During an exclusive interview with HipHopDX, Los Angeles, California-producer DJ Khalil detailed the creation of “Survival,” a cut from Eminem’s eighth studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2.
DJ Khalil says that although he crafted the beat and hook for “Survival” more than 18 months ago, he did not hear the finished product until the song leaked earlier this year.
“[Eminem’s] been working on [The Marshall Mathers LP 2] for a minute,” DJ Khalil says. “I’m always sending him records, especially stuff that really fits him and what he’s trying to do creatively. I don’t just send him tons of beats, but I’ll try to craft certain things that I think he’ll like. I try to send him records with concepts because it’s [Eminem]. He’s an incredible songwriter.
“I hadn’t heard ‘Survival’ until [it was released],” Khalil continues. “I talked to him. We spoke about the record because we had to mix it. He was in his studio in Detroit, [Michigan] and I’m in L.A. so we talked about the record. The first time I heard it was when they leaked it.”
Prior to “Survival,” DJ Khalil produced four tracks on Eminem’s multi-platinum Recovery album, including the Pink-assisted “Won’t Back Down.”
“Before then I worked with Slaughterhouse,” Khalil says. “That’s kind of how I passed on [Eminem’s] radar musically. I was on [Eminem’s manager] Paul Rosenberg’s radar already, but really after Slaughterhouse and lots of stuff started coming out around 2009 they really was following what I was doing. We ended up connecting through that. Dr. Dre’s the one that introduced us. Just being in the studio with Dre and Em is incredible on its own. It’s still incredible just to be working with an artist like him. He really wants to build something creatively so that’s just great.”
DJ Khalil is a member of the writing and production team The New Royales with Liz Rodrigues, Erik Alcock and Pranam “Chin” Injeti. He also produced Aloe Blacc’s 2013 EP, Wake Me Up.
DJ Khalil began his career as half of Hip Hop duo Self Scientific with Chace Infinite.
RELATED: The Marshall Mathers LP 2 [Album Review]
So basically Em came in and said, “I need a throw away beat, something simple and boring, something that’ll restrict my ability to display emotion or talent, one of those lame Gucci Mane beats. Lets put that together, I’ma go take a shit real quick, when I come back I’ll have the lyrics ready.”
Like this guy is not aware that his work been terrible.
i hate this song
wow, no wonder this shit sucks. dj khalid is fucking terrible.
SMH Khalil, you nitwit, not Khalid. this dj is actually dope a.f … the other one think hes the best but really suck shit briks
cassie and diddy putting hits on aaliyah on twitter pics and songs
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I would imagine people who genuinely love hiphop and the engineering of music would come to realize and appreciate the genius and modesty of a hiphop producing pioneer of DJ Khalil. Yet I come to find more negativity from a select few individuals who simply log on to their computers, comment and go back to their regular lives. This shit is definitely not for everybody so I clearly don’t expect much. But take my advice and that is to simply try and understand something before you decide to pass judgement.
educate yourselves or just kill yourselves.
man DX is on Enimen’s DICK! Enough is enough, Im not checking this albumm becuz of the overdose of promo yall giving him SMH
cry me a fucking river.
So HE is the one to blame for all the lame Rock beats… smh
hahaha! yeah man
dj Khalil been dope to me since he produce nas tracs… survival was dope just pop ass hook. Khalil dope tho
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just before I saw the receipt which had said $5815, I have faith that my cousin was like actualey taking home money parttime from there computar.. there neighbour has been doing this for under 17 months and resantly cleard the mortgage on there house and purchased a great GMC. Continued>>. WWW WIKI34 COM