Capleton happy as DJ Khaled’s ‘God Did’ tops Billboard 200
Brand Jamaica featured on number one album in America
Published:Tuesday | September 6, 2022 | 12:07 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
They didn’t believe in him, but “God did” has been DJ Khaled’s refrain in recent times. His new slogan is intentional. God Did is the name of his 13th album, which was released on August 26, and as first week sales are in, predictions by music pundits have come true. God Did hauled in massive first-week sales of 107,500 copies, grabbing the number one slot the prestigious Billboard 200 chart this week.
“I want to thank my fans out there, I want to thank my Epic Records team. My only goal is to make the real ‘ones’ feel seen. They didn’t believe in us! GOD DID! #GODDID #1 album in the country!” an excited DJ Khaled posted on Instagram on Monday.
God Did is an entire galaxy of stars with names such as Jadakiss, Juice WRLD, Skillibeng, Buju Banton, Capleton, Bounty Killer, Sizzla, Vory, Don Toliver, Travis Scott, Kanye West, Eminem, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, JAY-Z, John Legend, Fridayy Drake and Lil Baby, Future, Lil Durk, 21 Savage, and Roddy Ricch, Quavo, Takeoff, SZA, Gunna, 21 Savage, Nardo Wick and Kodak Black.
The hard-hitting, generation-meeting collab, featuring Capleton, Skillibeng, Buju Banton, Bounty Killer and Sizzla, is titled These Streets Know My Name. The music video, which was released one week ago, has more than two million views and was trending at number nine on YouTube up to press time.
Capleton, in reacting to the album topping the Billboard 200, said “it is a great feeling”.
“But, it’s not like a swell-headed feeling. Remember... I’ve been there and done that. I have been on the Billboard before, and have been with big record companies before, and on big collabs as well,” the ‘Fireman’ said.
His aim in chanting his verse was to let positivity shine.
“It’s all about embracing the culture in a positive way. Regardless of the kind of song that you sing, whether you want to sing about guns, girls, flossing, or whatever, when you get a certain platform you have to make a talented mark. Don’t get me wrong, because you know that I am about positivity. I defend the culture, I defend the music ... I value the music because I know what the music is all about. It speaks for the less fortunate, and those who are weak and oppressed by the system,” Capleton added.
DJ Khaled’s romance with reggae and dancehall music is legendary and Capleton shared that their relationship goes back from the days of popular dancehall event ‘Fully Loaded’.
“I used to give him dubs to go and mash up the place. So don’t think my thing is a band wagonist thing, that man a jus a jump on pon di ting. A nuh nutten like dat,” the ‘Prophet’ enlightened.
Capleton, who also appears on Contractor Music’s soon-to-be-released Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica: The Asian Edition, with a track titled Hottest Region, is currently working on a new album. “I got a couple of tracks to finish up for the new album,” he explained.
Sean ‘Contractor’ Edwards feels that the collab from the reggae and dancehall acts is a good look.
“This is great for Brand Jamaica to be featured on the number one album in America. It’s great for the culture and it’s great for the music. I like the fact that Skillibeng, as the young, hot, dancehall sensation who is blowing up in America, is teamed up with these legendary artistes,” Edwards stated.
He too, has known Khaled for a long time, and Capleton is his neighbour in St Mary. “When I was going to university, I used to sit in on Khaled’s programme on a station named MIX 96 in Florida. The two times he has been here working with Capleton I’ve been on set in the videos. Capleton has been on all my compilation albums. He kinda gave me my first break here in Jamaica musically with a song named Pain. I like his militancy and his energy. I am very proud of him and happy for him,” the Contractor Music Group CEO said.
Online, the vibe surrounding These Streets Know My Name is “more fire”.
Among the comments are: “Respek Khaled for that. FIRE!!”
“Every time Capleton sings I get pure goosebumps. The Conquering Lion of Judah truly lives within him.” “Bounty Killer’s vibe is unmatched, and Buju is still giving the energy.”
“Skilli verse was on point. He dominated the riddim; Buju calmed it down; Capleton fired it up! Bounty Killer shelled his verse and Sizzla leveled it off. DJ Khaled, this is one big masterpiece.”