The Rundown: DJ Khaled, Suffering From Success
A track-by-track review of Khaled's seventh studio album.
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The Rundown: DJ Khaled, Suffering From Success - In 2007, Miami-based DJ Khaled proclaimed "We Takin' Over." And from that moment, all he's done is win. On his seventh studio album, Suffering From Success, Khaled shows that he can change with the times. In addition to the compilation's strong singles "No New Friends," "I Wanna Be With You" and, most recently, the infectious "I Feel Like Pac/I Feel Like Biggie," Khaled came with some new and different marketing tactics on this one including a highly publicized marriage proposal to Nicki Minaj. Content-wise, SFS added just a sprinkle of reggae, R&B and some slightly improved instrumentation, but mostly he does what made his "We the Best" catchphrase a part of our everyday vernacular. Click on for a track-by-track review.(Photo: Cash Money Records)
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"Suffering From Success" Feat. Ace Hood and Future - Future warms up the track crooning, "I'm sufferinnnn'" while the snare rattles and the bass hits. Ace Hood drops one of his hardest verses to date, "F--k this money, n---a, f--k this chain/F--k my watch, you can have that ring/ Keep my whips you can have that fame/So stressed out I'm going insane." (Photos from left: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images, Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)
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"I Feel Like Pac/I Feel Like Biggie" Feat. Diddy, Rick Ross, Meek Mill, T.I. and Swizz Beatz - In typical MMG fashion, DJ Khaled's track carries enough weight to facilitate extra passionate flows from this A-list cast of rhymers, who each take turns detailing how their current lives resemble those of the two deceased hip hop legends. The choir backed by a subtle but effective triangle makes the track hit extra hard.(Photos from left: Prince Williams/Getty Images/Film Magic, Awais/Pacificcoastnews, Rick Diamond/Getty Images, Bennett Raglin/Getty Images, Wenn.com, Trago/Wire Image)
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"You Don't Want These Problems" Feat. Big Sean, Rick Ross, French Montana, 2 Chainz and Meek Mill - Pronounced and perpetual snare dominate this track. DJ Khaled also added in some electric guitar, giving it a touch of rock. Big Sean handles the refrain proclaiming, "Do it, do it I swear I f----n' do it," and warning any challengers, "You don't want these problems," while the rest of the all-star lineup takes turns slaying this beat.(Photos from left: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images, Bennett Raglin/Getty Images, Michael Buckner/Getty Images, Moses Robinson/Getty Images, Bennett Raglin/Getty Images)
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"Blackball" Feat. Future, Plies and Ace Hood - DJ Khaled once again goes to the winning combination of Future and Ace Hood. The beat booms, claps and snaps. For their part, Future, Ace Hood and fellow Floridian Plies turn up a notch to make this a certified banger.(Photos from left: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images, Rick Diamond/Getty Images, Frank Micelotta/Getty Images, Rob Kim/Getty Images)
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"No Motive" Feat. Lil Wayne - DJ Khaled starts this track off with a simplified low rider-like bounce then switches to a more antagonistic, heavy-hitting smash. Tunechi drops a laid-back verse but keeps pace with the track. "I'm a lover not a fighter/I can't find my lighter/My house is four stories, I tell 'em I don't write 'em/and my living room is white, My lies are much whiter/my darkest secrets are bright, I need a sun visor."(Photos from left: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images, Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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"I'm Still" Feat. Chris Brown, Wiz Khalifa, Wale and Ace Hood - DJ Khaled skillfully crafted this joint to be slow enough to accommodate Chris Breezy's smooth R&B flow, yet hard enough to complement Wale, Wiz Khalifa and Ace Hood for their blazing 16s. "Still gonna do my thang, still gonna go get mine, still gonna keep on winning, still gonna keep it 100," sings Brown.(Photos from left: John Ricard/Getty Images, Ethan Miller/Getty Images, Jason Davis/Getty Images, Frank Hoensch/Getty Images, Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images)
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"I Wanna Be With You" Feat. Nicki Minaj, Future and Rick Ross - DJ Khaled lays it down proper on this radio hit. Future gets his auto-tune croon on, singing, "I wanna be with you," while the ever-versatile Nicki Minaj first spits a rapid-fire flow then switches into R&B mode. The track takes a timeout dropping into a simplistic bongo that paces like a heartbeat. Rick Ross does what he does best, spitting about drug sales and brand names.(Photos from left: Cindy Ord/Getty Images, Jason LaVeris/Getty Images, Moses Robinson/Getty Images,Chris McKay/Getty Images)
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"No New Friends" Feat. Drake, Lil Wayne and Rick Ross - Who needs new friends when you've got three of the hottest MCs in the game rocking the beat? Rick Ross, Lil Wayne and of course Drake, who drops the standout verse and sings the hook on this hit, the collection's lead single, which is still making its mark on radio six months after initial impact. A subtle organ playing the background gives the beat an extra push.(Photo: we the best music group)
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"Give It All to Me," Mavado Feat. Nicki Minaj - For this reggae-tinged song, DJ Khaled calls on Mavado to bring out that modernized reggaeton sound and give Suffering From Success a refreshing feel-good track heavy on the keys and bongos. Nicki Minaj does her thing as always, drawing on her Trini accent to sound right at home.(Photos from left: John Ricard/BET, John Parra/Getty Images)
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"Hell's Kitchen" Feat. J. Cole and Bas - If DJ Khaled knows one thing, it's how to tailor a beat to its MC. J. Cole continues his reign of terror over Khaled's slightly darker boom and clapping track with rhymes like "Back from the dead like Michael Jackson in red jackets/With naps in my head, who's white or black, it's a red package/Get smacked if you said that I'm neck-and-neck with them square rappers/My guest room's got platinum plaques and an air mattress."(Photos from left: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images, Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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"Never Surrender" Feat. Scarface, Akon, Meek Mill, Jadakiss, John Legend and Anthony Hamilton - Sometimes you gotta flex your Rolodex and DJ Khaled covered just about every region for one of Suffering From Success' more melancholy tracks. Scarface, Jadakiss, Meek Mill, Akon, John Legend and Anthony Hamilton come together for this dream collabo.(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
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"Murcielago (Doors Go Up)" Feat. Meek Mill and Birdman - DJ Khaled once again turned to the homie Meek Mill, who blesses the hook for this drum-heavy super-lifestyle anthem. Birdman added his executive touch to the track, rapping, "Mountain top n---a high on his fame/Filthy rich still doin' my thang/ Popped off we had to pop that spot/Jewels fly n---a we so hot/Yachts condos, livin' that life/I'd do it again and I'd pay that twice." (Photos from left: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images, John Sciulli/Getty Images, Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
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"Black Ghost," Vado - DJ Khaled mixes synth, bass and tambourine in perfect harmony for this banger, while Vado's forceful rhymes about handling both his business and personal affairs in the black ghost (Rolls Royce) ride the beat to perfection.(Photo: Jerritt Clark/Getty Images)
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"Take That Off," Vado Feat. Jeremih - DJ Khaled enlisted the help of underrated Chi-Town crooner Jeremih, who shows off his ability to meticulously and melodically sing words faster than most MCs can rap, going verse for verse with MMG rising star Vado over this piano-driven gem.(Photos from left: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images, Cindy Ord/ Getty Images)