Father of Asahd

Father of Asahd
Studio album by DJ Khaled
Released	May 17, 2019 (2019-05-17)
Genre	Hip hop pop
Length	54:25
Label	We the Best Epic
Producer	Khaled Khaled (also exec.) 808-Ray Aaron Bow Ben Billions Beyoncé Cool & Dre DaviDior DJ 360 Frank Dukes Joe Zarrillo Louis Bell LVM Major Seven Nic Nac Sir Nolan Nova Wav Poo Bear Streetrunner Swede Tarik Azzouz Tay Keith Teddy Walton Rashad Smith
DJ Khaled chronology
Grateful (2017) Father of Asahd (2019) Khaled Khaled (2020)
Singles from Father of Asahd
"Top Off" Released: March 2, 2018 "No Brainer" Released: July 27, 2018 "Higher" Released: May 17, 2019 "Just Us" Released: May 17, 2019 "You Stay" Released: May 17, 2019

Father of Asahd is the eleventh studio album by American hip hop producer DJ Khaled, released on May 17, 2019, through We the Best Music and Epic Records. It features the singles "Top Off" and "No Brainer" along with collaborations with Cardi B, 21 Savage and Meek Mill. On May 16, DJ Khaled revealed the track listing and features, as well as that the music videos for "Higher", "Just Us", "Celebrate", "Jealous" and "Holy Mountain" would be released throughout the day of May 17, followed by the video for "You Stay" on May 18, and "Wish Wish" and "Weather the Storm" on May 20. DJ Khaled scored his third career Grammy nomination with "Higher" which won the Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 62nd Grammy Awards.

Background

DJ Khaled announced the title in March 2018 upon releasing the lead single, "Top Off". A year later, in March 2019, he announced the release date, in the meantime promoting the album extensively on his social media accounts. He also posted a trailer for the album. DJ Khaled has also teased numerous collaborations on his social media, which, along with Future, Jay-Z and Beyoncé on "Top Off" and Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper and Quavo on "No Brainer", include J Balvin, Cardi B, Meek Mill, Post Malone, Travis Scott, Chief Keef, Bryson Tiller, and 2 Chainz. In April 2019, TMZ reported that "Higher" featuring Nipsey Hussle and John Legend would appear on the album. DJ Khaled, Nipsey Hussle, and John Legend shot the music video before Nipsey's death on March 31, 2019.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	59/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Exclaim	7/10
HipHopDX	2.2/5
NME
Pitchfork	5.4/10
Rolling Stone

Father of Asahd received mixed reviews among critics. On Metacritic which assigns a rating of up to 100, the album received an average of 59, indicating "Mixed or average reviews" based on 7 critics.

Andy Kellman of AllMusic gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5 and also noted in his review on the album by saying "Although instant, maximum commercial impact is no doubt the primary objective, the album does come across as more considered than the average Khaled LP."

Commercial performance

Father of Asahd debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 with 136,000 album-equivalent units, with 34,000 copies as pure album sales in its first week. In the second week, the album remained at number two on the chart, earning an additional 58,000 album-equivalent units. In its third week, the album dropped to number three on the chart, earning 39,000 more units. In its fourth week, the album dropped to number eight on the chart, earning 31,000 more units, bringing its four-week total to 264,000 album-equivalent units. On May 17, 2020, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 1,000,000 units in the United States.

Controversy

On June 5, 2019, sources reported DJ Khaled was fuming at his label after Father of Asahd failed to debut at the top of the Billboard 200. He reportedly blamed his label chiefs for not understanding streaming services and bundle deals, in connection with an estimated 100,000 downloads of his album that were sold through a bundle deal with an energy drink that weren't included in his sales by Billboard. Father of Asahd debuted behind rapper Tyler, the Creator's fifth studio album, Igor.

On June 6, DJ Khaled posted a now-deleted video on his Instagram page that many believe was aimed at Tyler, the Creator after his album beat out Father of Asahd for the number one spot on the Billboard charts. In the video, Khaled stated, "Here's the thing, I make albums so people can play it. And you actually hear it. You know, driving your car you hear another car playing it. Go to the barber shop, you hear them playing it. You know, turn the radio on, and you hear them playing it. It's playing everywhere - it's called great music. It's called albums that you actually hear the songs. Not no mysterious shit, and you never hear it." Many people took the "mysterious shit" line to be about Tyler, who responded on Twitter when a follower told him, "Wow doin pretty good for some mysterious shit." Tyler told the follower, "yeah i am, IGOR OUT NOW."

