We the Best is the second studio album by Miami-based disc jockey and fellow Terror Squad's member DJ Khaled. It was released on June 12, 2007, by Terror Squad Entertainment, distributed by Koch Records. DJ Khaled alongside a fellow rapper Fat Joe and Allah, collectively handled as the executive producers on this album. The album was produced by Cool & Dre, Jim Jonsin, The Diaz Brothers and The Runners; as well as the guest appearances from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Trina, Paul Wall and Bun B, among others.
It was supported by two singles; "We Takin' Over" featuring T.I., Akon, Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Birdman and Lil Wayne, and the other Rick Ross-featured track "I'm So Hood" alongside T-Pain, Trick Daddy and Plies.
We the Best received a mixed reception from critics, who found some of the tracks enjoyable and engaging, but felt it was over-bloated with lesser tracks and Khaled's persistent ad-libbing throughout the album. The album debuted at number 8 on the US Billboard 200. As of January 2008, the album has sold 440,000 copies in the United States.
Singles
The album's first single, "We Takin' Over" was released on April 1, 2007. The song features guest vocals from American rappers T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Birdman and Lil Wayne, alongside the musician Akon. The song was produced by Danja.
The album's second single, "I'm So Hood" was released on . The song features guests vocals from American recording artist T-Pain, alongside rappers Trick Daddy, Plies and Rick Ross; whom recently featured on the track "We Takin' Over". The song was produced by the production duo The Runners.
Reception
Critical reception
We the Best received a generally mixed reception from music critics. Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews praised the album for showcasing great lyricism and production from some of the best rappers and producers working at the time but found Khaled's repeated trademark phrases annoying, concluding with: "Other than that though this album is good - hell it's even summer banger ride in your Jeep with it 'til October good. Just don't fool yourself into thinking that Khaled had anything to do with it other than putting the right people together in the right place at the right time."[6] Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone said that Khaled's beats weren't anything innovative but we're used well thanks to a huge list of guest artists and tracks like "Hit Them Up" and "Brown Paper Bag" that he credited for being "big, dumb pleasures, just begging to blast from your SUV."[7] David Jeffries of AllMusic also praised the album for collecting a lot of capable guest artists to deliver great lyricism but found some of Khaled's catchphrases and geographical jumping through his producers as the album's shortcomings, concluding that, "Much more frustrating than a failure, We the Best earns a slight thumbs up if you think of it as a disjointed soundtrack or four-hit mixtape."[1]
Andres Tardio of HipHopDX commented on the various tracks throughout the album, saying that some of them can grab the attention of the listeners but others will feel tiring with the overabundance of guest artists and their lack of focus in the lyrics.[4] Tom Breihan of Pitchfork Media said that after the first single, the album starts to sound rote and generic with tracks that deliver more swagger-rap and less thought-provoking substance, concluding that "We the Best, it turns out, is indicative of one of the major problems with mainstream rap lately: too many rappers seem unwilling to drop their defenses and speak plainly."[5]
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 8 on the US Billboard 200, selling 79,000 copies in its first week.[8] As of January 2008, the album has sold 440,000 copies in the United States.[9]
Track listing
| 1. |
"Intro (We the Best)" (featuring Rick Ross) | | DJ Khaled |
1:57 |
| 2. |
"The Movement (Skit)" (featuring K. Foxx) | Kim "K. Foxx" Jefferson | |
0:22 |
| 3. |
"We Takin' Over" (featuring Akon, T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Birdman and Lil Wayne) | | Danja |
4:24 |
| 4. |
"Brown Paper Bag" (featuring Dré, Young Jeezy, Juelz Santana, Fat Joe, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne) | | Cool & Dre |
4:57 |
| 5. |
"I'm So Hood" (featuring T-Pain, Trick Daddy, Rick Ross and Plies) | | The Runners |
4:15 |
| 6. |
"Before the Solution" (featuring Beanie Sigel and Pooh Bear) | | DJ Khaled |
4:29 |
| 7. |
"I'm from the Ghetto" (featuring Dré, The Game, Jadakiss and Trick Daddy) | | Cool & Dre |
5:06 |
| 8. |
"Hit 'Em Up" (featuring Bun B and Paul Wall) | | The Runners |
3:20 |
| 9. |
"S" on My Chest" (featuring Birdman and Lil Wayne) | | Kane Beatz |
4:10 |
| 10. |
"Bitch I'm from Dade County" (featuring Dré, Trick Daddy, Trina, Rick Ross, Brisco, Flo Rida and C-Ride) | | The Diaz Brothers |
5:48 |
| 11. |
"The Originators" (featuring Bone Thugs-n-Harmony) | | Cool & Dre |
6:18 |
| 12. |
"New York is Back" (featuring Ja Rule, Fat Joe and Jadakiss) | | Cool & Dre |
5:54 |
| 12. |
"I'm So Hood (Remix)" (featuring Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Fat Joe, Birdman, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne) | | The Runners |
5:42 |
- Notes
- On the Wal-Mart edition, the track "Hit 'Em Up" was being removed from the track listing on the album.
- "Intro (We The Best)" and "**** I'm from Dade County" both do not included the vocals from Rick Ross in some markets, only included on the Best Buy edition.
- Sample credits
- "We Takin' Over" contains a sample of "C.R.E.A.M." performed by Wu-Tang Clan.
- "Brown Paper Bag" contains a sample of "If I Can't Have You" performed by Yvonne Elliman.
- "S" on My Chest" contains a sample of "Get Your Shine On" performed by Birdman.
Personnel
Credits for We the Best adapted from AllMusic.[10]
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
| Chart (2007) |
Position |
| US Billboard 200[15] |
193 |
| US Top Independent Albums[16] |
11 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[17] |
56 |
| Chart (2008) |
Position |
| US Top Independent Albums[18] |
50 |
|
References
- 1 2 Jeffries, David. "We the Best - DJ Khaled". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
- ↑ Slavik, Nathan (June 18, 2007). "DJ Khaled - We The Best". DJBooth. The DJBooth LLC. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ↑ Matos, Michaelangelo (June 15, 2007). "We the Best". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- 1 2 Tardio, Andres (June 11, 2007). "DJ Khaled - We The Best". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- 1 2 Breihan, Tom (June 28, 2007). "DJ Khaled: We the Best". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
- 1 2 Juon, Steve 'Flash' (June 19, 2007). "DJ Khaled :: We the Best :: Koch Records". RapReviews. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- 1 2 Hoard, Christian (May 31, 2007). "We the Best : DJ Khaled : Review". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on December 11, 2008. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ↑ Hasty, Katie (June 20, 2007). "Toby Keith's 'Big Dog' Heads Straight To No. 1". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
- ↑ Diep, Eric (October 21, 2013). "DJ Khaled's Complete Discography By The Numbers - Page 3 of 8 - XXL". XXL. Townsquare Media. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
- ↑ "We the Best - DJ Khaled | Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
- ↑ "DJ Khaled – Chart history" Billboard 200 for DJ Khaled. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
- ↑ "DJ Khaled – Chart history" Billboard Independent Albums for DJ Khaled. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
- ↑ "DJ Khaled – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for DJ Khaled. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
- ↑ "DJ Khaled – Chart history" Billboard Top Rap Albums for DJ Khaled. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
- ↑ "2007 Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
- ↑ "2007 Year-End Charts: Independent Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
- ↑ "2007 Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
- ↑ "2008 Year-End Charts: Independent Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
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