God Did

Jay-Z’s Billionaire Line About Him, Kanye West, Rihanna, And LeBron James On ‘God Did’ Recalls A ‘XXL’ Cover

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Getty Image / Kevin Mazur

DJ Khaled‘s new album, God Did, has hip-hop heads talking. One of the highlights of the album is its title track, on which Jay-Z raps for four straight minutes.

On a particular line, Jay recalls acquiring billionaire status, and how some of his collaborators quickly received the coveted title after.

“Nobody touched a billi until Hov did,” Jay raps. “How many billionaires can come from Hov crib? I count three / Me, Ye, and Rih / ‘Bron’s a Roc boy, so four technically.”

Jay was crowned hip-hop’s first billionaire in 2019, largely due to his extensive catalog, as well as his investments into companies like D’usse. Kanye West officially became a billionaire about a year later, largely in part to his Yeezy fashion collection. The following year, Rihanna became a billionaire, thanks to her Fenty Beauty line, as well as her Savage X Fenty lingerie and underwear collection. Lebron James acquired billionaire status this past June, thanks to his nearly two-decade spanning basketball career, as well as partnerships with brands like AT&T and Nike.

It seems that this billionaire status was manifested 17 years ago, when Jay, West, and James covered the August 2005 issue of XXL. Next to them was Foxy Brown, as Rihanna had only just stepped onto the scene with her debut single, “Pon De Replay,” that summer.

Music journalist Elliott Wilson shared an image of the cover on Instagram today.

Shortly after, he shared an image of a fan-made cover with Rihanna’s face photoshopped over Brown’s.

Check out “God Did” above.

God Did is out now via We The Best and Epic Records. Stream it here.

DJ Khaled, Future, And Lil Baby Celebrate Their ‘Big Time’ Accomplishments In A Tropical Video

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The talk of DJ Khaled’s new album God Did might be the title track and its outstanding Jay-Z feature, but the Miami superproducer isn’t about to let the rest of his latest project languish. He strikes while the iron’s still white hot with the video for “Big Time” featuring Atlanta’s finest, Future and Lil Baby.

The video opens with a short interlude that might be intended to be comedic — but with DJ Khaled, who really knows — that sees Khaled soaking in a bubble bath surrounded by scantily clad beauties. One fans him with a palm frond, another feeds him grapes, and yet another pops out for the apparent sole purpose of removing a serving tray cover when he demands his butler bring him a towel.

Once the video gets started, it bears all the hallmarks of a DJ Khaled original. Future, Khaled, and Lil Baby all roam the immaculately manicured lawn of a beachside villa while being attended to by the aforementioned beauties. A helicopter buzzes overhead, and yes, products are placed; Khaled shows off his Theragun, and a bottle of Luc Belaire gets its own hero shot alongside the shapely models as they lounge by the pool (Rick Ross, oddly enough, does not cameo along with his liquor). Big time, indeed.

Watch DJ Khaled’s “Big Time” video featuring Future and Lil Baby above.

God Did is out now on We The Best / Epic Records. Get it here.

Jay-Z Quells Rumors About His And Meek Mill’s Relationship And Explains They Could ‘Never Beef’

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Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz

Hours after the release of DJ Khaled’s new album God Did, #HOVDID is trending on Twitter as rap fans marvel at Jay-Z’s four-minute verse on the album’s title track. Firmly re-establishing the 30-year veteran as rap’s GOAT, the verse finds Jay in top form, rattling off his billionaire accomplishments, expressing his astonishment at not just surviving but thriving as a Black man in America, and flexing his work in social justice.

He also clears the air regarding his standing with his friend and frequent collaborator Meek Mill. Earlier this year, after Meek expressed discontent with music industry standards, from fiddling with first-week sales numbers to issuing opaque contracts to wrest ownership of music away from young artists, the Philadelphia rapper parted ways with Jay’s Roc Nation management company, prompting speculation that a rift had formed between them. Meek’s comments also had fans wondering about his standing with MMG label founder Rick Ross, who denied that there was any friction between the two artists.

