BME/G-UNIT CLICK

SCRATCH Growing up in a Palestinian household, what type of music were you hearing?

Dj Khaled I’ve always been hip-hop. I used to breakdance; I was good at suicides. They used to call me Special K. I grew up on Nas, Jay-Z, Pun, Joe, EPMD and KRS-One. New Orleans was growing at that time. I used to work at a record store called Odyssey, where I sold [albums from] B.G., Lil Wayne and Birdman when they was independent. I remember how much they used to sell. I got adjusted to that sound and was like, “Yo, this shit is dope. These niggas is gonna be big.” I used to live in North Carolina, New Orleans, Orlando, then Miami, so I got to experience different sounds. To me, it made me a bigger DJ.

Being the biggest DJ in Miami, you must have a lot of pressure to break new artists.

Dj Khaled I try to represent everybody that I can. You got a little freedom. The rule in radio on most stations is you play two hits and a new record. But it’s gotta be a new record that you know is gonna blow. Make sure you pick the right records or you’re not going to have a job. You’re supposed to support the home team, but it’s hard to please everybody. I always tell every artist, if your record ain’t getting played on the radio, break it in the strip club and on the mixtapes so stations are forced to play it.

Have you experienced getting offered a brown paper bag yet?

Dj Khaled Niggas try to do it all the time, but I won’t take it. Somebody sent a picture one time of a nigga with a pile of money that said, “Yo, play my record.” That’s how creative these guys get. It was the funniest thing in the world.

As a member of Terror Squad, you were caught in the middle of the Fat Joe and 50 Cent beef. If you have issues with an artist, do you still play their records?

Dj Khaled I don’t play no G-Unit records because they disrespected me and Joe. What type of person would want to beef with everybody? I don’t understand what type of life that is. But I don’t see them like that. And I’m everywhere. It’s weird. But if it’s in rotation [at 99 Jamz] I have no control. That’s a computer playing music.

SCRATCH MAGAZINE
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This is only a preview! To find out the full story on DJ Khaled and read the rest of the features, pick up the July/August issue of Scratch, on stands NOW!

earl

Khaled can suck a dick

PsychoLuke

hes just a fuckin hater