Maps of Music

Kiss the Ring (2012)

Where the lyrics of Kiss the Ring take you, and where it was really made.

The title was announced in December 2011, about eight months before the album came out on August 21, 2012.

Place unknown

Do you know where this album was recorded, or where its cover was shot? Tell us and we will add it to the map.

Kiss the Ring: sixth studio album by American DJ and record producer DJ Khaled
Released August 21, 2012, by We the Best Music Group, Young Money Cash Money Billionaires (YMCMB), Cash Money Records and Universal Republic Records
Guest appearances from 27 artists, including Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Rick Ross, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole

On December 10, 2011, Khaled announced the album title in a video, with the release date listed as 'coming soon'
Album cover and release date were revealed in a promotional video on May 24, 2012
Production team includes Jahlil Beats, Mike WiLL Made It, Hit-Boy, The Runners, J. Cole, Boi-1da, DJ Toomp, Sonny Digital and DJ Premier, among others
'Take It to the Head' was the first single, released March 27, 2012, featuring Chris Brown, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne
'Take It to the Head' video premiered on MTV Jams on May 20, 2012
'I Wish You Would' was the second single, released June 27, 2012, featuring Kanye West and Rick Ross, produced by Hit-Boy
'I Wish You Would' video premiered on BET's 106 & Park on August 13, 2012, alongside the video for West's single 'Cold'
Both singles charted on the Billboard Hot 100, at number 58 and number 78
Promotional singles and videos followed in late 2012, including 'Bitches & Bottles (Let's Get It Started)' with Future, T.I. and Lil Wayne

Discogs credits recording at studios including Quad Recording Studios, Westlake Studios, The Hit Factory Criteria and Record One in Los Angeles
Mixing is credited to We The Best Studios, Larrabee Sound Studios, The Hit Factory Criteria, Patchwerk Recording Studios and Daseca Studio
Mastering is credited to Sterling Sound and Chris Athens Masters

1	Shout Out to the Real	4:13
2	Bitches & Bottles (Let’s Get It Started)	4:29
3	I Wish You Would	3:57
4	Take It to the Head	4:27
5	They Ready	3:14
6	I’m So Blessed	4:13
7	Hip Hop	4:23
8	I Did It for My Dawgz	4:25
9	I Don’t See Em	4:34
10	Don’t Pay 4 It	4:18
11	Suicidal Thoughts	3:15
12	Outro (They Don’t Want War)	3:03

Born Khaled Mohammed Khaled on November 26, 1975, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Palestinian immigrant parents.
Parents were musicians who played Arabic music; he developed an early interest in rap and soul.
Worked at a local Merry-Go-Round record store.

Started DJing in reggae sound clashes in New Orleans and later co-hosted The Luke Show on WEDR 99 Jamz in Miami from 1998.
Worked with Fat Joe's Terror Squad as a DJ and producer.
Debut album Listennn... the Album (2006) debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200.
Breakthrough with "I'm So Hood" (We the Best, 2007) and "All I Do Is Win" (Victory, 2010, triple platinum).
Major label debut We the Best Forever (2011) produced his first Billboard Hot 100 top ten single, "I'm on One".
Albums Major Key (2016), Grateful (2017), and Khaled Khaled (2021) reached number one on the Billboard 200.
Won his first Grammy for "Higher" at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.
Known for maximalist production, motivational catchphrases, and a strong social media presence.

Metacritic average of 62 out of 100 from seven reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews
XXL editor Adam Fleischer, in the highest-scored review, said the album is brief and overrun with proven formulas and artists
Exclaim! critic Mark Bozzer praised a strong collection of MCs and producers that added shine to Khaled's musical collage
HipHopDX critic Edwin Ortiz, in a mixed review, called the album a series of single tracks that hit or miss
AllMusic editor David Jeffries called it a run-of-the-mill Khaled album, adding that the mill is still doing pretty awesome
Consequence of Sound editor Mike Madden, in the lowest-scored review, said the album often sounds made to boost the celebrity status and net worth of the man on its cover

Debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 with 41,000 copies sold in its first week
Peaked at number three on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Sold 63,000 copies in the US as of September 11, 2012
Sold 108,000 copies in the US by September 2013

The Italian Wikipedia track list shows 12 songs, with the outro 'They Don't Want War' featuring Ace Hood
The two album singles reached number 58 and number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100
Consequence of Sound's review gave the album its lowest score in the critical round-up
Sales reached 108,000 copies in the US by September 2013, about a year after release