Jay’s new verse may put those rumors to bed for good as he clarifies, “Me and Meek could never beef,” and explains why: “I freed that n**** from a whole bid.” This refers to Jay’s assistance in securing an end to Meek’s incarceration for a parole violation in 2018. After having Meek’s original arrest revisited and his conviction thrown out, the two later partnered on a number of social justice initiatives to help other victims of the carceral justice system such as REFORM Alliance.

Check out “God Did” below.

Meek Mill is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Jay-Z’s ‘God Did’ Verse Has Rap Fans Re-Affirming His GOAT Status

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Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz

As improbable as it may sound, it’s impossible to overstate Jay-Z’s impact on rap music and hip-hop culture. No matter how much praise fans heap on him, it’ll never be enough to really capture how truly important he’s been to the culture’s growth over the past 20 years. Yet, every so often, he returns with a reminder, giving fans another reason to re-affirm his greatness and declare him one of rap’s Greatest Of All Time.

The latest is Jay’s four-minute verse on DJ Khaled’s new album God Did. In the title song, which also features Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, and John Legend, Jay-Z reiterates all of his accomplishments, from reaching billionaire status to launching the careers of even more billionaires (Kanye West and Rihanna) behind him to touring the world after surviving the rough-and-tumble hallways of the Marcy Projects in Brooklyn. He even boasts about his efforts in social justice, claiming his REFORM Alliance lawyers are willing to work pro bono based on his stature.

Listeners are taking his messaging to heart, taking the opportunity to praise Jay with comparisons to LeBron James, calling the verse his greatest ever, and calling him the embodiment of Black excellence, even 30 years into his career. Naturally, many are already clamoring for him to record and release a new album ASAP. Should that be the ultimate outcome, may we respectfully suggest that DJ Khaled play executive producer on it? The track record’s immaculate.

Kanye West Thanked Eminem For Their DJ Khaled Collaboration Back In 2020

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Kanye West has never shied away from this faith throughout his career, turning a plea to God to guide him into a hit back in 2004 with “Jesus Walks.” His walk with his deity reached its peak in 2019 when he released his first gospel album Jesus Is King, with songs like “Follow God,” “Everything We Need,” and “Use This Gospel.” Three years later, “Use This Gospel,” which originally featured Kenny G and Clipse, received a remixed version featuring Eminem and production by Dr. Dre on DJ Khaled’s 13th studio album God Did. For those in the know, it had actually been in the works since 2020.

In a September 2020 tweet, the Donda artist thanked Slim Shady for his contributions. “@Eminem THANK YOU FOR RAPPING ON THE DR DRE REMIX OF USE THIS GOSPEL I HAVW ALWAYS LOVED AND RESPECTED YOU AND IM HONORED TO HAVE YOU BLESS THIS SONG … ITS ALSO NORTH WEST’S FAVORITE KANYE WEST SONG OF ALL TIME.”

Eminem has never been known to profess his faith as loudly as Ye, but the “Use This Gospel” remix finds the “Rap God” artist doing just that. “Today’s the day that I put all of my trust and faith in You, Father / Please let this hate make me stronger,” the Detroit rapper proclaims.

Listen to the “Use This Gospel” remix above.

God Did is out now via Epic. Listen to it here.

Eminem Claims His Faith In God On DJ Khaled And Kanye West’s ‘Use This Gospel’ Remix On ‘God Did’

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It is not every day that one hears Eminem rap on a gospel song, but, as one can imagine DJ Khaled would say, “Khaled did!” On the producer’s 13th studio album God Did, he includes a remix to Kanye West’s 2019 record “Use This Gospel” from Jesus Is King.

The track is remixed, carrying an air of early 2000s Eminem nostalgia with harder-hitting drums and slight rock influence, which makes sense as Dr. Dre produced it. Slim Shady raps about not knowing if he can hold on and putting his faith in “the Father.” It’s his usual speed raps and flow switches, but definitely, a surprising effort as he makes several religious references.

