Since the beginning of this year, DJ Khaled has employed one key catchphrase while crafting his new studio album: “They didn’t believe in us, God did.”
Now, this slogan has finally manifested into 18 tracks, filled to the brim with superstar talent. At midnight ET on Aug. 26, God Did released headlined by GOAT-level acts like JAY-Z, Drake and Ye.
With practically every hip-hop legend and every young artist dominating the charts in today’s day and age, this God Did track list could probably only be compiled by Khaled himself. With Eminem and Kanye linking up for the “Use This Gospel” remix — remaking the JESUS IS KING track — along with songs containing Hov, Lil Wayne and Rick Ross; Kodak Black and Nardo Wick; Lil Durk, 21 Savage and Roddy Ricch; Unc & Phew; Don Toliver and Travis Scott; a posthumous Juice WRLD verse much more, Khaled has truly outdone himself.
Shedding a single “tear of joy,” which he called it in the Aug. 22 announcement post, Khaled’s covert art displays how blessed he feels putting this album out. Additionally, in its opening weekend, the album officially debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200.
Included in this chart-topping extravaganza was a loaded slate of visuals, as Khaled released five brand new music videos on the weekend of the album’s release. Videos for the fourth, fifth and sixth tracks “BIG TIME,” “KEEP GOING” and “PARTY,” as well as the ninth and fourteenth songs “IT AIN’T SAFE” and “THESE STREETS KNOW MY NAME” up the total number of visuals for the album to six.
Before revealing all the epic tracks and music videos for the album, DJ Khaled released his first God Did song in “Staying Alive” featuring and Lil Baby (Aug. 5), the sole promotional single and first official visual.
Ahead of the song’s release, Khaled remembered those who doubted that he would reach this level of notoriety. “They wanna finish me, so I went and got Drake and Lil Baby,” he said. “They never believed in me. Why you think I win so much? Because of you.”
Now that the full project has arrived, the mindset of Khaled and his confidants while crafting God Did is crystal clear. The Drake and Baby track was released simultaneously with both a standard music video and extended version taking place in a hospital, depicting Khaled preaching perseverance and Drizzy and Baby delivering melodic performances in tribute of the Bee Gees‘ classic hit “Stayin’ Alive.”
Khaled’s most recent album KHALED KHALED, released in April 2021, saw songs like “EVERY CHANCE I GET” with Lil Durk and Lil Baby and “POPSTAR” with Drake top charts and take over the summer, much like many of his singles and albums aim to do. Now, as we have already passed the halfway point of Summer 2022, Khaled’s 13th studio album being headlined by “Staying Alive” is only fitting.
On July 6, Khaled posted the official announcement for the project that certified the title. In the trailer, Khaled essentially recaps the first half of the year, where he performed at the 2022 NBA All-Star game, got his own star of The Hollywood Walk of Fame and made music with rap icons.
God Did is yet another momentous occasion for one of the most well-connected and amicable curators hip-hop has to offer.
Check out DJ Khaled’s brand new album below!
