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{{about|a 2007 DJ Khaled album|a record label founded in 2008|We the Best Music Group}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
<!-- We the Best Music Group is not mentioned in this article. -->
{{Infobox album
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| alt = A man wearing a black t-shirt, sunglasses and various jewellery around his neck and wrists.
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| studio = [[Terror Squad Entertainment|Terror Squad Studios]] [[The Bronx]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[North Miami, Florida]], [[Dade City, Florida|Dade]]
| genre = [[Hip-hop]]
| length = 65:49
| label = {{hlist|[[Terror Squad Entertainment|Terror Squad]]|[[MNRK Music Group|Koch]]}}
| producer = {{hlist|[[DJ Khaled]]|[[Cool & Dre]]|[[Jim Jonsin]]|Diaz Brothers}}
| prev_title = [[Listennn... the Album]]
| prev_year = 2006
| next_title = [[We Global]]
| next_year = 2008
| misc = {{Singles
| name = We the Best
| type = studio
| single1 = [[We Takin' Over]]
| single1date = March 27, 2007
| single2 = [[I'm So Hood]]
| single2date = August 28, 2007
}}
}}
'''''We
Upon its release, ''We the Best'' received a mixed reception from critics, who found some of the tracks enjoyable and engaging, but felt it was over-bloated with lesser tracks and Khaled's persistent ad-libbing throughout the album. The record debuted at number eight on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]. As of January 2008, the album has sold 440,000 copies in the United States. It was supported by two [[Single (music)|single]]s: "[[We Takin' Over]]" (featuring [[T.I.]], [[Akon]], [[Rick Ross]], [[Fat Joe]], [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]], and [[Lil Wayne]]), and the other Rick Ross-featured track, "[[I'm So Hood]]", alongside [[T-Pain]], [[Trick Daddy]], and [[Plies (rapper)|Plies]].
==Singles==
The album's [[Single (music)|lead single]], called "[[We Takin' Over]]" was released on April 1, 2007. The song features guest vocals from American rappers [[T.I.]], [[Rick Ross]], [[Fat Joe]], [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]], and [[Lil Wayne]], alongside the musician [[Akon]]. The song was produced by [[Danja (musician)|Danja]].
The album's second single, "[[I'm So Hood]]" was released on August 28, 2007. The song features guest vocals from American recording artist [[T-Pain]], alongside fellow American rappers [[Trick Daddy]], [[Plies (rapper)|Plies]], and Rick Ross (whom recently featured on the track and its previous single, "We Takin' Over"). The song was produced by [[The Runners (production duo)|The Runners]].
The album{{'s}} promotional singles features two of the album's tracks—"I'm From The Ghetto" and "Brown Paper Bag"—in which has been released sometime in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/DJ-Khaled-Im-From-The-Ghetto-Brown-Paper-Bag/release/10774031|title = Terror Squad Presents DJ Khaled – Im from the Ghetto / Brown Paper Bag (2007, Vinyl)|website = [[Discogs]]}}</ref>
==Reception==
===Critical reception===
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="AM">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/we-the-best-mw0000583677|title=We the Best - DJ Khaled|last=Jeffries|first=David|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=August 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150823052835/https://www.allmusic.com/album/we-the-best-mw0000583677|archive-date=August 23, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev2 = DJBooth
| rev2Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="DJ">{{cite web|url=https://djbooth.net/features/2007-06-18-dj-khaled-we-the-best-album-review|title=DJ Khaled - We The Best|last=Slavik|first=Nathan|website=DJBooth|date=June 18, 2007|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520175423/https://djbooth.net/features/2007-06-18-dj-khaled-we-the-best-album-review/|archive-date=May 20, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3Score = C<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20042666,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901083255/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20042666,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 1, 2007|title=We the Best|last=Matos|first=Michaelangelo|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|publisher=[[Time Inc.]]|date=June 15, 2007|access-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[HipHopDX]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="HHDX">{{cite magazine|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.807/title.dj-khaled-we-the-best|title=DJ Khaled - We The Best|last=Tardio|first=Andres|magazine=[[HipHopDX]]|publisher=Cheri Media Group|date=June 11, 2007|access-date=July 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026222324/https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.807/title.dj-khaled-we-the-best|archive-date=October 26, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev5Score = 4.8/10<ref name="PF">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10359-we-the-best/|title=DJ Khaled: We the Best|last=Breihan|first=Tom|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=June 28, 2007|access-date=May 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121135116/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10359-we-the-best/|archive-date=January 21, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''RapReviews''
