We the Best explained

We the Best
Type:Album
Artist:DJ Khaled
Cover:We the Best.jpg
Alt:A man wearing a black t-shirt, sunglasses and various jewellery around his neck and wrists.
Recorded:2006–2007
Studio:Terror Squad Studios The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S., North Miami, Florida, Dade
Genre:Hip hop
Length:65:49
Prev Title:Listennn... the Album
Prev Year:2006
Next Title:We Global
Next Year:2008

We the Best is the second studio album by American disc jockey and record producer DJ Khaled. It was released on June 12, 2007, by Terror Squad Entertainment and Koch Records. Khaled, alongside fellow American rapper Fat Joe, had collectively handled as the executive producers on this album. The album was produced by The Runners, Drumma Boy, Cool & Dre, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Diaz Brothers, and Jim Jonsin; as well as this record features guest appearances from T-Pain, Akon, Rick Ross, Brisco, Flo Rida, Fat Joe, Cool & Dre, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, Plies, Birdman, Lil’ Wayne, Trick Daddy, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Trina, Paul Wall, Bun B, T.I., and Young Jeezy, among others.

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 record debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200. As of January 2008, the album has sold 440,000 copies in the United States. 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.

Singles

The album's lead single, called "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 August 28, 2007. The song features guests vocals from American recording artist T-Pain, alongside fellow American rappers Trick Daddy, Plies, and Rick Ross (whom recently featured on the track and its previous single, "We Takin' Over"). The song was produced by The Runners.

The album promotional singles features two of the album's tracks—"I'm From The Ghetto" and "Brown Paper Bag"—released sometime in 2007.[1]

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." Rolling Stones Christian Hoard said that Khaled's beats weren't anything innovative but were 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." AllMusic editor David Jeffries 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."

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. Pitchfork contributor Tom Breihan 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." Nathan Slavik of DJBooth gave credit to the first two singles for having great production and solid artists performing on them but felt the rest of the track listing can get overbloated, saying "We the Best will hit at the charts, but as soon as the next major release comes around it will be forgotten."

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 8 on the US Billboard 200, selling 79,000 copies in its first week.[2] As of January 2008, the album has sold 440,000 copies in the United States.[3]

Track listing

Notes
Sample credits

Personnel

Credits for We the Best adapted from AllMusic.[4]

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2007)Position
US Billboard 200[5] 193
US Top Independent Albums[6] 11
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[7] 56
Chart (2008)Position
US Top Independent Albums[8] 50

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Terror Squad Presents DJ Khaled – Im from the Ghetto / Brown Paper Bag (2007, Vinyl). Discogs.
  2. Toby Keith's 'Big Dog' Heads Straight To No. 1. Hasty. Katie. Billboard. June 20, 2007. September 10, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20231016184649/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/toby-keiths-big-dog-heads-straight-to-no-1-1051425/. October 16, 2023. live.
  3. Diep. Eric. DJ Khaled's Complete Discography By The Numbers - Page 3 of 8 - XXL. XXL. Townsquare Media. October 21, 2013. October 22, 2013.
  4. Web site: We the Best - DJ Khaled | Credits. AllMusic. May 15, 2015.
  5. 2007 Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums. Billboard. May 14, 2015. subscription. https://web.archive.org/web/20150614072559/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-billboard-200-albums. June 14, 2015. live.
  6. 2007 Year-End Charts: Independent Albums. Billboard. May 14, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150726120320/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-independent-albums. July 26, 2015. dead.
  7. 2007 Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Billboard. May 14, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150719031625/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-r-b-hip-hop-albums. July 19, 2015. dead.
  8. 2008 Year-End Charts: Independent Albums. Billboard. May 14, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150705181120/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-independent-albums. July 5, 2015. dead.