Asahd's father is back at it again with DJ Khaled's 11th studio album, Father of Asahd. Khaled managed to rack up his usual cast of characters, including Jay and Bey, Big Sean and Rick Ross. This album adds legendary dancehall/reggae artist Buju Banton, R&B up-and-comer SZA and slain Los Angeles rapper Nipsey Hussle to his growing list of collaborators.
One of the highlights is "Higher," featuring Hussle and John Legend. Produced by Khaled, STREETRUNNER and Tarik Azzouz, the appropriately heavenly sounding song, with a choir background, helps Hussle rap about his family history, his troubled past and the love of his life before his untimely death, actress Lauren London, whom he mentioned in the line "Los Angeles kind of love just like Hussle and Boog."
Another highlight is SZA-led track "Just Us," where Khaled uses the famous instrumental from Outkast's 2001 hit "Ms. Jackson." SZA uses the slowed-down version to croon about a forbidden love, as she states "It's just us against the world."
Khaled securing Banton is another huge win for this album, especially on the final track, "Holy Ground." Sampled from Lauryn Hill and Carlos Santana's "To Zion," he used the soulful beat to express his internal fight for a higher deity while warding off evil.
Even with all the good on this album, it still leaves a little to be desired. He added two singles released last year, "Top Off" (with JAY-Z, Beyoncé and Future) and "No Brainer" (featuring Chance the Rapper, Justin Bieber and Quavo), which seems a little manipulative. Some of the groupings also did not mesh well, and sounded a slightly scrambled.
DJ Khaled knows how to produce a hit with any number of artists, but his 2019 effort could have used some more growth like Asahd.
(Epic/We The Best Music Group)One of the highlights is "Higher," featuring Hussle and John Legend. Produced by Khaled, STREETRUNNER and Tarik Azzouz, the appropriately heavenly sounding song, with a choir background, helps Hussle rap about his family history, his troubled past and the love of his life before his untimely death, actress Lauren London, whom he mentioned in the line "Los Angeles kind of love just like Hussle and Boog."
Another highlight is SZA-led track "Just Us," where Khaled uses the famous instrumental from Outkast's 2001 hit "Ms. Jackson." SZA uses the slowed-down version to croon about a forbidden love, as she states "It's just us against the world."
Khaled securing Banton is another huge win for this album, especially on the final track, "Holy Ground." Sampled from Lauryn Hill and Carlos Santana's "To Zion," he used the soulful beat to express his internal fight for a higher deity while warding off evil.
Even with all the good on this album, it still leaves a little to be desired. He added two singles released last year, "Top Off" (with JAY-Z, Beyoncé and Future) and "No Brainer" (featuring Chance the Rapper, Justin Bieber and Quavo), which seems a little manipulative. Some of the groupings also did not mesh well, and sounded a slightly scrambled.
DJ Khaled knows how to produce a hit with any number of artists, but his 2019 effort could have used some more growth like Asahd.