There are certain people one can count on to make good music, and then there are certain people one can count on to make hits. The two aren’t necessarily the same, but when a person crafts good music that is also nearly guaranteed to turn into a hit, it’s a formula for success. It’s that reputation which probably gave DJ Khaled the cojones to call his latest album We The Best Forever – major emphasis on “we,” as he had a minimal part in even the song production, leaving both emcee and producer duties mostly up to his tried-and-true team of hit makers.
The anthems of the album are already known – “Welcome To My Hood” 
took over the airwaves, and just when people began to tire of that, the second single “I’m On One” with Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne came along to remind everybody that Khaled was not playing games. By the time the album was ready to drop, the third single “It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over” with Mary J. Blige, Fabolous, and Jadakiss made its way into radio rotation with its signature “P.S.K. What Does It Mean?” drum pattern and the catchiness one expects from Khaled that makes listeners remember the song.
We The Best Forever’s fourth, yes fourth single, the motivational “Legendary” featuring Chris Brown, Keyshia Cole, and Ne-Yo seems poised to make the same type of impact as the album’s previous singles, despite rappers taking a backseat and singers reigning supreme. Keyshia’s crooning words, “everybody’s gonna fight, and everybody’s gonna fall, but it’s the ones who get up who are always the strongest, I can’t imagine if I never went through nothing, I wouldn’t be a fighter, and I wouldn’t last the longest,” are a direct representation of the work ethic Mr. We The Best exhibits, as he never seems short on hits and definitely moves with key players in the game.
So how do the rest of the tracks stand up to what the masses already know to be successful? Well, this is where We The Best Forever falls short. Content-wise it’s monotonous. Yes, the lineup of emcees is diverse and impressive, yet most of them have a reputation about rapping about a bunch of the same things – the streets, hustling, women, cars, etc. (read: Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Ace Hood, Meek Mill, Vado, Birdman, Akon, etc.). Luckily each emcee’s lyrical style is different enough that the album never feels boring, but if one is looking for variety in subject matter, this isn’t the place. We The Best Forever is about having the flyest women, the hottest cars, pushing the most product, and pretty much making sure everyone knows you’re going to be the best. Forever.
DJ Khaled lives up to his reputation on We The Best Forever, coming through with an all-star lineup of artists and producers (including Lex Luger and Boi-1da), creating high quality Hip Hop poised for chart success, and making sure the final product is street enough to not be viewed as pop. And though anyone who listens to Hip Hop radio already knows the words to almost half of the album, tracks such as “Money” (Ludacris and Young Jeezy over a Lex Luger beat) and “Sleep When I’m Done” (Game, Busta Rhymes, and Cee-Lo over Danja production) will provide enough high quality content to justify purchasing the whole album. At this point listeners are either down with his movement or they aren’t, and while We The Best Forever is a solid piece, it’s not different enough from his previous work to change any minds about him. But with emcees ranging from Jadakiss to B.o.B., there really is a little something on his latest LP to satisfy just about anyone who enjoys mainstream Hip Hop.
Video via OnSmash
are u serious this album is shit uve givin worst reviews to better albums
u gave this album a better review than dj quik book of david, come on!
its a great album but falls short
Same damn features, same damn titles “we the best, I’m so hood, etc”. Shut up you fat sand nigga. Nigga’s nose has it’s own area code.
Garbage, dj khaled how about you take this album and shove it up your ass!!!!
ymcmb
boring ass hiphop. im the best. im from the hood, i sell coke, i have money.
WE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FUCK YES WE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wow gaayyyy as fuck
I really just want Khaled to die already. If he doesn’t write songs or even produce beats, he’s just an exploiter.
Yeah sure ! But who got money to join all those great rappers ??
He planned this big mixtape. And ive read that he produced 2 songs in this album!
DJ Khaled’s existence is one of the worst things about Hip Hop in 2011.
To think I actually rode for this motherfucker in 2005 when he got Beans and Jadakiss on a song together.
Khaled just makes me a G-Unit fan.
nvr been on Khaled fan but I did like his ol’ tracks like Im so hood (remix) and we takin over..Jus like the editorial said, not much content hear but it isn’t pure garbage, there’s some good songs
favorite tracks: Sleep when I’m gone, Legendary, Im on one, Future
my rating: 3/5
Prob the first review ive ever seen where 1 is the most popular rating… Hear that Khaled?
I’m On One = Drake Song
Sleep When I’m Gone = Game Song
Legendary = Chris Brown Song
It Ain’t Over – Mary J. Blige Song
Money = Jeezy Song
Future = Could be for any of the artist on there.
The songs I listed should’ve went on the albums of the artist I listed. Khaled neither produces nor raps. However the album is a decent overall effort, 3 stars.
And the songs I didn’t list weren’t listed simply because their either average or suck.
fucking bad album-1.
Not bad….
He’s not screaming all over the album…
Money, Welcome To My Hood (both versions), Sleep When I’m Gone and I’m Thuggin.
Other than that, it blows.
1 star
ok yall really are just hatin now. This is a solid album. Ive never been a fan of Khaled at all, but really, this isnt Khaleds album. Hes not screaming all over the songs anymore, and he really didnt produce much of the album either.
Get past the name on the CD case and actually listen to the music. Its nothing great but its a decent album for mainstream hip hop fans.
Best tracks: My Life (ft Akon and BoB) and Sleep When Im Gone.
Co-sign. Solid album. Fuck a hater.
he actually co-produced a few songs on here which is waaaaaaaaay more than he has ever done on any previous “albums” he has released.
