DJ Khaled has confirmed that his We The Best label will partner with Def Jam in 2023, making the announcement this week at a press conference in Miami.
Khaled had originally teased the announcement on Wednesday (February 8), and it turned out to be a celebratory affair as the DJ reflected back on his expansive career before officially announcing the partnership with Def Jam on Thursday (February 9).
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“Looking back at my career, and thinking about when I first came out with my first album I think it was like 2005, and looking where I’m at in 2023 and I still see the same faces and the people I’m working together with is the biggest blessing in the world,” Khaled said.
“My journey, I started off at Koch Records and shout out to brother Joey Crack,” he said referring to Fat Joe. “He brought me into Koch Records and we did a deal at Koch Records and he told them ‘look you gotta mess with this kid Khaled,’ and we ended up making history over there.”
He continued: “From there I ended up being the president of Def Jam South at Def Jam as the executive, and then I ended up doing the gig with Cash Money Universal around that time and then after that, I did an independent deal. That was a time in my life when I was like you know what, I wanna show more and build my legacy.
“Then from there I went to Epic Records and had an amazing career over there. We dropped five albums. It was Major Keys,Father of Assad,Grateful,Khaled Khaled and GOD DID, which is my last five albums that changed my life.
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“But now today it’s 2023 and like LeBron James when he had his press conference to say he was bringing his talents to Miami … well I’m bringing my talents and We The Best and DJ Khaled to Def Jam Records.”
Check out Khaled’s press conference below:
Khaled’s major transition to Def Jam was just one of a slew of major announcements the GOD DID producer had in store for the afternoon. He was also announced as the new Global Creative Consultant for Universal Music Group, and said in a statement the full circle moment was a dream come true.
“This new chapter marks a special time for me,” Khaled said. “The energy at this point in my career is at an all-time high and I’m grateful to Sir Lucian Grainge for allowing me to join his empire at this stage in my journey. Together, we will achieve even greater heights and take it to the next level. I’m excited to not only partner, but to come back home to Def Jam.”
Following these announcement, SNIPES founder Sven Voth also took to the podium to confirm a We The Best Store was being built in Miami in collaboration with the clothing brand, and this caused the mogul to briefly return to the podium to talk to the young people
“I know there’s a lot of live streams and this is going out to the young world,” Khaled said. “Dreams do come true. They come true with hard work, dedication and staying focused and of course all glory to God.”
He went on to say that his charitable We The Best Foundation would also be hosting a new round of education programs such as back-to-school events and holiday feedings, as well as an inaugural We The Best Dream Programming at a local elementary school and 4th-grade classroom in Miami.
At the end of the press conference, Khaled himself was also awarded a key to the city by Miami’s Mayor Francis Suarez, all while the former’s 2016 hit “I Got The Keys” soundtracked the moment. Suarez also declared February 9th to be “We The Best Day” in Miami moving forward.
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Khaled’s major announcements arrive just days after he closed out the 2023 Grammy Awards with a performance of his 3x Grammy-nominated single “GOD DID” alongside JAY-Z, Lil Wayne, John Legend, Rick Ross and Fridayy.
