In a dark room located in the downstairs area of Los Angeles’ Key Club, members of the press are beginning to move upstairs. The room was just bustling with energy; it is now quieting as cameras shut off. Few are left. DJ Khaled is still present, ready for an interview with HipHopDX. He’s standing, still beaming with excitement from his recent talk with Run DMC’s Rev Run, a man he’s idolized and respected for years. Wearing a grey Polo sweat suit and white sneakers, he shares an image he’s taken with Rev Run, making sure it gets posted on social media networks before we begin. Still beaming, he smiles as he sees the Rev posing next to him.
It’s that sort of excitement that has allowed Khaled to succeed in this culture, enthusiasm heard often in his adlibs. His various albums have birthed singles like “All I Do Is Win” and “I’m So Hood,” chart toppers that dominated radio play when they were released. His latest hit, the Drake, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne assisted “I’m On One,” was nominated for a Grammy Award and it has allowed his streak of hit collaboration-heavy songs to continue. It’s that excitement that also has others asking to work with him, including RZA.
As the interview gets started, we are respectfully interrupted by a brief greeting from RZA, who is also present for BMI’s “How I Wrote That Song” event. “We gotta do [a song],” RZA says, shaking Khaled’s hand. “I want to jump on one.” Khaled is also poised to work with RZA. “Absolutely, absolutely,” he replies. “I’m like 80% into my project now [Kiss the Ring] but I think I’ve got a crazy idea for you.” Khaled would later share that he and RZA have a long-standing connection. “When I was a kid, [RZA’s cousin and Sunz of Man member] Prodigal [Sunn] used to give my beats to RZA to let him hear my stuff,” he explained. As RZA walked away, the interview began.
HipHopDX: Your excitement for the culture is quite evident. Your respect for the culture is there as well. So acknowledging the history that Rev Run and RZA have, what does being a part of BMI’s “How I Wrote This Song” with them mean to you?
DJ Khaled: That’s RZA from Wu Tang! For him to say that he wants to do some stuff with me is a blessing. He was a major influence on me as a producer and as an artist. He was a visionary. He was ahead of his time. He was so left field with his beats but they were so amazing. They’re timeless! You could listen to them now, from “Triumph” to “C.R.E.A.M.” and it’s just classic. It’s a blessing, man.
DX: Going to the tracks that we’re discussing today, particularly with Rev Run and RZA, what are some of the cuts that resonate with you the most from their discographies?
DJ Khaled: On Rev Run’s situation, I would say “Peter Piper” is my favorite record of all time, actually. As a deejay, I used to love to cut it up and I still love to cut it up. The production, the breaks, from the intro, to [rhyming as Run], “Not bad meaning bad but bad meaning good!” You know, that’s not a regular song. That’s a real special song. I’m excited. I might even ask him a few questions!
DX: …And in terms of RZA?
DJ Khaled: RZA, man, there’s too many. I love RZA’s vision. From back in the day, he has classics, tons of records. To come back and make a record [2011’s “New Day” 
] on [Jay-Z & Kanye West’s] Watch the Throne? It had a real ill sound. It made me excited because that’s the shit I’m talking about! That’s what I’m trying to tell you! That shit’s crazy. I don’t know what type of instrument that was in that sample, but I bump that shit in the car all the time.
DX: There’s also a lot to be said about the songs you’ve got to discuss today.
DJ Khaled: There are so many I love of mine, because I feel like I’m making great music and timeless music. But, each record I’ve made has something special that was special to me when I made it. Now, they’re all special moments but “We Takin’ Over” was a special moment because it changed my life. I’ve gotta always remember that. That moment was special.
THIS GUY IS DELUSIONAL HE DOESN’T MAKE GREAT TIMELESS MUSIC HE JUST GOES THROUGH HIS PHONE BOOK CALLS UP THE SAME SUSPECTS AND SAYS MAKE ME A HIT SONG.
HE DOESNT MAKE THE BEATS OR WRITE THE LYRICS
HIS FORMULA IS GETTING OLD
AND HIS A ARAB TERRORIST WHO EXPLOITES THE BLACK CULTURE
hip hop is universal you ignorant asstwat. black culture and hip hop are are not synonymous, sure it was nurtured and risen in the african american ethnic diaspora but it isnt limited to a race, nation or dimwitted twatbags like you for saying ignorant shit. i dont endorse what khaled does because i dont think hes advancing hip hop in anyway by his shuckin’ and jivin’, stage performing wannabe rapper ass, i could give a fuck less. but you and people like you are fucking dipshits for rhetorical fecal matter expounding of your incoherent arrogance towards the culture of hip hop.
@ My Father, DJ Khaled exploits Hip Hop so he can live out his “boss” or “Hip Hop Mogul” fantasy. As was stated before, he makes no beats, writes no hooks or verses, I don’t even know if he can scratch or if he has any Dj’ing techniques. He is one of the many infiltrators or “posers” in Hip Hop. I still can’t figure out why so-called legends or veterans in the game tolerate him and those alike.
this shit is breaking my heart, every day i read about a different legend working with these wack dudes and i dont understand why
i feel u man..same here
$
money
Apart of being a legend is helping the newer artist. These older heads don’t hate some of these new artist/producer like us the fans do. Its just a fact and its the same in most occupations.
Yup. My heart skips a beat every time I see shit like that >_
here’s the difference: legends can be open-minded about who they workin with. some of you wack niggas are not.
RZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RZA BOBBY DIGITAL
dj kalad poop but RZA a legend wouldnt mind hearing RZA on any record
I agree but just like nas and prodigy they feel like they have to reach out to the younger generation and they don’t want to be labled a hater. The ym and mmg fans are good at that. That’s why I think is mysonne is a real nigga. He said fuck lil b, fuck xxl and fuck anyone else who co signs and support the wack shit. And didn’t give a fuck if a million yadigs or yessirs called him a hater. That’s the problem some of these vets need to have the balls enough to speak up and say enough is enough and speak what’s on their minds about what these youngsters are doing to the culture.
SO WHAT IF NAS AND PRODIGY ACTUALLY LIKE ALL THE ARTISTS THAT THEY WORK WITH?? IS THAT TOO FAR-FETCHED?? THEY ONLY HAVE TO LIKE WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO LIKE??
Khaled bin Abdul Khaled aint even from the hood He grew up in Orlando Florida in the burbs and went to a posh high school His a fraud like his bumchm William
Rza is a Classic Nigga
Interesting article!!
p.s.
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All Rev Run does is sit at home and fund his kids mistakes.
U MAD LIL’ ONE? LOTTA PARENTS DO THAT. EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES. U HAVE SUBMITTED A COMMENT FAIL.
Yo sh*t face,you forgot my fries!! Stop hatin on da Rev & get a life.
We The Best!!!!!!
p.s.
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@Negro thats the problem. Their not doing this shit because they like these artist. Their trying to get new fans by putting these niggas on. Looking for respect from a generation that could careless about them. Like I said ym fans Will say cory ripped p, Tyga ripped nas we all know this aint true but they ain’t giving nas or prodigy any kind respect fuck these lil bastards. What do you think is gonna happen with this rza/khaled shit, ughhh rza does all the work and khaled yells out we the best. Than the fans like yessir, Yadig and yourself give khaled all the props and say rza is waged up. If I were these vets I would say fuck these niggas and they fans.
Washed up my bad typo