GOD DID

For superstitious types, 13 can be a profoundly unlucky number. Thankfully, DJ Khaled is taking no chances with his 13th album, assembling yet another star-studded effort marked by epic blockbuster rap collabs. His pull in the game may be stronger than ever, gathering hip-hop heavyweights and contemporary hitmakers in ways that make his projects feel like events. JAY-Z, Lil Wayne, and Rick Ross unite for the title track, a triumphant victory lap with a John Legend coda. Unlike 2021’s *KHALED KHALED*, which courted greater pop clout via features from Justins Bieber and Timberlake, *GOD DID* finds the We the Best boss more focused on hip-hop and his unofficial role as the genre’s mainstream curatorial maestro, reliably orchestrating seemingly impossible crowd-pleasing outcomes through his behind-the-scenes machinations and industry handshake connections. We the Best familiars Drake and Future make multiple appearances—the former disco-strutting over “STAYING ALIVE” with Lil Baby and the latter in a throwback state of mind for “BEAUTIFUL” with SZA. The lines between drill and trap blur into darkness when Lil Durk, 21 Savage, and Roddy Ricch get aggressive for “KEEP GOING.” In a Khaled first, he secures a long-coveted Eminem feature on a remix of Kanye West’s *JESUS IS KING* standout “Use This Gospel,” effectively reuniting the two GOAT contenders on a track for the first time since 2009’s “Forever.”

DJ Khaled is a savvy curator; too often, that’s all he is. His latest collection of star-studded rap party bangers offers the rare opportunity to isolate what, exactly, he adds to a track.

The 13th DJ Khaled album is dominated by the lead eight-minute title track -- more precisely a four-minute section within it.

One thing is for damn sure: you never forget you’re listening to DJ Khaled. The hip-hop figure’s larger than life stance extends to his music – new album

DJ Khaled’s ‘God Did’ lacks an organized artistic vision, or at least a sense of purpose beyond engaging in attention-grabbing theatrics.