The original “Use This Gospel” featured Kenny G and Clipse, made up of Pusha T and No Malice. In September 2020, Ye tweeted his gratitude to Eminem for rapping on the record. “@Eminem THANK YOU FOR RAPPING ON THE DR DRE REMIX OF USE THIS GOSPEL I HAVW ALWAYS LOVED AND RESPECTED YOU AND IM HONORED TO HAVE YOU BLESS THIS SONG … ITS ALSO NORTH WEST’S FAVORITE KANYE WEST SONG OF ALL TIME.”

God Did released on Friday (August 26) and boasts a star-studded tracklist made up of Jay-Z, Drake, Future, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Sza, Latto, and many more. Notably, the title track features a four-minute Hov verse plus the usual impressive performances from Lil Wayne and Rick Ross.

Check out the “Use This Gospel” remix above.

God Did is out now via Epic. Listen to it here.

Jay-Z Raps For Four Minutes On DJ Khaled’s ‘God Did’ Title Track And Listeners Are Loving The Verse

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It is always a moment when Jay-Z steps into the booth, but there was much hysteria leading into his appearance on DJ Khaled’s 13th studio album God Did. As the day approached, industry heads shared their commentary on the verse, with one even causing Young Guru to step out and tell them to wait for everyone to hear it. Well, the record is here; Hov raps for four straight minutes on the “God Did,” also featuring Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, and John Legend. Despite the all-star cast, listeners have much to say about the Jay-Z verse.

The Roc Nation leader has a lot to say, specifically how Roc is responsible for four billionaires in Kanye West, Rihanna, and himself, with special inclusion of LeBron James because he’s a “Roc Boy.” He addressed a multitude of things, flexing his vintage sharp wordplay and shape-shifting flows. Fans had much praise for the verse overall.

It has been a quiet year for Jay-Z on the music tip aside from his appearance on “Neck & Wrist” from Pusha T’s It’s Almost Dry. In 2021, he collaborated with Drake on “Love All” from Certified Lover Boy, Ye on “Jail” from Donda, Khaled, Nas, and James Fauntleroy on “Sorry Not Sorry” and the late Nipsey Hussle on “What It Feels Like” from Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album. Even with a slowed output, he has built up enough of a catalog to move at his own pace, and he is confident no one can compete with him in a Verzuz battle if it came down to it.

Check out “God Did” and the reactions above.

God Did is out now via Epic. Listen to it here.

Here’s What To Know Ahead Of DJ Khaled’s New Album, ‘God Did’

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DJ Khaled Matte Collection 2022
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Last month, DJ Khaled announced his 13th studio album, God Did, via a dramatic video. “They didn’t believe in us,” the clip’s tagline read. And of course, in the weeks since, DJ Khaled slowly rolled a ton of more information on the album, like the tracklist, the official release date, and a seriously insane list of guest appearances. So with the album arriving at midnight on Friday, August 26th, here’s a primer on God Did.

Here’s What To Know Ahead Of DJ Khaled New Album, ‘God Did’

The first single from God Did, the follow-up to 2021’s Khaled Khaled, was “Staying Alive,” featuring Drake and Lil Baby. The song quickly reached the No. 5 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and proved to be the hit that put Drake above the Beatles for the record of the most top-five songs on the Hot 100 of all time… all thanks to DJ Khaled. The song was in the works since 2021 when DJ Khaled teased it at his own birthday party.

The cover art for God Did features a close-up of DJ Khaled shedding a single tear:

DJ Khaled God did
DJ Khaled

But the real highlight of God Did is the bonkers tracklist. DJ Khaled has somehow managed to get anybody and everybody on the album. Drake is not only on “Staying Alive,” but also on the album’s opening track, “No Secret.” Future and SZA are featured on “Beautiful,” Gunna and Roddy Rich are on “Fam Good, We Good,” Kanye West and Eminem hop on the Dr. Dre- and The ICU-produced “Use This Gospel (Remix),” and the title track features a hefty stable of stars in Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend, and Fridayy.

Speaking of Jay-Z, Khaled said on record that the Jay-Z verse on God Did is the best of his career. “I’m telling you, if there was a greatest hits of Jay-Z verses, it’s on there. That I’ll tell you, for a fact,” he told Complex.

