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).
âLooking 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 Iâm at in 2023 and I still see the same faces and the people Iâm working together with is the biggest blessing in the world,â Khaled said.
âMy journey, I started off at Koch Records and shout out to brother Joey Crack,â he said referring to Fat Joe. âHe brought me into Koch Records and we did a deal at Koch Records and he told them âlook you gotta mess with this kid Khaled,â and we ended up making history over there.â
.@djkhaled talks about his journey and where he's been signed đhttps://t.co/52WCdDsvQrpic.twitter.com/qMCKIAcyW5
â HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) February 9, 2023
He continued: âFrom 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.
âThen 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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âBut now today itâs 2023 and like LeBron James when he had his press conference to say he was bringing his talents to Miami ⊠well Iâm bringing my talents and We The Best and DJ Khaled to Def Jam Records.â
Check out Khaledâs press conference below:
.@djkhaled announces We The Best Label partnership with Def Jam đ€https://t.co/52WCdDsvQrpic.twitter.com/gbCwXpfz57
â HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) February 9, 2023
Khaledâs 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.
âThis new chapter marks a special time for me,â Khaled said. âThe energy at this point in my career is at an all-time high and Iâm 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. Iâm excited to not only partner, but to come back home to Def Jam.â
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
âI know thereâs a lot of live streams and this is going out to the young world,â Khaled said. âDreams do come true. They come true with hard work, dedication and staying focused and of course all glory to God.â
.@djkhaled announces We The Best Snipes store in Miami đhttps://t.co/52WCdDsvQrpic.twitter.com/nCejX7UyFw
â HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) February 9, 2023
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 Miamiâs Mayor Francis Suarez, all while the formerâs 2016 hit âI Got The Keysâ soundtracked the moment. Suarez also declared February 9th to be âWe The Best Dayâ in Miami moving forward.
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Khaledâs major announcements arrive just days after he closed out the 2023 Grammy Awards with a performance of his 3x Grammy-nominated single âGOD DIDâ alongside JAY-Z, Lil Wayne, John Legend, Rick Ross and Fridayy.