| rev6Score = 7.5/10<ref name="RR">{{cite web|url=https://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2007_06_wethebest.html|title=DJ Khaled :: We the Best :: Koch Records|last=Juon|first=Steve 'Flash'|website=RapReviews|date=June 19, 2007|access-date=July 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730201538/https://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2007_06_wethebest.html|archive-date=July 30, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev7Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="RS">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/14898806/review/14952976/we_the_best|title=We the Best : DJ Khaled : Review|last=Hoard|first=Christian|author-link=Christian Hoard|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|publisher=[[Jann Wenner|Wenner Media]]|date=May 31, 2007|access-date=July 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211172444/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/14898806/review/14952976/we_the_best|archive-date=December 11, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}
''We the Best'' received a generally mixed reception from [[Music journalism|music critics]]. Steve 'Flash' Juon of ''RapReviews'' praised the album for showcasing great lyricism and production from some of the best rappers and producers working at the time but found Khaled's repeated trademark phrases annoying, concluding with: "Other than that though this album is good - hell it's even summer banger ride in your Jeep with it 'til October good. Just don't fool yourself into thinking that Khaled had anything to do with it other than putting the right people together in the right place at the right time."<ref name="RR"/> ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s [[Christian Hoard]] said that Khaled's beats weren't anything innovative but were used well thanks to a huge list of guest artists and tracks like "Hit Them Up" and "Brown Paper Bag" that he credited for being "big, dumb pleasures, just begging to blast from your SUV."<ref name="RS"/> [[AllMusic]] editor David Jeffries also praised the album for collecting a lot of capable guest artists to deliver great lyricism but found some of Khaled's catchphrases and geographical jumping through his producers as the album's shortcomings, concluding that, "Much more frustrating than a failure, ''We the Best'' earns a slight thumbs up if you think of it as a disjointed soundtrack or four-hit mixtape."<ref name="AM"/>
Andres Tardio of ''[[HipHopDX]]'' commented on the various tracks throughout the album, saying that some of them can grab the attention of the listeners but others will feel tiring with the overabundance of guest artists and their lack of focus in the lyrics.<ref name="HHDX"/> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' contributor Tom Breihan said that after the first single, the album starts to sound rote and generic with tracks that deliver more swagger-rap and less thought-provoking substance, concluding that "''We the Best'', it turns out, is indicative of one of the major problems with mainstream rap lately: too many rappers seem unwilling to drop their defenses and speak plainly."<ref name="PF"/> Nathan Slavik of DJBooth gave credit to the first two singles for having great production and solid artists performing on them but felt the rest of the track listing can get overbloated, saying "''We the Best'' will hit at the charts, but as soon as the next major release comes around it will be forgotten."<ref name="DJ"/>
===Commercial performance===
The album debuted at number 8 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], selling 79,000 copies in its first week.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/toby-keiths-big-dog-heads-straight-to-no-1-1051425/|title=Toby Keith's 'Big Dog' Heads Straight To No. 1|last=Hasty|first=Katie|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=June 20, 2007|access-date=September 10, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016184649/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/toby-keiths-big-dog-heads-straight-to-no-1-1051425/|archive-date=October 16, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> As of January 2008, the album has sold 440,000 copies in the United States.<ref name="XXL">{{cite magazine|last=Diep|first=Eric|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/10/dj-khaleds-complete-discography-by-the-numbers/3/|title=DJ Khaled's Complete Discography By The Numbers - Page 3 of 8 - XXL|magazine=[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]|publisher=[[Townsquare Media]]|date=October 21, 2013|access-date=October 22, 2013}}</ref>
==Track listing==
{{track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Intro (We the Best)
| writer1 = {{flat list|
*[[DJ Khaled|Khaled Khaled]]
*[[Rick Ross|William Roberts II]]}}
| extra1 = [[DJ Khaled]]
| length1 = 1:57
| note1 = featuring [[Rick Ross]]
| title2 = The Movement (Skit)
| writer2 = Kim "K. Foxx" Jefferson
| length2 = 0:22
| note2 = featuring K. Foxx
| title3 = [[We Takin' Over]]
| writer3 = {{flat list|
*Khaled
*[[T.I.|Clifford Harris, Jr.]]
*[[Akon|Aliaune Thiam]]
*Roberts II
*[[Fat Joe|Joseph Cartagena]]
*[[Birdman (rapper)|Bryan Williams]]
*[[Lil Wayne|Dwayne Carter, Jr.]]
*[[Danja (musician)|Floyd Nathaniel Hills]]}}
| extra3 = Khaled
| length3 = 4:24
| note3 = featuring [[Akon]], [[T.I.]], Rick Ross, [[Fat Joe]], [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]], and [[Lil Wayne]]
| title4 = Brown Paper Bag
| writer4 = {{flat list|
*Khaled
*[[Jeezy|Jay Jenkins]]
*[[Juelz Santana|LaRon James]]
*Roberts II
*Carter, Jr.
