DJ Khaled
Khaled first gained recognition as a radio host on 99 Jamz in Miami. His energetic personality and connections in the music industry helped him build relationships with major artists.
DJ Khaled
Basic Information
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Khaled Mohamed Khaled |
| Born | November 26, 1975 |
| Birthplace | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
| Other Names | Beat Novacane, Arab Attack |
| Genres | Hip hop, R&B, pop, dancehall |
| Occupation | DJ, record executive, record producer, media personality |
| Years Active | 1998–present |
| Labels | We the Best, Epic, Roc Nation, Def Jam South, Cash Money, Republic |
Early Career
Khaled first gained recognition as a radio host on 99 Jamz in Miami. His energetic personality and connections in the music industry helped him build relationships with major artists.
We The Best Music Group
Founded in 2008, We The Best Music Group has become his primary label imprint. Khaled has used it to release his own albums and sign artists.
Albums
Major Label Albums
- Listennn… the Album (2006)
- We the Best (2007)
- We Global (2008)
- Victory (2010)
- We the Best Forever (2011)
- Kiss the Ring (2012)
- Suffering from Success (2013)
- I Changed a Lot (2015)
- Major Key (2016) – First #1 album
- Grateful (2017)
- Father of Asahd (2019)
- Khaled Khaled (2021)
- God Did (2022)
Major Singles
- “I’m So Hood” (2007)
- “All I Do Is Win” (2010) – Featuring T-Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross
- “I’m on One” (2011) – Featuring Drake, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne
- “No New Friends” (2013) – Featuring Drake, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne
- “Hold You Down” (2014)
- “How Many Times” (2015)
- “I Got the Keys” (2016) – Featuring Jay-Z and Future
- “For Free” (2016) – Featuring Drake
- “Do You Mind” (2016)
- “Wild Thoughts” (2017) – Featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller
- “I’m the One” (2017) – Featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne (#1 Billboard Hot 100)
- “No Brainer” (2018)
- “Higher” (2019) – Featuring Nipsey Hussle and John Legend (Grammy-winning)
- “Popstar” (2020) – Featuring Drake
- “Greece” (2020) – Featuring Drake
- “Staying Alive” (2022) – Featuring Drake and Lil Baby
Business Ventures
Positions Held
- President of Def Jam South (2009)
- CEO and founder of We the Best Music Group
Other Ventures
- Finga Licking: Miami-based restaurant
- Floyd Mayweather partnership: Appeared in fight promotions
- Books: The Keys (2016) – book of affirmations
- Snapchat: Massive following through motivational daily stories
Catchphrases
Khaled has become known for his motivational catchphrases: - “Another one” - “We the Best” - “Major Key” - “They don’t want you to win” - “Bless up” - “Cloth talk”
Awards and Recognition
Grammy Awards
- 2020: Best Rap/Sung Performance – “Higher” (with Nipsey Hussle and John Legend)
Other Awards
- BET Hip Hop Awards: Multiple wins including MVP of the Year
- MTV Video Music Awards: Nominated multiple times
- American Music Awards: Nominated
Personal Life
Family
- Parents: Palestinian immigrants
- Siblings: Brother Alla Khaled (actor)
- Partner: Nicole Tuck
- Children: Asahd Tuck Khaled (born 2016), Aalam Tuck Khaled (born 2020)
Khaled is known for featuring his sons prominently on his albums and social media, with Asahd credited as executive producer on multiple albums from birth.
Cultural Impact
DJ Khaled has transformed from a DJ and producer into a cultural phenomenon through his social media presence. His motivational messages, family-oriented content, and catchphrases have made him a mainstream celebrity beyond music circles.
Collaborations
Khaled is renowned for his ability to bring together multiple major artists on single tracks. His albums typically feature extensive guest lists including: - Jay-Z - Beyoncé - Drake - Rihanna - Lil Wayne - Rick Ross - Justin Bieber - Chance the Rapper - And many more