While DJ Khalil has recently contributed to new projects by Drake, John Legend, Eminem and Game, the producer tells Billboard.com that his top priority these days is helping Dr. Dre finish his endlessly delayed third album, “Detox.”
“Dre’s album is definitely the most important thing right now, because he is definitely in the final stretch,” says DJ Khalil (real name: Khalil Abdul-Rahman), who produced “Detox’s” first single, “Kush,” along with Dr. Dre. “He has the record going, but I’m sure he thinks there are pieces missing still. Until he finds those pieces, maybe he’s not comfortable putting it out yet.”
Khalil, who has been working with Dr. Dre on “Detox” for over six years, can’t predict exactly what the long-awaited album will sound like. “It’s definitely a West Coast sound — more futuristic West Coast sound — at least from what I’ve turned in,” he says. “I don’t know what he’s keeping, though.”
Khalil says that his “Detox” work has kept him from focusing on Drake’s sophomore album, “Take Care,” but the producer — who previously collaborated with the Canadian rapper on the “So Far Gone” track “Fear” — professes that he has “a ton of ideas” for his second full-length. “I talked to him and just told him I’m working on stuff for him,” he says. “I’m sure they are more than halfway done. I’m pretty sure he’s getting close and I definitely want to be a part of it.”
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The producer notes that he produced “Echo,” a song for the Eminem and Royce Da 5’9″ collaboration Bad Meets Evil which will appear as a bonus track on their forthcoming “Hell: The Sequel” EP. Khalil also produced two tracks on Game’s upcoming “R.E.D. Album” and recently met with John Legend for a studio session.
However, Khalil says that one of his most enjoyable recent collaborations was with Nick Jonas, the Jonas Brothers member who invited the producer in to help pen a new solo track. “It was my first time ever working with someone like that,” says Khalil. “We wrote this uptempo pop record… He played every [instrument]. I was shocked because I didn’t know how talented he was. It was definitely a great experience, and hopefully I’ll get to write with him again.”
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