Record Review - DJ Khaled: Victory

Listening to a DJ Khaled album is like drinking a glass of Kool-Aid with your hot fudge sundae – a tremendous rush followed by a headache. Though his albums’ yelling and lowest common denominator lyricism eventually grate, no one has a greater talent for assembling and coaxing hits out of the South’s most popular rappers. Classic Khaled bangers like “Out Here Grindin’” and “Brown Paper Bag” bang harder than anyone else’s, and there are two anthemic singles of that caliber on his latest CD, Victory, “All I Do is Win” and “Fed Up.” But after that you’d better have the Excedrin ready. If the numerous Rick Ross features don’t do you in, the juvenile Jim Jones double entendres or verses from such underwhelming Khaled protégées as Ace Hood and Rum will. The latter MC claims to be “offended by all these ringtone rappers,” which is ironic considering that the album contains an ad for Khaled ringtones. No matter; Victory satisfies, but please consume it in moderation. 3 out of 5 stars.