*Cartagena
*[[Cool & Dre|Marcello Valenzano]]
*[[Cool & Dre|Andre Lyon]]}}
| extra4 = [[Cool & Dre]]
| length4 = 4:57
| note4 = featuring [[Cool & Dre|Dre]], [[Jeezy|Young Jeezy]], [[Juelz Santana]], Fat Joe, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne
| title5 = [[I'm So Hood]]
| writer5 = {{flat list|
*Khaled
*[[T-Pain|Faheem Najm]]
*[[Trick Daddy|Maurice Young]]
*Roberts II
*[[Plies (rapper)|Algernod Washington]]}}
| extra5 = Khaled
| length5 = 4:15
| note5 = featuring [[T-Pain]], [[Trick Daddy]], Rick Ross, and [[Plies (rapper)|Plies]]
| title6 = Before the Solution
| writer6 = {{flat list|
*Khaled
*[[Beanie Sigel|Dwight Grant]]
*[[Poo Bear|Jason "Pooh Bear" Boyd]]}}
| extra6 = Khaled
| length6 = 4:29
| note6 = featuring [[Beanie Sigel]] and [[Poo Bear|Pooh Bear]]
| title7 = I'm from the Ghetto
| writer7 = {{flat list|
*Khaled
*[[The Game (rapper)|Jayceon Taylor]]
*[[Jadakiss|Jason Phillips]]
*Young
*Valenzano
*Lyon}}
| extra7 = {{flat list|
*Cool & Dre
*Khaled}}
| length7 = 5:06
| note7 = featuring Dre, [[The Game (rapper)|The Game]], [[Jadakiss]], and Trick Daddy
| title9 = Hit 'Em Up
| writer9 = {{flat list|
*Khaled
*[[Bun B|Bernard Freeman]]
*[[Paul Wall|Paul Slayton]]
*Harr
*Jackson}}
| extra9 = Khaled
| length9 = 3:20
| note9 = featuring [[Bun B]] and [[Paul Wall]]
| title10 = "S" on My Chest
| writer10 = {{flat list|
*Khaled
*Williams
*Carter, Jr.
*[[Kane Beatz|Daniel Johnson]]}}
| extra10 = {{flat list|
*[[Kane Beatz]]
*Khaled}}
| length10 = 4:10
| note10 = featuring Birdman and Lil Wayne
| title11 = Bitch I'm from Dade County
| writer11 = {{flat list|
*Khaled
*Lyon
*Young
*[[Trina|Katrina Taylor]]
*Roberts II
*[[Brisco (rapper)|British Mitchell]]
*[[Flo Rida|Tramar Dillard]]
*Christian "C-Ride" Coates}}
| extra11 = Khaled
| length11 = 5:48
| note11 = featuring Dre, Trick Daddy, [[Trina]], Rick Ross, [[Brisco (rapper)|Brisco]], [[Flo Rida]], and C-Ride
| title12 = The Originators
| writer12 = {{flat list|
*Khaled
*[[Bone Thugs-n-Harmony|Anthony Henderson]]
*[[Bone Thugs-n-Harmony|Byron McCane]]
*[[Bone Thugs-n-Harmony|Charles Scruggs]]
*[[Bone Thugs-n-Harmony|Stanley Howse]]
*[[Bone Thugs-n-Harmony|Steve Howse]]
}}
| extra12 = Khaled
| length12 = 6:18
| note12 = featuring [[Bone Thugs-n-Harmony]]
| title13 = New York
| writer13 = {{flat list|
*Khaled
*[[Ja Rule|Jeffrey Atkins]]
*Cartagena
*Phillips
*Valenzano
*Lyon}}
| extra13 = Cool & Dre
| length13 = 5:54
| note13 = featuring [[Ja Rule]], Fat Joe, and Jadakiss
}}
{{track listing
| headline = [[Wal-Mart]] edition (bonus tracks)
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title13 = [[I'm So Hood|I'm So Hood (Remix)]]
| writer13 = {{flat list|
*Khaled
*Najm
*Jenkins
*[[Ludacris|Christopher Bridges]]
*[[Busta Rhymes|Trevor Smith]]
*[[Big Boi|Antwan Patton]]
*Williams
*Roberts II
*Carter, Jr.
