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The Keys

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From Snapchat sensation, business mogul, and recording artist DJ Khaled, the book They don't want you to read reveals his major keys to success.

- Stay away from They
- Don’t ever play yourself
- Secure the bag
- Respect the code
- Glorify your success
- Don’t deny the heat
- Keep two rooms cooking at the same time
- Win, win, win no matter what

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 22, 2016

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About the author

D.J. Khaled

4 books33 followers
DJ KHALED is a music-industry mogul, an executive, a mega producer, and a recording artist who has made dozens of chart-topping records with artists such as Jay Z, Nas, Kanye West, Drake, Lil Wayne, and more. The founder of the We The Best Music Group, he is also the creator of one of the most globally viewed Snapchat accounts. He lives in Miami.

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5 stars
321 (39%)
4 stars
225 (27%)
3 stars
168 (20%)
2 stars
56 (6%)
1 star
34 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
Profile Image for Stacy.
1,004 reviews91 followers
May 17, 2021
The Keys to DJ Khaled's Success
The Keys is a book detailing DJ Kaled's incredible success in record producing and music. The Keys are not so much how to succeed in the industry, but more of a set of guidelines that DJ applies to all of areas of his life that he believes has helped him succeed. He gives snippets of his life growing up here in America as a Palestinian, challenges he and his family hurdled and lessons learned from each. Also included are messages from his celebrity friends/associates about his character, work ethic and vision. It was interesting to learn that he doesn't "party", rarely drinks alcohol and has never done drugs as those things seem to be synonymous with the celebrity lifestyle-- but is one of his "Keys" that he avoids as he feels those habits are counter-productive to success. More "Keys" are: "Stay away from 'They', Secure the Bag, Respect the Code, and Win,Win,Win No Matter What". It was interesting to read from his perspective about the self-imposed rules he governs his life by and how he feels each contributed to his unbelievable success. I received this book in a giveaway-- thank you!
Profile Image for Waleed.
175 reviews4 followers
July 10, 2017
212 pages of banalities and platitudes, interspersed with character references from second-tier hip-hop producers.
DJ Khaled is clearly a very nice man and an outstanding Snapchatter. And he produced 'All I Do Is Win'; one of the greatest anthems of *all time*. But Khaled is no author.
Sorry to be a "They". Bless Up.
0/5 for content. This book gets 2/5 simply for its badass front and back covers.
Profile Image for Ilya.
160 reviews21 followers
November 25, 2016
In The Keys Snapchat sensation DJ Khaled shares his 'keys to more success.' It turns out getting at least 2 haircuts per week is just as important as working on your craft. Some of the most memorable quotes from the book:

- "When everybody's in a positive mood and everybody's just having a good time, that's called catching a vibe. Everyone who comes to my home knows about the vibe. Look in my fridge: There are delicious juices and smoothies. I have healthy snacks all over my house for everyone, the chef will cook up whatever you want, and you can sit by the fire drinking Ciroc or D'Usse or some Belaire and relax."

- "You can see my competitive spirit manifest itself in so many aspects of my career. From my collaborations to my sneaker collection - you can see testaments to my "Go harder" philosophy. If "they" say I can't get summer Jordan 3s, then I'll make sure to get summer Jordan 3s. And don't even get me started on the Eminem 4s."

- "I'm a boss, so I don't ever get to just be the artist. Other artists might get to imagine themselves floating in outer space, making music, and that's beautiful, but I know what it takes for the whole team to take product to the next level."

- "Don't invest all your energy in one place. It's like financial investments - spread it around. Secure all types of bags. More rooms equals more success, so be kind to the people around you, like your team, and support them and let them cook, too."

- "If you want to be treated like a boss, you've got to look the part. Get a fresh cut twice a week. In fact, get three haircuts."

- "People always ask me why I smell so good, and the answer is Palmer's cocoa butter. I don't wear cologne."

- "So get a fresh cut twice a week and definitely before an executive decision. And when you're ready and you graduate to the next level, get a pedicure and a manicure once a week, too."

