I Got The Keys

Album: Major Key (2016)
Charted: 30
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This anthem for achievement features two verses from Jay-Z while Future croons the hook. The title is a reference to DJ Khaled's keys to success, the inspirational and motivational platitudes that he shares on Instagram.
  • Jay-Z starts off his first verse by referencing owning his recording masters, at the same time taking a subtle jab at Drake.

    N---a as always asking me the key
    Till you own your own, you can't be free
    Till you're on your own you can't be me
    How we still slaves in 2016?


    This appears to be a response to a rhyme on Drake's January 2016 single "Summer Sixteen," where he rapped. "I used to wanna be on Roc-A-Fella, then I turned into Jay."
  • The black and white prison-set video stars Khaled, Jay Z, Future. It also features a long list of cameos as we see the likes of Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Pusha T, ASAP Ferg, T.I., Swizz Beatz, Busta Rhymes, Fabolous, Yo Gotti, Bryson Tiller and Zoey Dollaz facing off against prison guards.
  • Though Khaled has always had a good relationship with Jay Z, it's hard to get him on one guest verse, let alone two. "I play him the record and I'm vibing, you know, I got that eye so I'm looking to the side, I don't want him to know I'm looking, and I see him vibing," Khaled told Rap Radar. "The first part is an instrumental so that's when I'm really looking because, the great ones, that's when they really just start going so I look and I just see him start rhyming in his head and mumbling…when the beat stopped, he's just like, 'Leave that for me.'"

    The next day Khaled got a message from Jay saying that the verse was done and when he arrived, Hova spat the verse live for him. "And then he laid the verse down, I'm ready, I'm good," Khaled recalled. "But he's not done, second verse. I said 'What's going on here, man?' He's like 'I'm getting a second verse. Now, second verse coming out.'"
  • Throughout Major Key, Khaled's guests drop "key" references. In total, the word "key" is repeated 110 times throughout the album.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.