It’s crazy to think that DJ Khaled has been building his brand since 1993. That was the year when he started pursuing a career as a radio DJ and producer. He got his foot in the door very quickly and he was able to get close to the biggest celebrities. These connections would give him the power to produce beats for the same artists who’d become his close friends through the years.
Today, Khaled is a father of two children, a social media mogul, and one of the biggest producers in the hip hop scene. He’s worked with everybody, from Justin Bieber to Chance the Rapper to Cardi B to 21 Savage to SZA and beyond, but things weren’t always this easy for Khaled. His childhood was far from glamorous.
After reaching success in Hollywood, Khaled went on to launch several businesses, including his own restaurant in Florida. His first name is the same as his last, and he met Lil Wayne when the rapper was just 10-years-old. But what else is there to know about the 'I’m The One' hitmaker? Here are 19 surprising facts about the real DJ Khaled.
18 He Has The Same First And Last Name
His real name certainly isn’t DJ Khaled - in fact, it’s much simpler than that...it's Khaled Mohamed Khaled. That’s correct - this DJ has the name Khaled for his first name and surname, which is quite rare - especially in Hollywood. This does explain why he wanted to come up with a stage name to use while producing records.
17 He Is A Restaurant Owner
DJ Khaled certainly loves his food, which is why it only made sense for the Palestinian-American to invest in the restaurant business. Khaled is now the proud owner of Finga Licking, which is a restaurant based in Florida. It’s famously known for its delicious chicken wings and red velvet cake. His fans love stopping by for some yummy food.
16 He Once Got Lost At Sea
Khaled found himself lost at sea once, but, luckily, he was able to get help from a number of locals who managed to get him back on dry land. The ordeal was recorded and posted on Snapchat, and while many fans were laughing at the matter, finding it hysterical that Khaled couldn’t find his way home, it took hours for him to get rescued.
15 He’s Palestinian-American
DJ Khaled is Palestinian-American. His parents made their move to the United States at an early age, knowing that, in order to provide a better life for themselves, the family needed to leave Palestine behind. So that’s exactly what they did.
Well, when we look at the success that Khaled has had, it's easy to see that things worked out splendidly.
14 Before Producing, He Was Just A Radio DJ
Before he started producing music for the likes of Nicki Minaj and Future, DJ Khaled was working as a regular radio DJ. He’d spend hours playing songs for radio fans, hoping that he would eventually find himself in a position to produce his own music. He worked as a DJ for a South Florida radio station called 99 Jams, and this job helped him to meet plenty of celebrities.
13 He Was Present When Lil Wayne And Birdman First Met
As crazy as it sounds, Khaled was actually present when Birdman and Lil Wayne first met. While working in a New Orleans record store in 1993, Birdman was hosting an autograph session, and it just so happened that Lil Wayne - who was just 10 years old - would freestyle at the event.
12 He Loves Eating Egg Whites
Khaled is a huge fan of egg whites. Supposedly, he eats them every day and even has a personal chef named Chef Dee, who provides him with all the best dishes — including his beloved egg whites, of course.
One of Khaled’s favorite dishes is egg rolls, and he often posts photos of his chef’s delicious meals on Instagram, showing fans just how healthy he’s eating these days.
11 He Has A Huge Sneaker Collection
When it comes to sneakers, DJ Khaled has a huge collection. Everything from the Jordan 3 to exclusive sneakers from Nike and Adidas are stacked up in his floor-to-ceiling wardrobe. Apparently, this closet is even bigger than some people’s apartments. He also has a built-in trunk, which holds his most precious sneakers.
10 One Of His Favorite Artists Is Bob Marley
DJ Khaled is a huge fan of Bob Marley. In previous interviews, he’d stressed how his biggest wish would have been to have recorded a song with the legendary reggae star. But even though that didn’t happen, Khaled ended up forming a close friendship with Marley’s family, seeing that he often flies to Jamaican for DJ appearances.
9 He Was Once Part Of Terror Squad
Before taking things solo, Khaled was part of the Terror Squad, which was a hip hop group formed by Fat Joe and the late Big Pun. Both rappers were huge inspirations to Khaled at the time when he started to make his mark in the industry. He went on to release his first album, “Listennn… the Album," in 2006, under Terror Squad’s label.