If that’s not enough to stoke the fire for the release, there are also features on God Did from Latto, City Girls, Lil Durk, Quavo, Takeoff, 21 Savage, Nardo Wick, Kodak Black, Travis Scott, Don Tolliver, Skillibeng, Buju Banton, Capleton, Bounty Killer, Sizzla, Juice WRLD, Jadakiss, and Vory.

God Did is out 8/26 via We The Best/Epic/Roc Nation. Pre-order it here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

DJ Khaled’s ‘God Did’ Tracklist Includes Eminem, Drake, Kanye West, Jay-Z, And Pretty Much Every Other Rapper

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Drake DJ Khaled 2017 Billboard Music Awards
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DJ Khaled’s albums are always star-studded and the upcoming God Did will be no different: Khaled unveiled the LP’s tracklist today ahead of its release this Friday (August 26) and it’s absolutely packed.

All told, the tracklist has features from Eminem, Kanye West, Drake, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Future, Lil Baby, Travis Scott, Lil Durk, 21 Savage, Juice WRLD, Gunna, Don Toliver, Rick Ross, Kodak Black, Jadakiss, Roddy Ricch, City Girls, Quavo, Takeoff, SZA, Latto, and others, as well as production from Dr. Dre on a track.

Sharing the tracklist on social media, Khaled wrote, “The holy scripture. This is a gift to the world. This is a gift to the fans. This is a gift for us. GOD DID.”

Check out the full tracklist below.

1. “No Secret” Feat. Drake
2. “God Did” Feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend, and Fridayy
3. “Use This Gospel (Remix)” Feat. Kanye West and Eminem (produced by Dr. Dre and The ICU)
4. “Big Time” Feat. Future and Lil Baby
5. “Keep Going” Feat. Lil Durk, 21 Savage and Roddy Ricch
6. “Party All The Time” Feat. Quavo and Takeoff
7. “Staying Alive” Feat. Drake and Lil Baby
8. “Beautiful” Feat. Future and SZA
9. “It Ain’t Safe” Feat. Nardo Wick and Kodak Black
10. “Let’s Pray” Feat. Don Toliver and Travis Scott
11. “Fam Good, We Good” Feat. Gunna and Roddy Ricch
12. “Bills Paid” Feat. Latto and City Girls
13. “Way Past Luck” Feat. 21 Savage
14. “These Streets Know My Name” Feat. Skillibeng, Buju Banton, Capleton, Bounty Killer, and Sizzla
15. “Juice WRLD Did” Feat. Juice WRLD
16. “Jadakiss Interlude” Feat. Jadakiss
17. “Asahd And Aalam Cloth Talk”
18. “Grateful” Feat. Vory

God Did is out 8/26 via We The Best/Epic/Roc Nation. Pre-order it here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

DJ Khaled Says A Jay-Z Verse On His Album ‘God Did’ Is Part Of The ‘Greatest Hits Of Jay-Z Verses’

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Ahead of his upcoming album, God Did, DJ Khaled spoke with Speedy Morman of Complex, where he discussed the album and its collaborators. During the interview, he teased a collaboration with Jay-Z. He revealed that he’s played the track for a few people, many of which have supposedly said it’s Jay’s best verse of his career.

“The rumors are true,” he said. “A lot of rumors are not true, but these are true. I’m a Jay fan, you’re a Jay fan? So everybody has their favorite verse of Jay. I’ll let y’all decide that. I’m telling you, if there was a greatest hits of Jay-Z verses, it’s on there. That I’ll tell you, for a fact. The rumors are true, that’s for a fact.”

Khaled said when God Did was almost complete, he was determined to get a Jay verse. He shared that he played Jay the album and the rapper had nothing but praise for his project.

“Immediately, when he heard it, he started spitting the bars,” Khaled said. “I can’t make this up, there were a lot of people in the room that day. Ask ’em all. I played him my whole album and after I played him my album, he pulled my to the side and said it’s my best album. And I saw the smile on his face that was so genuine and he was so happy for me.”

Check out the full interview above.

God Did is out 8/26 via We The Best and Epic Records. Pre-save it here.