If you have listened to DJ Khaled before and have never asked this question, you better check yourself – you are becoming too complacent. This question pops up every time I find myself alone in my car *embarrassed face* singing along to a Khaled hit, windows open, goofy smile on face. To find out what DJ Khaled does, first we must investigate the meaning of the title DJ.
The term “DJ” or “dee jay”, short for disc jockey, can mean many things these days. The most basic meaning is a title for someone who selects and plays music for an audience. But over the years the role of the DJ has split into different functions and continued to live, like some worms do when you cut them into pieces (Next blog post: How the fuck do worms do that?)
There are producer DJ’s like A-Trak, Premier, Shadow, Mix Master Mike, and Babu (who coined the term turntablist to distinguish himself and others like him from the rest), who use samples, scratching, and manual production techniques to manipulate records and provide beats to back an emcee. These days, there are less and less DJ’s of this sort and more producers who use computers instead of turntables. But Khaled definitely doesn’t fall into this category. According to sources, Khaled once approached a turntable and it inexplicably burst into flames. Some say the rising smoke spelled out the letters “F-M-L”. He does not produce the songs that are listed as DJ Khaled songs.
More recently you’ve got popular mixtape DJ’s who don’t always necessarily “produce”, but put in a lot of work piecing together cohesive mixtapes and transitioning from beat to beat and song to song to allow the emcee to showcase skills over a plethora of backdrops in one smooth run. You know the type, Drama probably being the most notable. These guys love, like Khaled, to yell in threatening tones over the music to ensure you know they are a part of what’s going on. Think sirens, gunshots, and airhorns. We all know Khaled loves to yell over tracks, but to call Khaled a mixtape DJ is like calling Lil Wayne a guitar player. We all heard Rebirth, right?
The new remix DJ’s deserve a category to themselves, although there is some overlapping here with the first group I mentioned. These are the guys responsible for those insane remixes that make everyone want to take drugs and put their hands in the air. They use computers, samples, and effects that make brains expand to sizes larger than skulls. They turn clubs into sweatboxes. This group includes remix masters like Steve Aoki and producers like Diplo, but also branches off into weird electronic genres like bloghaus and shit that people with neon piercings in JNCO sized pants and fishnet tanktops still listen to. DJ Khaled definitely doesn’t fit in with this crowd.
In Jamaica, the dee jay is the guy who raps, chats or “toasts” over rhythms provided by the selector. (Yeah, I’ll admit it, I jacked this straight from Wikipedia). This started back in the 60’s, and often includes boastful, sometimes melodic, sometimes humorous talking or ranting over prerecorded beats. This may have been an influence that led to rapping and dancehall. Was Khaled part of this movement? No. He was not. Khaled is of Palestinian descent, and was born in ’75, making him an unlikely candidate for involvement in a Jamaican movement that began in the 60’s and 70’s.
Moving on, we’ve got the familiar radio DJ. You know, like Casey Kasem. These are the familiar voices that, simply put, play songs on the radio. They introduce artists, break records, and usually have nothing to do with the production of music. Not to say that they don’t have talent – they’ve got to know the music, be aware of up and coming artists, and form connections with musicians to help promote and push new music. Most people don’t realize it, but this is role that Khaled played to get that “DJ” title added before his name.
Khaled’s career began as a DJ for WEDR, a Miami radio station. He hosted a radio show, played records, acted as a hype man for Florida rappers, and aided by his energetic personality he quickly developed relationships with industry folks. This is what eventually led to him bringing together some of the biggest names in hip-hop for some of the biggest hits in recent history. Playing no part in the production or vocals (other than screaming over intros), I’m still dumfounded that he has the audacity to call these “DJ Khaled tracks” when they feature other artists that really do all the work, but I guess bringing a bunch of famous people together counts for a lot more than one might think. According to some sources, Khaled “assists” with production on some pieces. I’m pretty sure this means he proclaims “This is what we do! We da best!” when he hears a beat he likes.
