DJ Khaled Artistfacts

November 26, 1975
DJ Khaled is known for his work as a DJ, record producer, and record executive. He doesn't sing or rap on his tracks; his métier is bringing together top-tier artists for collaborations. His albums often feature all-star lineups.
DJ Khaled's real name is Khaled Mohammed Khaled. Born in New Orleans, his parents were Palestinian immigrants who played Arabic music, influencing his early love for music.
Khaled's mother and father were incredibly supportive of his music career from the very beginning, despite being immigrants who came to the US with practical dreams for their children. Khaled's mom and dad turned their garage into a makeshift studio to help him follow his passion. Even when the neighbors complained about the noise, Khaled's family continued to nurture his love for music, teaching him early on the value of perseverance and hard work. This unwavering support helped shape his entrepreneurial mindset.
Khaled worked at the New Orleans record store Odyssey in 1993, where he met members of the Cash Money record label, including Birdman and a young Lil Wayne.
He started his music career as a radio DJ in Miami at 99 Jamz, where he gained attention for his charismatic personality and knack for curating hip-hop tracks.
Khaled briefly used the stage name Arab Attack early in his career but changed it after 9/11 out of sensitivity to the tragedy.
He produced tracks for artists like Fabolous, Pitbull, and Ludacris in the early 2000s and released his first album, Listennn... the Album, in 2006.
His social media antics, particularly his inspirational Snapchats featuring his day-to-day life, played a major role in catapulting him into celebrity status in the mid-2010s.
His 2017 album Grateful includes the hit single "I'm the One" featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne. It debuted at #1 in the US.
Khaled owns a record label called We the Best Music Group. He founded the label in 2008; it has operated as an imprint of Def Jam Recordings since 2023.
Khaled is famous for his motivational catchphrases like "Don't ever play yourself," "All I do is win, win, win no matter what," "The key is to make it" and "Stay focused and secure your bag." These have become a cornerstone of his brand, both in music and on social media.
Khaled is a savvy businessman. He has collaborated with brands like Apple Music, Ciroc, and Weight Watchers.
He co-owns a soul food restaurant called Finga Licking, which has several locations in the Miami area.
Khaled has been with his longtime partner Nicole Tuck for years, and they have two sons, Asahd (born in 2016) and Aalam (born in 2020). Khaled is vocal about how much his children inspire him, and often credits Asahd as an executive producer on his albums.
DJ Khaled has won multiple awards, including a Grammy in 2020 for Best Rap/Sung Performance for the song "Higher" featuring Nipsey Hussle and John Legend.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

More Songfacts:

Fortunate SonCreedence Clearwater Revival

The Creedence Clearwater Revival song "Fortunate Son" is about how the Vietnam war was being fought by soldiers without the privilege or connections to get out of it. "It's the old saying about rich men making war and poor men having to fight them," John Fogerty said.

Tomorrow PeopleZiggy Marley & the Melody Makers

"Tomorrow People" by Ziggy Marley is the first song by a Marley to crack the US Top 40; the highest Bob got was #51 with "Roots, Rock, Reggae."

YellowColdplay

"Yellow" by Coldplay is a deep, meaningful song, but the title has a rather prosaic origin: it came from the phone directory, known as "the yellow pages."

1901Phoenix

The Phoenix song "1901" is about Paris. Their lead singer Thomas Mars said: "Paris in 1901 was better than it is now. So the song is a fantasy about Paris."