DJ Khaled Recalls JAY-Z’s Reaction To Suggesting Beyoncé For “Shining”
Key Takeaways
* DJ Khaled first pitched “Shining” to Jay-Z, before suggesting they get Beyoncé on the song.
* JAY-Z played the record for Khaled after Roc Nation’s annual brunch.
* The track added to the momentum of Khaled’s Grateful album, which also featured major hits like “I’m the One” and “Wild Thoughts.”
DJ Khaled remembers JAY-Z hilariously looking at him like he was “crazy” when he suggested getting Beyoncé on “Shining.” During Wednesday’s (Sept. 11) episode of the “Joe and Jada” podcast, the Grammy-winning producer shared how he managed to get the power couple on grateful.
“I made ‘Shining,’ and I was like,’Yo,this is a vibe. This is a movie.’ So I went to JAY-Z,and I played him the record,” Khaled explained. “He was like, ‘This is a hit.’ And I was like, ‘Yo, but what if we got you and Beyoncé on it?’ He looked at me like I was buggin’!”
Khaled continued, detailing how JAY-Z ultimately agreed to be on the track after hearing it at Roc Nation’s annual brunch. “he played it for everybody, and then he came to me and was like, ‘Alright, let’s do it.’ Then, he hit up Beyoncé, and she loved it. It was magic.”
“Shining” became a massive success, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earning a platinum certification.The song, along with other hits like “I’m the one” and “Wild thoughts,” propelled Khaled’s Grateful album to the top of the charts.
DJ Khaled Recounts How JAY-Z Secured Beyoncé’s Feature on “Shining”
DJ Khaled shared a detailed story about securing both JAY-Z and Beyoncé for his hit song “Shining,” highlighting JAY-Z’s accessibility and collaborative spirit. The story, recounted in an interview, reveals a series of encounters and a subtle approach from the hip-hop mogul.
Khaled emphasized JAY-Z’s willingness to connect with those who show respect. “Jigga, if he love you, the man’s accessible,” Khaled stated, adding that JAY-Z is often open to meetings, even given his stature.
The initial pitch for “Shining” occurred during a private meeting where khaled played JAY-Z the instrumental. “I’m like, ‘Yo, I need you on this,'” Khaled recalled. He then boldly requested both JAY-Z and Beyoncé for the track. According to Khaled, JAY-Z responded with a look of disbelief.
JAY-Z simply asked to “leave [the song] with him,” offering no immediate promise of involving Beyoncé. Later that same day, the two artists coincidentally ran into each other at the Barclays Center, where JAY-Z revealed he had already played the song for his wife.
Khaled, attempting to remain composed, waited until he was in the car to express his excitement. Shortly after, JAY-Z sent Khaled a photo from his private jet, stating he and Beyoncé were listening to the track.
The collaboration culminated in JAY-Z inviting Khaled to his home a couple of days later,following Roc Nation’s annual brunch.Before the listening session, JAY-Z advised Khaled to “walk around this brunch with your head high.” At his home, JAY-Z played “Shining” for Khaled again, prompting Khaled to exclaim, “Man, god is grate.”
Khaled noted this is just one example of their triumphant collaborations, also mentioning their work together on “I Got the Keys,” “GOD DID,” and “SORRY NOT SORRY” featuring Nas.
“Shining” proved to be a major success, appearing on DJ Khaled’s Grateful album alongside other hits like “I’m The One” and “Wild Thoughts” featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller. The carters later reunited with Khaled on “Top Off,” a song that sparked discussion about Beyoncé’s lyrical prowess compared to JAY-Z’s.