DJ Khaled photographed on May 8th at The Fig House in Los Angeles.
Sami DrasinDJ Khaled announced Tuesday (April 27) that his 12th album Khaled Khaled will be released on Friday, April 30, via We the Best Music, Epic and Roc Nation.
"ALBUM 100% DONE! ITS TIME," Khaled shared on his socials with the alarm-clock emoji. "I TOLD MY TEAM LETS PUSH THE BUTTON! #KHALEDKHALED THIS FRIDAY APRIL 30TH!"
In a followup post, he revealed his kids would take a leading role on the recording,
"Executive produced by Asahd Khaled and Aalam Khaled," he wrote, explaining the meaning behind the album title.
He promised the album cover next and he delivered, sharing the art on Instagram. "This my name. This is my legacy. This my COVER. Time to bring MORE LIGHT," Khaled captioned the post. "I have a gift for the world. I can’t wait to share it with you. Let’s talk tomorrow, are you available?? I couldn’t post any pictures of this gift I had to sign an NDA." The cover art features Khaled alongside his two sons: Asahd and Aalam.
DJ Khaled (real name Khaled Mohamed Khaled) jumped for joy (and into his pool) last week when two famous Justins -- Justin Bieber and Justin Timberlake -- tried FaceTiming him after submitting their vocals for the upcoming record.
On Monday, he announced Khaled Khaled was "99.1% DONE" in a one-minute clip featuring a choir singing behind him as he preached the good news about his forthcoming LP. "Khaled Khaled is coming. It's special. I worked my whole career, I worked my whole life, and I'm just getting started," he declared. "But to make this album... was... God's hands all over it. Be great but be grateful. And remember, the light is love and God is love. When it's dark, be the sun. I am Khaled Khaled, child of God."
He confirmed in the comments section of Meek Mill's "#ZONE" Instagram picture from the recording studio that he received the rapper's vocals as well. "Facts ! Vocals is in! KHALED KHALED coming [soon]," he wrote on Monday.
Last July, DJ Khaled sent two top 10 singles to the Billboard Hot 100 with the help of Drake: "Popstar," which peaked at No. 3 on the chart, and "Greece," which reached No. 8. "As people that are two music execs, two guys that make music, two guys that put out albums, two guys that are bosses and CEOS, we relate to each other in a great way meaning IT'S BIG," he told Billboard in an interview last year. "If I come to Drake like, 'Let's do something,' in his head, he's already saying that 'Khaled isn't doing just anything.' That's how I look at Drake too, because everything he do is big."
Khaled Khaled will be the follow-up project to Father of Asahd, which was released in 2019 and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The song "Higher," featuring John Legend and Nipsey Hussle, from the album earned DJ Khaled his first Grammy at the 2020 Grammy Awards for best rap/sung performance.
MUSIC PREMIERES
It’s been nearly a decade since Smokey Robinson’s last album, but new music from the King of Motown is on the horizon.
Robinson will release the nine-track album “Gasms” on April 28, the music legend behind hits like “My Girl” and “The Way You Do the Things You Do” announced Friday.
“Gasms” features new songs produced and written by Robinson himself. The former vice president of Motown Records released his last collaborative album nine years ago, “Smokey & Friends,” which featured musicians like Elton John, John Legend, Steven Tyler and Mary J. Blige.
The upcoming album’s first single, “If We Don’t Have Each Other,” is now available on streaming services.
Robinson is a legendary music producer, songwriter, record label executive and solo musician who’s penned over 4,000 songs and been inducted into the the Rock ‘n’ Roll and Songwriters’ halls of fame.
The musician has worked with other historic Motown artists like the Temptations, Mary Wells, Brenda Holloway and Marvin Gaye.
Robinson will soon be honored alongside fellow Motown musician Berry Gordy as the 2023 “Persons Of The Year” at the Recording Academy’s annual MusiCares event on Feb. 3 in Los Angeles.
