DJ Khaled's latest single "Wild Thoughts" featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller is a rush of nostalgia. The beat for the track, which arrived on Friday and will appear on the well-connected producer's 10th studio effort Grateful, due this Friday, heavily relies on the 1999 Carlos Santana classic "Maria Maria," with contributions from The Product G&B and Wyclef Jean's The Refugee Camp.
The sexy guitar riffs played by Santana mixed with The Product G&B's silky smooth earworm of a hook and Jean's repeat-worthy ad-libs have made it an eternal summer classic. Fortunately, DJ Khaled's reboot gets the co-sign from the musician behind the hip-shaking original.
"There is a reason that the infectious groove/theme that Wyclef and I created on 'Maria Maria' still resonates today," Santana said in a statement sent to Billboard. "It speaks to the heart. DJ Khaled, Rihanna and Bryson take that vibe and bring it to a new dimension with 'Wild Thoughts,' but the groove and essence of the song is still intact."