DJ Khaled - Grateful

DJ Khaled
Grateful
2017
Spotify

So DJ Khaled wants us to think that his son Asahd produced this entire record on his own, and oh yeah He's 8 months old. So we have to start from that point when taking a look at this record, or playlist, whatever. This album follows the trend of artists trying to capitalize on a "playlist" for maximum streamability and on the surface this almost an hour and a half epic is about just that. I will get into the massive names on this record but the first real track is a Jay-Z and Beyonce feature so... you get it. First the record is produced incredibly well, has the names to make it shine and will likely be the thing we hear all summer along with whatever Calvin Harris is cooking up (Calvin actually produces a track with Khaled here), but the most glaring issue with Grateful is DJ Khaled. The times where He doesn't yell his ridiculous catchphrases and allows the artists to shine are hands down the best. "To the Max" is up there with great Drake songs, but you are sucked right out of whatever vibe they were able to cultivate when Khaled opens his mouth. "I'm the One" which features heavy hitters like Chance the Rapper, Quavo, Lil Wayne and Justin Bieber is this sort of Tropical inspired jam and each time Khaled feels the need to say something the song becomes that much worse. It's like no one ever told him that the worst part of his mixtapes was when He talked.

It doesn't feel right judging this record on just Khaled's flubs though, because it is well produced, well curated and for all things considered an inspired pop jam. Bringing together Nas and Travis Scott results in an absolute insane track, but Nas brings it around giving it an classic feel. You can tell Khaled either has impeccable taste or surrounds himself with people who do. You will only find two tracks solo produced by DJ Khaled "I Love You So Much" and "Billy Ocean", the rest have at least one other person helping behind the boards on top of the many writers. "I Love You So Much" features Chance the Rapper with he and Khaled singing the praises of their kids which is just so on the nose it is hard to enjoy. It tries so hard to be a fun song for kids that it forgets that adults might be listening to this record too. The album is also just too damn long, and it makes sense with all this talent that you want to squeeze it all in, but just imagine this as two records it would have so much more impact. The fatigue of a record this long is very real despite how great it is. Khaled is crealy at the top of his game, but maintaining his success in spite of all his goofiness is going to be an issue. In the end however you cannot deny that Grateful is a record deeply rooted in it's moment, brief though it may be.

8.0 out of 10