Maps of Music

We the Best Forever (2011)

Where the lyrics of We the Best Forever take you, and where it was really made.

The title was announced in August 2010, but the album did not arrive until July 2011, and it was DJ Khaled's first release on a major label.

Key places

Recorded at We the Best Studios in North Miami (2011)

Recording site Honeysouth Studios — The album's studio list names We the Best Studios in North Miami, Florida, as a recording location. The marker uses the city-centre coordinate, so it shows the city rather than the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Hollygrove in New Orleans (2011)

Recording site Hollygrove (New Orleans) — The same studio list also names Hollygrove in New Orleans as a recording location. The marker uses the exact coordinate of the matched place, which is the highest precision level on this map. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• We the Best Forever: fifth studio album by American DJ and record producer DJ Khaled
• Released July 19, 2011 by We the Best Music Group, Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, and Universal Motown Records
• First album released on a major label; his first four albums came out on the independent label Koch Records, which later changed its name to E1 Music
• Built on a long list of guest artists, including Drake, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Plies, T-Pain, Jeezy, Ludacris, Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, The Game, Busta Rhymes, CeeLo Green, Akon, and Fat Joe

Background

• Title announced via Twitter on August 16, 2010
• Cash Money Records signing announced on August 19, 2010, three days after the title announcement
• In September 2010 Khaled confirmed that past collaborators Birdman and Lil Wayne would appear
• Khaled said he wanted Eminem on one of his 'street anthems' and asked him to do it for hip hop music as a whole
• On December 7, 2010 Khaled said the album was 75% done
• In February 2011 Drake, Rick Ross, T-Pain, and Plies were confirmed as guests
• In April 2011 more guests were revealed, including Fabolous, Young Jeezy, Fat Joe, Ace Hood, B.o.B, CeeLo Green, Keyshia Cole, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, and Akon

Recording

• The studio list names We the Best Studios in North Miami and Hollygrove in New Orleans
• Producers on the album include The Runners, confirmed by Khaled in his first webisode
• Co-producers and additional producers are credited on the track listing, including The Renegades, Cubic Z, DJ Nasty, LVM, T-Minus, Noah '40' Shebib, Kromatik, and Infinity

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Early life

• 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.

Career

• 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.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Metacritic: average score 61 from 7 reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews
• Amanda Bassa of HipHopDX: three out of five stars, calling it a solid piece that is not different enough from his previous work
• David Jeffries of AllMusic: three and a half stars out of five, saying the formula of rounding up superstar talent for an album jammed with potential singles still works
• Adam Fleischer of XXL: XL rating, praising his skill at creating grandiose tracks better than most
• Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone: three out of five stars, saying his imperial victory-march hip-hop songs are fun and mildly exhausting
• Kevin Ritchie of Now: two out of five stars, calling it a forgettable snapshot of mainstream hip-hop
• David Amidon of PopMatters: four out of ten, noting it is Khaled's most complete album since its namesake

Records

• Debuted at number five on the Billboard 200
• Sold 53,000 copies in its first week
• Lead single 'Welcome to My Hood' peaked at number 79 on the Billboard Hot 100
• 'I'm On One' debuted at number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100 and later peaked at number 10, his highest-charting song on the chart at that time
• 'It Ain't Over Til It's Over' was released to U.S. Rhythmic radio on August 30, 2011
• 'Legendary' was the fourth single, released to U.S. Rhythmic radio on October 4, 2011

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• 'It Ain't Over Til It's Over' samples The Notorious B.I.G.'s 'B.I.G. Interlude', which itself samples 'P.S.K. What Does It Mean?' by Schooly D
• 'Welcome to My Hood' samples 'Sound of da Police' by KRS-One
• Khaled asked Eminem to join one of his 'street anthems' and to do it for hip hop music as a whole
• The 'Welcome to My Hood' remix video was released on April 27, 2011, with a long list of guests including T-Pain, Ludacris, and Busta Rhymes
• 'Legendary' featured R&B singers Chris Brown, Keyshia Cole, and Ne-Yo, and was produced by DJ Nasty, Cubic Z, and LVM

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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