On June 10, sources reported DJ Khaled was planning a "monster lawsuit" against Billboard, alleging the organization unfairly disqualified more than 100,000 sales of Father of Asahd from the No. 1 spot.

Track listing

Credits adapted from Tidal.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Holy Mountain" (featuring Buju Banton, Sizzla, Mavado and 070 Shake)	Khaled Khaled Mark Myrie Miguel Collins David Brooks Danielle Balbuena Omar Walker Denisia Andrews Brittany Coney Henry Lawes Billy Rowe	DJ Khaled Major Seven	4:54
2.	"Wish Wish" (featuring Cardi B and 21 Savage)	Khaled Belcalis Almanzar Shayaa Abraham-Joseph Jordan Thorpe Brytavious Chambers	DJ Khaled Tay Keith	3:22
3.	"Jealous" (featuring Chris Brown, Lil Wayne and Big Sean)	Khaled Christopher Brown Dwayne Carter Sean Anderson Chambers Andrews Coney Kingsley Gardner Diana King Andrew Saidenberg Roger Ball Malcolm Duncan Stephen Ferrone Alan Gorrie Owen McIntyre James Stewart	DJ Khaled Tay Keith Nova Wav[b]	4:15
4.	"Just Us" (featuring SZA)	Khaled Solána Rowe Andrews Coney André Benjamin Antwan Patton David Sheats	DJ Khaled LVM[b]	3:41
5.	"You Stay" (featuring Meek Mill, J Balvin, Lil Baby and Jeremih)	Khaled Robert Williams Jose Balvin Dominique Jones Jeremy Felton Andrews Coney Ralph Middlebrooks Clarence Satchell William Beck Leroy Bonner Marshall Jones Marvin Pierce James Williams Sergio George Linda Caballero Shirley Marte	DJ Khaled Ben Billions[b] Rashad Smith[b]	4:35
6.	"Celebrate" (featuring Travis Scott and Post Malone)	Khaled Jacques Webster Austin Post Travis Walton Adam Feeney	DJ Khaled Teddy Walton Frank Dukes Louis Bell[c] Aaron Bow[c]	3:26
7.	"Higher" (featuring Nipsey Hussle and John Legend)	Khaled Ermias Asghedom John Stephens Kevin Cossom HM Henry Davis	DJ Khaled Streetrunner Tarik Azzouz	2:56
8.	"Won't Take My Soul" (featuring Nas and CeeLo Green)	Khaled Nasir Jones Thomas Callaway Cossom Azzouz Roberto Curti Warwar Leah Marie Nathaniel Levingston	DJ Khaled Streetrunner Azzouz Swede[b]	4:19
9.	"Weather the Storm" (featuring Meek Mill and Lil Baby)	Khaled Williams Jones Warwar Azzouz Alec Costandinos Michel Jouveaux	DJ Khaled Streetrunner Azzouz	2:33
10.	"Big Boy Talk" (featuring Jeezy and Rick Ross)	Khaled Jay Jenkins William Roberts Andre Lyon Marcello Valenzano Rayshon Cobbs, Jr. Pete Jackson	DJ Khaled Cool & Dre 808-Ray	2:45
11.	"Freak n You" (featuring Lil Wayne and Gunna)	Khaled Carter Sergio Kitchens Joseph Zarrillo Omed Rozbayani Donald DeGrate, Jr.	DJ Khaled Joe Zarrillo Ben Billions[a] DJ 360[a]	3:06
12.	"Top Off" (featuring Jay-Z, Future and Beyoncé)	Khaled Shawn Carter Nayvadius Wilburn Beyoncé Knowles-Carter Zarrillo Andrews Coney	Joe Zarrillo DJ Khaled[b] Beyoncé[b]	3:50
13.	"No Brainer" (featuring Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper and Quavo)	Khaled Justin Bieber Chancelor Bennett Quavious Marshall Jason Boyd Nolan Lambrozza Nicholas Balding David Park Melvin Riley	DJ Khaled Nic Nac DaviDior Poo Bear[a] Sir Nolan[b]	4:20
14.	"Thank You" (featuring Big Sean)	Khaled Anderson Warwar Azzouz Rodney Jerkins Kelly Price	DJ Khaled Streetrunner Azzouz	3:06
15.	"Holy Ground" (featuring Buju Banton)	Khaled Myrie Charles Fox Norman Gimbel	DJ Khaled Ben Billions[b] LVM[b]	3:17
Total length:				54:25

