DJ Khaled Recalls Jay Z's Words That Changed His Life

DJ Khaled is opening up about a pivotal encounter that forever changed his life.

In the ever-evolving world of music, influential figures often cross paths, leaving a profound impact on one another. The renowned music producer recently opened up about a transformative moment courtesy of the legendary Jay Z. 

The words exchanged between these music titans resonated deeply with the DJ, shaping his perspective and propelling his journey to success. Recalling the profound remarks bestowed upon him by none other than the iconic rapper, the father-of-two admitted to experiencing a significant shift in his perspective. 

He realized that his identity was no longer defined by his status or streaming numbers but by his family. Following the birth of his son Asahd, the artist underwent a profound transformation and remembered Jay Z, whose words accurately predicted the transformative impact fatherhood would have on him.

During an interview with Variety, DJ Khaled opened up about his children's profound impact on his life. "It's all for them," he affirmed, adding, "everything — the house we're living in, the cars we drive, the watches, the music …." The 47-year-old went on to share the Roc Nation founder's advice, stating:

"Jay-Z told me, 'Wait till you have a kid — that's when life really starts.' And as soon as my kids were born, my life changed. Not just these blessings, but also my mentality. Money doesn't define success. Money doesn't define being a mogul. To me, true success is being happy." 

The record executive crafted his definition of "mogul, " which resonates deeply with his journey. To him, a mogul " broke down every barrier to living their dream, and accomplished their goal even when the door was closed on them, and people said it's not possible."

In addition to his CEO responsibilities, DJ Khaled has developed a devoted passion for golf. Embracing the sport with disciplined dedication, he hits the course daily, weather permitting. 

While staying in shape is certainly a motivation, the hype man's dedication to golf extends beyond personal fitness. He sees the sport as a valuable lesson for his children, teaching them the importance of perseverance and continuous effort, whether on the basketball court or in life's challenges.

Despite his iconic catchphrase, "All I do is win," the "Pitch Perfect 3" guest star pointed out that he tells his kids that success encompasses more than just triumphing in competitions. In his words:

"We want to bring home that trophy, but happiness, health, family — those are real wins. The accolades — or having a room full of awards — of course, we want them, but it doesn't define us."

The "Spies in Disguise" voice actor had kept his fans on their toes, eagerly anticipating the release of his highly anticipated 12th studio album, "Khaled Khaled," throughout the summer of 2020.

At the time, an official release date had not been announced, but Khaled was diligently working on two massive records to include on the album: "Popstar" and "Greece," featuring the renowned Drake. 

These collaborations continued the long-standing tradition of the duo joining forces. Finally, the much-awaited moment arrived on April 30, 2021, as the actor unleashed "Khaled Khaled," carefully curated to the world. 

The Blast noted that the album had an impressive debut, garnering 93,000 units in its first week. Of this, 14,000 units were in pure sales, while the album accumulated a staggering 106.87 million on-demand streams. 

The news of "Khaled Khaled" reaching the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart left the "Victory" artist emotionally overwhelmed, as he shared tears of joy on his Instagram feed. 

Expressing gratitude, he noted, "I cried many nights. Tears of JOY and Pain are making this album. Everyone's beautiful words, texts, and messages touched my heart. God is Great! THANK YOU! THE LIGHT ?" In addition to collaborations with Drake, Khaled brought together a star-studded lineup of artists, like Jay Z, Nas, H.E.R., Cardi B, and Megan Thee Stallion. 

The surprise collaboration with Cardi B was revealed just hours before the album's release, adding her presence to the track "Big Paper" and bringing the total number of songs on the album to 14.