We the Best
| Company type | Studio album |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | June 12, 2007 |
| Founder | DJ Khaled |
| Products | Hip hop music album |
We the Best marks the sophomore studio release by American DJ and producer DJ Khaled, which arrived on June 12, 2007, under the banners of Terror Squad Entertainment and Koch Records. Executive production duties were handled by both Khaled and rapper Fat Joe. The album's production roster features notable names such as The Runners, Drumma Boy, Cool & Dre, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Diaz Brothers, and Jim Jonsin. It includes collaborations with a wide array of prominent artists including T-Pain, Akon, Rick Ross, Flo Rida, Fat Joe, Lil Wayne, Trick Daddy, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Game, Ja Rule, Jadakiss, Paul Wall, Bun B, T.I., and Young Jeezy.
Upon release, We the Best entered the US Billboard 200 chart at position eight and had moved 440,000 units domestically by January 2008. The album was propelled by two main singles: "We Takin' Over", featuring a lineup of T.I., Akon, Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Birdman, and Lil Wayne; and "I'm So Hood", which showcases Rick Ross alongside T-Pain, Trick Daddy, and Plies. Although critical reception was mixed—highlighting some standout tracks balanced against filler songs and Khaled's repetitive vocal tags—the project firmly established DJ Khaled's foothold within the hip-hop industry.
Singles
The lead single from the album, "We Takin' Over", was issued on April 1, 2007. This track brings together American rappers T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Birdman, and Lil Wayne with vocalist/musician Akon. Production was handled by producer Danja.
Released on August 28, 2007, the album's second single "I'm So Hood" features guest appearances from vocalists T-Pain, rappers Trick Daddy and Plies, as well as Rick Ross. The production credits for this track go to the duo known as The Runners.
Additionally, two promotional singles—"I'm From The Ghetto" and "Brown Paper Bag"—were made available in 2007 to support the album.
Critical reception
We the Best garnered a variety of responses from music critics. Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews commended the album for its strong lyricism and high-caliber production contributed by leading rappers and producers but noted that Khaled’s frequent catchphrases detracted somewhat from the listening experience, suggesting that the project served more as a platform for assembling talent than showcasing his personal artistry. Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone remarked that while the beats lacked originality, they were effective due to the impressive roster of featured artists and tracks such as "Hit Them Up" and "Brown Paper Bag," describing them as enjoyable, uncomplicated listens suitable for casual audiences. David Jeffries from AllMusic acknowledged the skilled guest performers but criticized Khaled’s repeated vocal tags and uneven choice of producers, characterizing the album as a "disjointed soundtrack or four-hit mixtape."
Andres Tardio of HipHopDX pointed out that although several songs captured listeners’ attention, others suffered from an excessive number of unfocused guest contributions. Tom Breihan from Pitchfork expressed that after the initial single, the album descended into generic territory, reflecting a broader trend in mainstream rap where artists avoid direct expression. Nathan Slavik at DJBooth praised the production quality and performances on the first two singles but felt that much of the remainder was overextended, anticipating that it would soon be eclipsed by subsequent releases.
Commercial performance
We the Best debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales amounting to 79,000 copies. By January 2008, total sales in the United States had reached 440,000 units.
Track listing
- Notes
- In the Wal-Mart edition "Hit 'Em Up" is omitted from the tracklist.
- "Intro (We the Best)" along with "Bitch I'm from Dade County" exclude Rick Ross vocals in select markets; his vocals appear exclusively on the Best Buy version.
- "187" and "Hit 'Em Up" are not present in digital releases.
- Sample credits
- "We Takin' Over" incorporates a sample from "C.R.E.A.M." by Wu-Tang Clan.
- "Brown Paper Bag" contains elements sampled from "If I Can't Have You" performed by Yvonne Elliman.
- "S" on My Chest" samples "Get Your Shine On" by Birdman.
Personnel
The following credits for We the Best are sourced from AllMusic.
- Robert "Big Briz" Brisbane – engineering
- Ryan Deaunovich – assistant mixing
- Luis Diaz – mixing
- Ben Diehl (Ben Billions) – assistant engineer and mixing assistant
- Jeff Edwards – engineering
- John Franck – video production
- Abel Garibaldi – engineering and programming
- Paul Grosso – creative direction
- Thomas "T" Hatcher – bass guitar
- Terrell Jones – stylist
- Andrew Kelley – art direction and design
- Ian Mereness – Pro Tools technician
- Eddie Montilla – piano
- Regena Ratcliffe – print production
- Leroy Barbie Romans – keyboards
- Douglas Sadler – producer
- Paul Alfonso – SEIR technician
- Gina Victoria – assistant engineer
Weekly charts
Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chart| Chart (2007) | Highest ranking |
|---|
Year-end charts
| Chart (2007) | Ranking |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 | 193 |
| US Top Independent Albums | 11 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 56 |
| Chart (2008) | Ranking |
| US Top Independent Albums | 50 |