REVIEW: DJ KHALED - GOD DID

4/5

He The Best.

Ready for another one? DJ Khaled may have once said he doesn't like going down, but when it comes to putting it down in the clubs, ladies and gentlemen, he's still the best. Grinding since the Ginuwine days of playing in the background of 'The Senior's' 2003 'Locked Down' mini-movie interlude and one hell of a beat we'd love to hear on the street. The "Don Dadda" then went global with the Terror Squad chain. Making everyone dance like they were leaning back, lean back, lean back. 'All I Do Is Win' he proclaimed between balling out at NBA All-Star weekends and hilariously appearing in Spider-Man TV spots. This Marvel like the late, great Kay Slay, or Drama knows how to bring the good times in the 'Brown Paper Bag' for a world in need of his energy. Now he's taking ovaaaa again a year after 'Khaled Khaled' prayed with his kids. Just like 'God Did'. Listennn!

Lucky for you the 13th album from the New Orleans Mardi Gras starter from the swamp won't leave you crying like the tear in his eye on the front cover. That's because the track list of guest features is worth looking up to like God or Khaled literally does on the back of your CD's jewel case for the mixape murderer, dialling C for "classic collaborations'. Champagne papi, Drake-who returns the Khaled co-sign forever favour-is all over this album like the 'Certified Lover Boy' is everyone else's playlists ('Honestly, Never Mind'). And that's 'No Secret' like the less than a minute intro on reflection, or the smooth palm tree flow of 'Staying Alive' with Lil' Baby (who goes for the 'Big Time' with Future too). The lead single like a Right Said Fred, 'Way 2 Sexy' has something to do with the Bee Gees. In this nostalgic 80's time were the previous track with Quavo and Takeoff ('Party') parties all the time like you know who. Eddie and Rick. F### yo couch!

But if you want to talk about monster tracks in the port and palms of Miami then how about the opening titanic title-track of 'God Did'. Featuring the today legendary likes of frequent collaborators Rick Ross, Lil' Wayne and the BEST Jay-Z verse in years (and did you hear the Jay Electronica assists?). Worthy of the first 100 ladies free price of admission. Not to mention the beautiful backing vocals of John Legend in outro like the time Stephens and Shawn assisted Ross for his own 'Free Mason', locked down track. 

"Nosedive, they just prayin' that I crash (Huh)/Those guys, they don't wanna see you last/They'll jack up three million dollars up on your tax/A tub full of money, I still can't relax", says Ross.

"Sky is the limit, every day I reach/They was tired of me winnin', now they dead sleep/Don't wan' see me with the ring?/You better play D", the Weezy F, other Carter raps, baby!.

But then Hov...

 "All this pain from the outside, inspired all this growth within/So new planes gettin' broken in/Highest elevation of the self/They done f##### around and gave the right n####s wealth/These ain't songs, these is hymns 'cause I'm him/It's the Psalm 151, this New Testament/The book of Hov (The book of Hov)/Jesus turned water to wine, for Hov, it just took a stove/You never know how this s### could go/Me and Biggs probably got too big if they ain't book that load (What's up Hoffa?)/Hindsight is 20/20/Though he's gettin' plenty money, lookin' back now this s### is funny/I just got a million off a sync/Without riskin' a million years tryna get it out the sink (Woo)/Hov did."

Gawwwd. He just did it, like Nike.

"It breaks my heart. They aint believe in us", Khaled remarks before he sets off the fuse of this explosive, epic track. They're going to believe now like Diddy said. All for the best music mogul since Puff.

And then if that wasn't enough (what, you wanted more), then how about THE collaboration of Slim Shady and 'Ye. Eminem and Kanye West go 'Renegade' and 'Use This Gospel' over a beat that sounds like Em and Kanye's work all at the same time. Maybe that's because Ye and Dre are on the boards with Khaled as Marshall raps, "when temptation is almost like Satan is making you tryna/Take you away from your daughters/Danglin' a bunch of painkillers on ya/Wavin' 'em in your face and then watch 'em comin' extra strength/And that's why they make 'em in rectangular objects/'Cause that's the shape of a coffin". To Mr. West's Sunday Service chorus of "Use this gospel for protection/It's a hard road to Heaven/We call on Your blessings/In the Father, we put our faith/King of the Kingdom/Our demons are tremblin'/Holy angels defendin'/In the Father, we put our faith."

Let us 'Ye as we wait for the 'Donda' sequel too.

The rest of this massive 18 track for the record reads like a who's who of the industry. Lil Durk, 21 Savage and Roddy Rich 'Keep Going'. Whilst Future gets 'Beautiful' with SZA like all the stars for 'Black Panther'. We the best like Chadwick forever. 'It Aint Safe' for Nardo Wick and a Kodak Black snapshot. Before Travis Scott and Don Toliver say 'Let's Pray' for a compilation of collaboration that puts its hands together for the Almighty, because even for all the rafter worthy Hall of Fame names. Nothing is higher and few else believed. But if the 'Fam Good, We Good'. Aint that right, Roddy and Gunna? 'Bills Paid' like Latto and City Girls. 'Way Past Luck' for 21 Savage. It's all big and best. Another one. Another one. Another one. Including 'Juice Wrld Did' and the huge flag for Jamaica in 'These Streets Know My Name' and the ones of Skillibeng, Buju Banton, Capleton, Bounty Killer, and Sizzla.

But before the 'Cloth Talk' and outstanding outro of 'Grateful' with Vory prays one more time before Khaled puts this to sleep. It's the 'Jadakss Interlude' featuring who else but Kiss with your "100 guns/100 clips" Ja Rule 'New York' sample for your Versuz that takes the crown. "I'm BIG Prodigy, DMX and Pun (Rest Peacefully)/Killin' n####s for fun/Nothin' iller than son/I'ma gonna be collectin' this money long as it come/If I'm behind the barrel, then you in front of the gun (gun shot)/I'm the bullet that struct your limbs/I'm white Air Force Ones, I'm construction Timbs/I'ma do whatver it takes, just enough to win/I'm the one that your man told you not to f### with him."

You better believe it, God. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'God Did (Feat. Rick Ross, Lil' Wayne, Jay-Z & John Legend)', 'Use This Gospel (Feat. Eminem and Kanye West)', 'Jadakiss Interlude (Feat. Jadakiss).'