Khaled is now the president of Def Jam South, and also founded the label We The Best Records under Def Jam. Looks like the quiet, talented guys take another loss. Moral of the story – try to climb your way up to a tall platform and just fucking yell until your voice goes.
dope blog man, I like what you’ve got going on here.
and khaled is a clown hah
In Khaleds case it stands for D.ef J.ams Khaled.
I guess he just kept the DJ title since he used to DJ at the station. But in a more recent young money video (I think @ their new years party or something) he was the DJ of the party, actually spinning records.
Yeah I was going to add a paragraph giving Khaled more credit, because he does spin records (I actually saw a pic of him at turntables, it was a weird visual) and he does do some production, but that’s not really what he’s famous for.
he doesn’t even produce those records himself? got damn. i thought my respect for this man was about as low as it could go. you proved me wrong, confusion.
Oh i see whatchu did dere…
Dang, this was you? I saw this on Strangers in Stereo, got a huge kick out of it. The worms line definitely is a keeper though
yeah i knew it
this is a great piece of insight you got here
Its all bad. I thought dude was like timberland (DJ turned Producer) but i guess not. Dope article, I like the fact that you think mixtape ‘DJs’ should have their own category
Shit, I enjoy these pieces almost as much as the great music you post. Would you categorize (hate using that word) mash up artists like Gregg Gillis dba Girl Talk under remix DJ’s? Just curious.
If I called him a DJ I guess I’d put him in the remix DJ’s category, or a new one all together. Didn’t even think of that to be honest. Is Girl Talk a DJ? I dont know.
Huh. The more you know.
I was wondering when this was gonna post.. dope write up.
And yes, I’m a Dj in the actual sense of the word.. I spin everything from Greek to Hip Hop to European/International to House. I have been since about 94. I’ve fucked around and made my own beats, but I have remixed stuff, and the mixes I make are actually mixed. I don’t yell over the transitions. lol
And my old dj name used to be Konfusion. lol
He plays a big part in all those hits. They wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for him. A little credit is deserved. Not all producers have to actually compose the music. The great ones know what it takes to piece together a HIT! Do you have the ability or the power to do that?…………….hell no. Not many people do
Interesting..
Since the creation of Serato and Ableton everyone and their mom can call themselves a “DJ”. Its becoming a lost art. lol.
I can vouch for Khaled though. I used to go to Hitmen (Cesar, Nasty and Khaled) parties back in the day (in Orlando)and he did in fact DJ.
Ask me what he does now..I have no clue. lol
Pz
Amy..
hes got beat makers that make beats, listens to them, may mix a few together, and BAM its his song
I’ve bookmarked this, you should receive a pingback shortly:) x-mini speakers
so what i understood is pretty much he makes money of everyone else just for yelling we the best?????????? kind of like litle john even tho little john actualy sing a little lol
He might be famous but he is also one fat ugly b@stard.
You do realize DJ Khaled has to pay every one of those rappers at least $5,000 a line. Where the fuck does he get that kinda money? He popped out of nowhere and is of Palestinian descent. Khaled bin Abdul Khaled…
DOES DJ KHALED WRITE SONGS FOR SOME OF DE RAPPERS JUS WANNA KNOW
I DONT THINK KHALED HAS EVER WRITTEN FOR DE RAPPERS
When I got to this part, ” … but to call Khaled a mixtape DJ is like calling Lil Wayne a guitar player.” I went full-on cackle mode.
hes one of the most well connected, active exec producers in the game – ya’ll haters are blinded by the dj before his name – real rappers in the game know he da man, hence why they all friends with him and love jumping on his tracks
http://vimeo.com/47147407#
If anyone here thinks it takes talent to make a dream lineup for a record, wake up. I will call babu, mos def, Raekwon, del, and the cunninglynguists for the track. I’m djblackballs now.
Question though is why so much credibility to dudes name? He got dsl?
Haha I have a similar blog article, with a similar title. http://www.damnitmozr.blogspot.com/2012/08/what-does-dj-khaled-really-do.html
That’s a good article, dude.
i just wona praise dj kaled 4 s production so far,n to let him kown dat we fans re enjoying d We Are The Best record
Wikipedia is fuckin wrong! “DJ Khaled, is an American record producer, radio personality, rapper, DJ and record label executive.” from Wikipedia.