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies a co-producer
• ^{^[b]} signifies a miscellaneous producer
• ^{^[c]} signifies an uncredited additional producer
• Beyoncé is credited as "B" on the track "Top Off"

Sample credits

• "Holy Mountain" contains a sample from "One Spliff a Day", written by Henry Lawes, and Billy Rowe, as performed by Billy Boyo.
• "Just Us" contain a sample from "Ms. Jackson", written by André Benjamin, Antwan Patton, and David Sheats, as performed by OutKast.
• "Freak n You" contain a sample from "Freek'n You", written by Donald DeGrate, Jr., as performed by Jodeci.
• "Holy Ground" contains a sample from "To Zion", written by Charles Fox, and Norman Gimbel, performed by Lauryn Hill.

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.

Musicians

• Maxime Breton – guitar (track 14)
• Leah Marie – background vocals (track 14)
• Nicky Burt – background vocals (track 15)
• Adina Myrie – background vocals (track 15)

Technical

• Juan "AyoJuan" Peña – recording (all tracks)
• Oscar Moncada – recording (tracks 1, 15)
• Vychalle Singh – recording (track 1)
• Justus Arison – recording (track 1)
• Mac Akkitson – recording (track 2)
• Patrizio Pigliapoco – recording (track 3)
• Hector Castro – recording (track 4)
• Rich Harris – recording (track 4)
• David Kim – recording (track 5)
• Anthony Cruz – recording (tracks 5, 9)
• Louis Bell – recording (track 6)
• Joe Zarrillo – recording (track 7)
• Vincent Mayfield – recording (track 7)
• Garnett "G" Flynn – recording (track 7)
• Thomas "Tomcat" Bennett – recording (track 10)
• Manny Galvez – recording (track 11), engineering assistant (track 3), recording (track 11)
• Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton – recording (track 12)
• Jeff Lane – recording (track 13)
• Brendan Morawaski – recording (track 13)
• Josh Gudwin – recording (track 13)
• Manny Marroquin – mixing (all tracks)
• Chris Galland – mixing (all tracks)
• Lu Diaz – mixing (track 1)
• Chris Athens – mastering (all tracks)
• OP! – engineering (track 5)
• Chris "TEK" O'Ryan – engineering (track 13)
• Ashley Jackson – engineering assistant (track 3)
• Carol Dexter – engineering assistant (track 3)
• Gregg Rominiecki – engineering assistant (track 3), recording (track 14)
• Omar Loya – engineering assistant (track 3)
• Robin Florent – engineering assistant (all tracks)
• Scott Desmarais – engineering assistant (all tracks)
• Jeremie Inhaber – engineering assistant (tracks 1–11, 14, 15)
• Hotae Alexander Jang – vocal engineering (track 7)
• Khaled Khaled – vocal production (track 1–4, 6–11, 14, 15)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2019)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)	7
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)	11
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)	10
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)	30
Canadian Albums (Billboard)	1
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)	7
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)	6
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)	23
French Albums (SNEP)	28
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)	23
Irish Albums (IRMA)	14
Italian Albums (FIMI)	44
Latvian Albums (LAIPA)	14
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)	13
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)	7
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)	5
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)	9
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)	12
UK Albums (OCC)	6
UK R&B Albums (OCC)	2
US Billboard 200	2
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	1

Year-end charts

Chart (2019)	Position
US Billboard 200	64
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	35

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)	Gold	20,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)	Gold	40,000‡
United States (RIAA)	Platinum	1,000,000‡
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.