Album Review: DJ Khaled - Father Of Asahd

It has been two years since DJ Khaled released a project. “Grateful” received positive reviews with hits such as “Wild Thoughts” and “I’m On One” claiming the center of attention on the hypothetical album mantelpiece. Furthermore, the album grabbed the attention of many due to Khaled actually putting his son, Asahd, as executive producer of the album. Baring in mind, he was only a baby at the time.

Fast forward two years and Khaled has done the exact same, making his son Asahd Tuck Khaled the executive producer of this album too.

In an interview on the Jimmy Fallon show, Khaled explains that his 11th album is “not just an album” but instead it is “the next chapter of more blessings, more love, more gratitude, more success”. Khaled has taken a very spiritual approach towards the album. He goes on to say that once his son, Asahd, came into his life then he states:

“I became greater, I breath different, I walk different, I look different, I move different, I think different”

In regards to the content itself, it is no surprise that the album is listed with some of the biggest and hottest musicians at the current moment but also some legends in the art. Travis Scott, Post Malone, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Nas, Chris Brown, Gunna, Future and Cardi B to just name a few.

The album is a mix of R&B, Hip-Hop and Rap and a refreshing listen of here and now blended with some serious nostalgia. The 15 track album has a perfect variety of new age R&B hits with “Jealous” that features Chris Brown, Lil Wayne and Big Sean too the nostalgic “Just Us” featuring SZA that uses/samples the nostalgic Outkast’s “Ms. Jackson” beat. Further to that, Jodeci’s “Freek’n You” is sampled for a current sounding track under the same but adapted title “Freak N You”. They are different samples but the track takes a similar stance to that of Drake’s “Nice For What” in terms of how the sample is used.

The album delivers on the Rap/Hip-Hop front with “Top Off” featuring Jay-Z, Beyonce and Future already being familiar to everyone’s ears. Heavyweights in the Rap game, Jeezy and Rick Ross team together on the “Big Boy Talk” track. Meek Mill and new face, Lil Baby are on “Weather the Storm”. “Wish Wish” takes the new age sound of Rap with Cardi B and 21 Savage featuring.

Old school Hip-Hop vibes are covered with Hip-Hop legend, Nas and singer CeeLo Green in “Won’t Take My Soul” and “Thank You” with Big Sean on a smooth and mellow Hip-Hop beat.

There is only one way to end a review of this album. There is one track on the album that takes its own high place on the mantelpiece stand for this album and stands out from all the rest. “Higher”, featuring the late Nipsey Hussle and John Legend is a classic Hip-Hop song with John Legend’s vocals supplying a melodic and gospel sound. The lyrics from Nipsey now almost take an even deeper meaning than they already were with what we now know.

The video, filmed a few days before the fatal shooting of Nipsey Hussle. Khaled stating in the same Jimmy Fallon interview from above, that all proceeds of the song will be going to Nipsey Hussle’s children.

The album has something for everyone and again, Khaled has not failed to deliver a jam packed album of hits. The constituency levels of Khaled carry on and do not look to be getting reached by anyone else anytime soon.