This album is really bad.
only if singles.. could make the whole album..I’m on one is already plat… and Khaled looking at 50K first week… ruff. Havent heard the whole album tho.
Expected more from Khaled, subpar for sure….2 outta 5
A run of the mill Khaled album. I heard better songs when these artists do their own stuff. I like….2-3 songs. The other? They are just….blah.
FUCKING GARBAGE 1 STAR DJ FAGGOT
2
whatever credibility your reviews had left, is gone. This shouldnt even get a review, then you throw it a 3.5. There’s been a lot of Khaled on this site, despite the fact people into good hip-hop think dude a joke. Hip Hop reviews suck all around these days because for some reason none of yall can resist selling out
You dumb or somethin? An album that includes Weezy, Ross, Drake, TPain, Jeezy, Luda, Jada, Fabolous, Chris Brown, T-Pain, Wale, Big Sean, Tyga, Cory Gunz, Busta, and Twista doesnt deserve a review?
you are the reason I read the comments section on hhdx. cuz there are so many idiots just like you that make for an entertaining read.
i wish there was a -1 rating – HHDX you’re a bunch of sellouts and anyone that still reads this website is crazy – goodbye!
Hi crazy!
I’m no lover of southern beats, but this is a really solid album.
not a good rap album, but up there for mainstreem hip hop, fair decent khaled
Disgusting piece of shit album.Too bad I can’t rate it 0!
This dude can take a legendary rapper and make them look like a studio gangsta. Wack!
Funny how DX overrates embarrassing wack albums and underrates great albums. Get it straight.
I totally agree! They rated Section.80 a 4/5 but gave this shit a 3.5?!
Fucker now you ask why you cant get eminem on a track wtf you suck ass get a fuckin life outside of hiphop you are killing it
how does he release albums when he dont do shit but host them lol
Y DO THEY LET HIM MAKE ALBUMS A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE ON THIS BUT I CANT LISTEN WHEN SOME YELLING OVER THE MUSIC ITS ANNOYING GIVE IT UP DUDE
This album sucks just quit rapping
I give it a 3. Went in with an expectation and got it. The DJ’s in the know, are doing what Khaled did here.. Get the hottest artist out to jump on beats you find, and release a Mixtape, only now the Labels want the mixtape money. Album is not trash, in no way shape or form. Just not mind blowing.. I’d be surprised by Plat status..
Legendary Weapon 3/5. We the Best Forever 3,5/5? WTF? Enough said. This is sad.
That’s what I’m about to say! How the fuck does this piece of shit get an extra half-star than Legendary Weapons??? smh!
waaaack
You know what I just realized?? DJ Khaled really does NOTHING. Like, WHY is this even HIS album? He doesn’t produce! He doesn’t rap! What does he do? Just put his name on it? Ha! That shit is funny man…
I’ve been telling cats that for years. I have yet to see him make a beat in a video.
agree 100%
He’s a DJ. he listens and then he decides if its hit worthy. KhAled is a big time southern DJ as Funk master flex is to the NE. Khaled is the guy who has his finger directly on the pulse of the “mainstream” radio audience. And he has veto power, hes kinda like the president. he can pass bills and veto shit but he also cant make any decisions by him self.
@brandon, first of all I shouldve made it clear that IMO this is a mixtape, a shitty mixtape. Songs been heard, a hype man put them together. Yea they include some big names just like countless VA compilations where you know what to expect. Everybody knew what this shit was about, so no, a lineup doesnt justify a review, especially this review.
And if reading idiots entertains you, and obviously listening to idiots entertains you, then you’re an idiot.
oh, fuck this shit
Amanda Bassa, please stop sucking Khaled’s dick, thank you
This shit is so wack . terrible album
no depth at all . wack beats and wack rhymes
dont waste your time to even listen to this , let alone buy it .
Worst rap album of the year by far .
Balls
This guy knows to hype up his stuff.
Watch is video clip, it has mad hype. lol
Seriously, braggadocios stuff aside, his sound can get in your head and stay there. Can’t blame him for that.
ur maja
who buys this nigga’s shit?
Crappy album
@Yas: As an unbiased journalist, Amanda had to acknowledge the star power on this album, regardless of her own feelings. She’s obviously not sucking Khaled’s dick as you will notice she says the album falls short and is monotonous.
You need to blame mass America who buys this shit. Those are the people who are sucking people like Khaled, Yeezy, Wayne, and Jay’s dicks. The fact is, those rappers put out hits. They may not be hits to you, but to the Recording Industry Association of America, they are.
You can hate mainstream rap and still give a mainstream album a fair review, which she did.
Nice work, Amanda.
……..the worst part is even the media contribute on oppressing independent albums, they give high-quality review to Major albums and dreadful review to independent albums and leave unconstructive criticism on top of that
http://hh-o.blogspot.com/2011/08/major-vs-independent-rappers.html
Trash!!
This album is toilet paper!!!!
this album is audio aids
Lol!!!!Album production cost…maybe over 100k….Quality….shitty
Good
This is the same reviewer that gave Blaq Poet a 3.0! I can understand if you rate this 2.5 because of the guest verses but 3.5 is def overrated.
5 star classic
This album is jank! Check out my tunes
wat up
Sounds exactly like his last album, but a couple good songs on it.
I disagree, I actually liked it!
Best songs: Legendary, Sleep When I’m Gone, and Future.
2/5 – 1. Future, 2. Legendary, 3. Sleep When I’m Gone & 4. I’m On One are pretty good…
*In DJ Khaled’s little girl voice* “We the Best!”
this is dat feel gud shit,nat hardcore stuff & in dat regard nat bad