DJ Khaled returned in 2019 with Father of Asahd, an album built around family, ambition, faith and some of the biggest names in hip-hop and R&B. Released on May 17, 2019, the project became another major chapter in Khaled’s long-running career as a hitmaking curator and producer.

The album followed the commercial success of Grateful and continued Khaled’s familiar approach of bringing major artists together on large-scale collaborations. This time, however, the project placed even more emphasis on his son Asahd Khaled, who was featured prominently in the album’s visual identity.

Across 15 tracks, Father of Asahd brings together artists including Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Future, Cardi B, 21 Savage, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Big Sean, SZA, Nipsey Hussle, John Legend, Meek Mill, Travis Scott, Post Malone, Justin Bieber, Quavo, Buju Banton, Sizzla, Mavado and many others. Apple Music lists the original album at 15 songs and 54 minutes.

Rather than functioning like a traditional artist album, Father of Asahd is designed as a collection of large collaborations. That formula produces songs aimed at radio, clubs, streaming playlists and summer audiences, while also giving Khaled an opportunity to connect artists who do not normally appear together.

This complete Aswehiphop review covers the Father of Asahd tracklist, featured artists, production, standout songs, commercial performance, critical reception, Grammy impact, our editorial rating and official streaming options.

Pitchfork’s review of Father of Asahd examines Khaled’s guest-heavy approach and highlights songs such as Higher, Wish Wish and Holy Mountain.

Father of Asahd Tracklist

Father of Asahd contains 15 tracks, with almost every song built around multiple guest artists. The album moves between hip-hop, R&B, dancehall and pop while keeping Khaled’s signature collaborative approach at the centre.

1. Holy Mountain (feat. Buju Banton, Sizzla, Mavado & 070 Shake)
2. Wish Wish (feat. Cardi B & 21 Savage)
3. Jealous (feat. Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Big Sean)
4. Just Us (feat. SZA)
5. You Stay (feat. Meek Mill, J Balvin, Lil Baby & Jeremih)
6. Celebrate (feat. Travis Scott & Post Malone)
7. Higher (feat. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend)
8. Won’t Take My Soul (feat. Nas & CeeLo Green)
9. Weather the Storm (feat. Meek Mill & Lil Baby)
10. Big Boy Talk (feat. Jeezy & Rick Ross)
11. Freak N You (feat. Lil Wayne & Gunna)
12. Top Off (feat. JAY-Z, Future & Beyoncé)
13. No Brainer (feat. Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper & Quavo)
14. Thank You
15. Holy Ground (feat. Buju Banton)

About Father of Asahd

Father of Asahd represents another stage in DJ Khaled’s evolution as a curator of major hip-hop and R&B collaborations. Released in May 2019, the album continues the formula that made Khaled famous while placing his family life and his son Asahd at the centre of the project’s identity.

Instead of approaching the album like a traditional rapper, Khaled brings together artists from different corners of music. The result is a 15-track project packed with combinations that would rarely appear on the same album.

That strategy is especially clear on songs such as Holy Mountain, which brings together Buju Banton, Sizzla, Mavado and 070 Shake. Elsewhere, No Brainer connects Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper and Quavo, while Celebrate pairs Travis Scott with Post Malone.

The album also carries more emotional weight on Higher. John Legend and the late Nipsey Hussle deliver the project’s most reflective collaboration, turning the song into an important part of Nipsey’s musical legacy following his death shortly before the album’s release.

Standout Songs From Father of Asahd

With 15 tracks and a huge guest list, there are plenty of records competing for attention. However, several songs stand out because of their commercial appeal, memorable collaborations or emotional importance.

Higher (feat. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend)

Higher is the emotional centrepiece of Father of Asahd. The song brings together Nipsey Hussle and John Legend for a powerful record about ambition, struggle and perseverance.

Its importance became even greater after Nipsey Hussle’s death in March 2019. His performance gives the song a haunting quality, while John Legend’s vocals add a soulful layer that makes the record feel more like a tribute than a conventional Khaled collaboration.

Jealous (feat. Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Big Sean)

Jealous combines three different rap and R&B styles. Chris Brown supplies the melodic element, while Lil Wayne and Big Sean bring their own approaches to the verses.

The song fits Khaled’s preference for large collaborations while remaining accessible enough for mainstream playlists. It is also a good example of how the album blends contemporary R&B with rap.

Wish Wish (feat. Cardi B & 21 Savage)

Wish Wish gives the album a harder trap influence. Cardi B and 21 Savage deliver contrasting performances over energetic production, creating one of the project’s more aggressive records.

The song also works because neither guest feels out of place. Cardi brings her direct delivery, while 21 Savage adds his darker style, giving Khaled another strong combination of artists.

No Brainer (feat. Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper & Quavo)

No Brainer arrived before the album and quickly became one of its best-known songs. The collaboration reunites Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper and Quavo for a polished pop-rap record built for a wide audience.

Its accessible chorus and bright production make it one of the album’s easiest songs to revisit. The track also continues Khaled’s ability to turn a group of very different artists into a commercially focused collaboration.

