dude to turn around and say he’s reppin’ “US” or is one of “US”. Be real dude, u an aight DJ and a nice guy, but one of “us” you aint.
Jul.27 at 9:57 am
JIHAD says:
First off the n word should not be used by anyone even if your black. In fact its more insulting for a black man to call another black man nigga. These days the n word is thrown around casually in conversations by all races when they are in their controlled environment. DJ Khaled might not be a great DJ but at least he has done something positive. People should stop hating on each other. Basically watch yourself and not others. Like that there is no problem. Peace
Jul.31 at 9:58 am
ron art says:
Khaled’s Production is wack.
Next year, you wont hear a peep out of that song “we takin over”.
if another butt ass single gets released from that ass butt CD - id be surprised.
Aug.4 at 4:58 am
Joker 187 says:
FUCK DJ KHALED. HE IS THE FATTEST GAYLORD ON EARTH HE IS MORE GAY THAN ELTON JOHN. FAT FUCK!!! FUCK GAY SQAUD
Aug.21 at 8:40 pm
palastinian rapper N1 in Germany says:
Check out youtube.com Almassiva or Massiv a palastinian gangster rapper from germany,about khaledz i cant say nothing but yeah hez taken over HimSelf!! check out on Massiv and Saad T
Aug.29 at 2:02 pm
L says:
dj khaled is fuckin anoying. that is all i know.
Aug.29 at 10:49 pm
SHABANG says:
FUCK ALL YOU ALL! IF NO ONE SHOULD USE THAT WORD IT IS A DEGREDATION OF OUR HERITAGE MADE UP BY PEOPLE WHO WERE TRYING TO BRING USDOWN, SO BY USING IT OURSELVES WE DO EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANTED US TO DO! YOU STUPID MUTHAFUCKERS DONT SEE THAT? MY NIGGA THIS MY NIGGA THAT, YOU MAKE YOURSELVES SOUND SO FUCKING STUPID! JUST KEEPIN IT REAL THOUGH ARENT YA, REAL FUCKING DUMB!
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