DJ Khaled: Born in the Crescent City, Made in the 305

Born in the Crescent City, Made in the 305

Khaled Mohammed Khaled was born on November 26, 1975, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Palestinian immigrant parents. He didn't stay long — his family eventually settled in Orlando and then Miami, where Khaled would become one of the most recognizable figures in popular music. But New Orleans was first, and there's something about the city's DNA — that instinct for celebration, that belief that every moment deserves a soundtrack — that shows up in everything DJ Khaled has built.

In Miami, Khaled started as a radio personality on 99 Jamz in the late 1990s, spinning records and building relationships with every major artist in hip-hop and R&B. He had an ear for talent and a gift for putting the right people in the same room — or on the same track. His transition from radio host to producer to brand was seamless, because DJ Khaled understood something fundamental: in music, the person who brings everyone together is just as important as the person behind the microphone.

We the Best

Khaled's discography is a who's who of modern music. His albums — We the Best, Victory, Major Key, Grateful, Father of Asahd — feature virtually every major artist of the past two decades. He won his first Grammy in 2019 for "Higher." His catchphrases — "We the best!" "Another one!" "They don't want us to win!" — became part of the American vernacular. He built We the Best Music Group into a legitimate record label and media empire.

He expanded into memoir writing with The Keys, acted in films, designed furniture, and became one of the most visible ambassadors for positivity in popular culture. DJ Khaled was born in New Orleans, and you can hear it in his philosophy: life is a celebration, every song should feel like a party, and if you're not having the best time, you're doing it wrong.