DJ Khalil Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records
By Insanul Ahmed | Mar 2, 2011 | 2:28 pm | Permalink
Photo by Tiffany May.
It took Dr. Dre nearly a decade and a string of leaks to settle on his first single for his long-awaited album, Detox. However, despite “Kush” being a song by one of hip-hop’s greatest producers ever, the club banger was actually produced by Khalil-Abdul Rahman, better known as DJ Khalil. Born in Seattle but raised in L.A., the 37-year-old California-based Khalil is a protege of Dr. Dre and a member of the band, The New Royales.
Khalil’s name really started buzzing last year after producing four songs on Eminem’s Grammy Award-winning album, Recovery. But Khalil has been in the game longer than you might think and he’s produced bangers for rappers like Nas, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Game, and Clipse. We got down with Khalil to find out which other beats he made for Detox, but instead ended up talking about whose verse G-Unit deleted for fear of beef, and how he helped craft the sonic blueprint for Eminem’s Recovery as well as Drake’s So Far Gone.
As told to Insanul Ahmed (@Incilin)
JA March 2nd, 2011 at 08:17 PM
These interviews with the producers are really dope. Awesome insight and information. Khalil seems like a good humble dude so props to him for getting to where he's at.
dmfslimm March 3rd, 2011 at 12:40 PM
one again thank you complex. my fave beat from him is "da shit" by game.
eebubble March 3rd, 2011 at 12:48 PM
these behind the record joints are dope, i read all of these nice and calm and never lost my focus once, its dope that the music is right there too so you let it play as you read, keep it going.
BG March 3rd, 2011 at 02:33 PM
Yeah keep these coming, great reads / listen
youKnow March 3rd, 2011 at 02:43 PM
Awesome stuff. Maybe we could get more insight on how he actually made the beats, but the piece is great as is.
ralph March 3rd, 2011 at 04:48 PM
Khalil is top 5
Loogz March 4th, 2011 at 04:22 PM
Real good feature. learned even more bout this super talented guy. DJ Khalil definitely one of the top producers in music right now. Im striving to be just as good a producer as him, if not better.
madtwiinz March 5th, 2011 at 08:09 PM
YO really dope interview. Dj Khalil is the truth! super talented and all around class act. Big up man. Keep doing your thing.
TRGGR March 23rd, 2011 at 08:48 PM
How does Complex do an interview with Khalil and not mention one track dude did with Chace Infinite when they rolled as Self Scientific?? Wow.
Curt Mcgirt April 16th, 2011 at 01:43 AM
THANK YOU!!! How can Self Scietific not be metioned in the bio? Chace Infinite is a dope ass rapper. If you dont think so listen to his mixtape, "I would've killed this" with Khalil beats for other artists like Someting like a big deal (clipse) Cukoo (Slaughterhouse) Still Kill (50 Cent) etc.
Slick Savage December 14th, 2011 at 07:35 PM
I agree, I was very disapointed to not see any of Khalils work with Self Scientific or Strong Arm Steady mentioned... You guys kinda suck for that.
Crosswords January 11th, 2012 at 10:14 PM
Without a doubt my favorite producer right now, well done.