*Cartagena
*Harr
*Jackson}}
| extra13 = Khaled
| length13 = 5:42
| note13 = featuring T-Pain, Young Jeezy, [[Ludacris]], [[Busta Rhymes]], [[Big Boi]], Fat Joe, Birdman, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne
}}
{{track listing
| headline = [[Best Buy]] bonus tracks
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title13 = The Streets
| writer13 = {{flat list|
*Khaled
*[[Shareefa|Sharieefah Cooper]]
*[[Willy Northpole|William Adams]]
*Harr
*Jackson}}
| extra13 = Khaled
| length13 = 3:46
| note13 = featuring [[Shareefa]] and [[Willy Northpole]]
| title14 = No Hook
| writer14 = {{flat list|
*Khaled
*[[Jim Jones (rapper)|Joseph Jones]]
*[[Styles P|David Styles]]
*[[Cassidy (rapper)|Barry Reese]]
*Steve Morales}}
| extra14 = Morales
| length14 = 3:55
| note14 = featuring [[Jim Jones (rapper)|Jim Jones]], [[Styles P]], [[Cassidy (rapper)|Cassidy]], and Rob Cash
| title15 = Choppers
| writer15 = {{flat list|
*Khaled
*Valenzano
*Lyon}}
| extra15 = {{flat list|
*Cool & Dre
*Khaled}}
| length15 = 4:47
| note15 = featuring Dre, Joe Hound, and C-Ride
| title16 = [[Make It Rain (Fat Joe song)|Make It Rain (Remix)]]
| writer16 = {{flat list|
*Cartagena
*Carter, Jr.
*[[R. Kelly|Robert Kelly]]
*Harris, Jr.
*Williams
*Roberts II
*Khaled}}
| extra16 = Storch
| length16 = 7:00
| note16 = performed by Fat Joe featuring Lil Wayne, [[R. Kelly]], T.I., Birdman, Rick Ross, and Ace Mac
| title17 = [[Sexy Lady (Yung Berg song)|Sexy Lady (Remix)]]
| writer17 = {{flat list|
*[[Yung Berg|Christopher Ward]]
*Jones
*[[Rich Boy|Marece Richards]]}}
| extra17 = {{flat list|
*Rob Holladay
*Khaled}}
| length17 = 4:46
| note17 = performed by [[Yung Berg]] featuring Jim Jones and [[Rich Boy]]
}}
;Notes
*On the [[Wal-Mart]] edition of the album, "Hit 'Em Up", was being removed from its track listing on the album.
*"Intro (We the Best)" and "**** I'm from Dade County" do not include the vocals from Rick Ross in some markets and only his vocals included on the Best Buy edition.
*Tracks "187" and "Hit 'Em Up" are not included in the digital version.
;Sample credits
*"We Takin' Over" contains a sample of "[[C.R.E.A.M.]]" as performed by [[Wu-Tang Clan]].
*"Brown Paper Bag" contains a sample of "[[If I Can't Have You (Bee Gees song)|If I Can't Have You]]" as performed by [[Yvonne Elliman]].
*"S" on My Chest" contains a sample of "Get Your Shine On" as performed by [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]].
==Personnel==
Credits for ''We the Best'' adapted from [[AllMusic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/we-the-best-mw0000583677/credits|title=We the Best - DJ Khaled | Credits|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=May 15, 2015}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* Robert "Big Briz" Brisbane – [[Audio engineer|engineer]]
* Ryan Deaunovich – mixing assistant
* Luis Diaz – [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]]
* [[Ben Billions|Ben Diehl]] – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
* Jeff Edwards – engineer
* John Franck – [[Video production|video producer]]
* Abel Garibaldi – engineer, [[Programming (music)|programming]]
* Paul Grosso – [[creative director]]
* Thomas "T" Hatcher – bass guitar
* Terrell Jones – [[Personal stylist|stylist]]
{{col-2}}
* Andrew Kelley – [[art direction]], [[Graphic design|design]]
* Ian Mereness – [[Pro Tools]]
* Eddie Montilla – piano
* Regena Ratcliffe – [[print production]]
* Leroy Barbie Romans – keyboards
* Douglas Sadler – producer
* Paul Alfonso – SEIR
* Gina Victoria – assistant engineer
{{col-end}}
==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!align="
!align="
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|8|artist=DJ Khaled|access-date=May 14, 2015}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardIndependent|1|artist=DJ Khaled|access-date=May 14, 2015}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|2|artist=DJ Khaled|access-date=May 14, 2015}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardRap|2|artist=DJ Khaled|access-date=May 14, 2015}}
|}
{{col-2}}
===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (2007)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
|US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-billboard-200-albums|title=2007 Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 14, 2015|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614072559/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-billboard-200-albums|archive-date=June 14, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|193
|-
|US Top Independent Albums<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-independent-albums|title=2007 Year-End Charts: Independent Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726120320/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-independent-albums|archive-date=July 26, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|11
|-
|US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-r-b-hip-hop-albums|title=2007 Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150719031625/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-r-b-hip-hop-albums|archive-date=July 19, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|56
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (2008)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
|US Top Independent Albums<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-independent-albums|title=2008 Year-End Charts: Independent Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705181120/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-independent-albums|archive-date=July 5, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|50
|}
{{col-end}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DJ Khaled}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2007 albums]]
[[Category:DJ Khaled albums]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Albums produced by Jim Jonsin]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Danja (record producer)]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Cool & Dre]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Kane Beatz]]
[[Category:Albums produced by the Runners]]
[[Category:Albums produced by DJ Khaled]]
|