Holy Mountain (feat. Buju Banton, Sizzla, Mavado & 070 Shake)

Holy Mountain takes the album into a different direction by combining Caribbean dancehall voices with 070 Shake. Buju Banton, Sizzla and Mavado give the song a strong reggae and dancehall identity.

The record demonstrates one of Khaled’s most recognisable strengths: connecting artists from different musical worlds and allowing them to share the same record.

Production & Overall Sound

Father of Asahd is built around DJ Khaled’s greatest strength: bringing different artists together and finding a common sound for them. Instead of handling every song like a traditional solo performance, Khaled creates records where the featured artists become the main attraction.

The album moves between hip-hop, R&B, soul, dancehall and pop. That variety is especially noticeable when comparing songs such as Higher, Wish Wish, Holy Mountain and No Brainer.

The production also gives the album a polished mainstream sound. Large drums, melodic samples, Caribbean influences and radio-friendly arrangements make many of the songs suitable for different audiences and playlists.

Apple Music describes the project as another example of Khaled’s ability to bridge different areas of popular music. That approach is central to the album because the producer’s role is less about performing and more about creating the right combination of artists.

Themes & Meaning of Father of Asahd

The album’s title gives the project a personal dimension. DJ Khaled places his son Asahd at the centre of the album’s identity, continuing the family-focused approach that had already appeared around his previous project, Grateful.

Success is another major theme. Khaled’s collaborations often focus on wealth, ambition, confidence and overcoming obstacles. The message is consistent with the motivational image he has built throughout his career.

However, Higher changes the emotional direction. The song features Nipsey Hussle and John Legend, and its importance increased following Nipsey’s death shortly before the album’s release. Pitchfork identified it as the album’s clear standout.

Commercial Performance & Critical Reception

Father of Asahd performed strongly when it arrived. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with approximately 136,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.

Although it did not reach No. 1, the performance continued DJ Khaled’s run of major charting albums. The project’s extensive guest list also helped several individual songs reach a wide audience.

The album later achieved an even bigger milestone. The RIAA certified Father of Asahd Platinum on May 17, 2020, confirming the project’s lasting commercial success in the United States.

Critical reception was more divided than the commercial response. Reviewers generally recognised Khaled’s ability to assemble major collaborations, but some questioned whether the album offered enough artistic depth beyond its guest appearances.

Even so, several songs received strong praise. Pitchfork specifically singled out Higher as the project’s strongest moment, while noting the album’s continuing tradition of large collaborative records.

Grammy Recognition & The Legacy of Higher

Higher became much more than another collaboration on the album. Featuring Nipsey Hussle and John Legend, the song became one of the most important records in the project and carried additional emotional significance because of Nipsey’s death.

The song later won the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 2020 Grammy Awards. That victory gave Father of Asahd an important place in DJ Khaled’s award history and further strengthened the song’s legacy.

For many listeners, Higher remains the album’s defining record. Its combination of soulful vocals, motivational lyrics and Nipsey Hussle’s final appearance on a major DJ Khaled project gives it a significance that extends beyond the album itself.

Aswehiphop Review

At Aswehiphop, we see Father of Asahd as a strong example of DJ Khaled’s ability to curate major music moments. The album does exactly what longtime listeners expect from him: it brings together artists who rarely share the same record and turns those combinations into accessible collaborations.

The project’s strongest quality is its range. Higher provides emotional depth, Wish Wish delivers trap energy, No Brainer offers mainstream pop appeal, and Holy Mountain gives the album a strong dancehall influence.

Not every collaboration is equally memorable. Because the album relies so heavily on star power, some songs feel more dependent on their guest appearances than on Khaled himself. That is part of the formula, but it can also make the project feel less personal than albums built around a single artist’s voice.

Still, the highlights are significant. The combination of Nipsey Hussle and John Legend on Higher, the reunion of JAY-Z, Future and Beyoncé on Top Off, and the wide range of collaborators across the album give the project considerable replay value.

Ultimately, Father of Asahd succeeds because it understands DJ Khaled’s role in hip-hop. He is the curator who creates the meeting point between major artists, genres and audiences. At its best, that approach produces records that become bigger than the sum of their parts.

Aswehiphop Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.3/5)

Stream Father of Asahd

Listen to the complete Father of Asahd album through the official streaming platforms below.

At Aswehiphop, we build evergreen album guides using official music listings, established industry records and recognised music publications. We combine those sources with editorial analysis to give readers a useful record of an album’s music, commercial performance and cultural impact.

This Father of Asahd review covers the album’s original release, tracklist, major collaborations, production, standout songs, chart performance and Grammy legacy. The page can also be updated when official information or relevant historical records change.

Disclaimer

This article is published for editorial, informational and historical purposes. Album titles, song titles, artwork, artist names, trademarks and other intellectual property belong to their respective owners and rights holders.

The Apple Music and Spotify players are embedded through official streaming services. Aswehiphop does not host or distribute copyrighted audio files. Chart positions, certifications and other commercial information are based on publicly available industry records and may be updated when official sources change.

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