DJ Khaled - Grateful

Grateful rises as a living encyclopedia of 2017's mainstream rap, where DJ Khaled uses his son Asahd as the narrative thread to orchestrate an assembly of stars that transforms the album into a collaborative monument.

A familial and spiritual opening with Sizzla and Beyoncé

The album opens with (Intro) I'm so Grateful, a track that immediately establishes the familial and spiritual dimension of the project through the presence of Sizzla, whose voice adds a reggae/dancehall contrast to the rest of the songs. The record does more than just offer a thematic introduction: it follows up with Shining (feat. Beyoncé & JAŸ-Z), where the duo constitutes one of the most prestigious featurings in the producer's career, delivering major pop-rap that immediately anchors Grateful within the mainstream.

The trap centerpiece featuring Travis Scott and Rick Ross

Rick Ross' presence grounds the production in a dark and luxurious aesthetic, while Travis Scott brings his signature melodic and spatial flair that redefines then the mainstream trap standard.

A grateful closing of the project by his son Asahd

The album closes with Asahd Talk (Thank You Asahd), a final track that functions more as a personal thank-you note than a traditional song. Credited as the executive producer of the album, his son Asahd Khaled is present right on the cover and supervises every track: according to the father, when the boy laughs and smiles, those are smash hits; but when he thinks deeply, it's serious recording with substance.

A double platinum-certified album that cements DJ Khaled's legacy

Certified double platinum by the RIAA in January 2022 for over two million equivalent units in the United States, Grateful confirms DJ Khaled's status as the master conductor of collaborative rap. Certified gold back in July 2017 and then platinum the following August, it is indeed the artist's best career start on this chart. While the exceptional density of collaborations (all twenty-two tracks feature a guest) can sometimes create listening fatigue, and the lack of solo tracks weighs on artistic coherence, Grateful remains a landmark work for its ability to bring together a constellation of artists who define the musical landscape of 2017.

Technical specifications

- Release: June 23, 2017 - Record label: Epic - Album length: 22 (1 h 24 min) - Opening / Closing tracks: (Intro) I'm so Grateful / Asahd Talk (Thank You Asahd) - Guests: Sizzla, Beyoncé, JAŸ-Z, Rihanna, Bryson Tiller, Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne, Travis Scott, Rick Ross, Big Sean …