- "A lot of us don't have a lot of pillows. I didn't have a lot of pillows growing up. Let me tell you, I had no pillows when I slept in that Honda. Plus, when I got an apartment all I had was my music, and I had no pillows. I would have my one sheet and I'd rest my head on records. I don't recommend it. So you know one of the first things I did when the wire hit was get a couple of pillows. Everyone has a different idea of luxury when they first get a little money. One person might only wear brand-new sweat socks every single day. Another might eat Cheesecake Factory for every meal for like a month. Me, I got a lot of pillows, so I'm grateful for all of them . . . Pillows are like the angels of my bedroom."
Profile Image for Davida.
483 reviews
December 10, 2016
Gotta give this five stars cuz I'm a fan! Fan Luv! Khaled did a great job with this book. You can hear his voice coming through, but I'm glad he worked with writer Mary H. K. Choi to take care of the grammar and spelling! I thought this book was going to be a mess, but no way. Khaled did not play himself. I was inspired by his positivity and candidness.

Here is one of my favorite parts, from the section, "Don't Burn No Bridge; Only God Can Walk on Water":

"Open yourself up. Establish connections when you can -- that's the beauty of collaborations. Some people are closed off, and while I understand that it might be their personality, a lot of the time it's because they're scared or insecure. It's like they want to act like their bridges have a million-dollar toll because they'd rather seem like they have all the answers and all the resources they need on their own. People need people. Period. Not only that, people need people when they're making big moves."
Profile Image for Sana Vasli.
Author 1 book6 followers
February 16, 2017
One of my friends (dotted line ringleader) bought me this as a joke to put on the shelf. It was surprisingly a good book. If you follow Khaled on Snapchat you will like this as he breaks down in detail all of his phrases and famous one-liners.

You quickly realise that his behaviour is not an act. That's the same Khaled from day one. An unlikely hero and how he got there.
Profile Image for Heather.
351 reviews42 followers
August 1, 2017
I love DJ Khaled, he practices what he preaches. He's a man of standards, something more rare in this modern world, and you see this in his success. The son of Palestinian immigrants, nothing was handed to him, he created his success from the ground up and that's what this book is about.

This book of his gives many of his "keys" to success. This isn't your typical self help dribble, these are keys forged from his personal experiences. This is what makes the book unique. This book is excellent for spiritual speakers, business owners/entrepreneurs and any leader of industries. My favorite part of the book are the blurbs sprinkled throughout from various successful people in the music and entertainment biz who give testimony to DJ Khaled's character and loyalty and work ethic. Not only are these stories interesting but they are inspiring too.

His latest album dropped yesterday, it's called Grateful, I highly recommend you take a listen.
Profile Image for Tim O'Hearn.
255 reviews1,171 followers
December 16, 2018
"What does DJ Khaled actually do?"

This was the title of a Facebook page I Liked back when there was a proliferation of very-specific Facebook fan pages that people created on whims. I also liked the page because, at that time, I had no idea what DJ Khaled actually did.

The Keys is DJ Khaled's answer to that question that ends up spawning a host of deeper inquiries. Such as--would high school dropout have even attempted to use the semicolons that appear in this book's 212 pages? And, more importantly, where do I stand on DJ Khaled's philosophies, talent, and celebrity?

After achieving mega-fame following a string of funny Snapchats and having his first child, the enthusiastic, somewhat obnoxious DJ Khaled adopted a significantly more wholesome image. It's about positivity, being substance-free, and working hard, and it's what comprises the majority of this book. I like it!

Yesterday, I read in the Wall Street Journal that he is selling his old house in Miami, having upgraded to a larger one. Today, he was mentioned in one of the top comments in a Reddit thread about "worst live performances of all time." There's no question that DJ Khaled is a star, but, on Reddit, in the midst of reading this book, I was shocked to find that the sentiment was purely negative.

Many commentators referenced Khaled's appearance on the season finale of Hot Ones where he is a buffoon. Beyond the buffoonery, I found it interesting to observe how quickly his "positivity" facade fell apart as soon as he was challenged by the host. It's easy to preach a gospel when your public image consists entirely of you being the only one speaking into a microphone. This guy really made a fool of himself on what is a lighthearted show where people eat spicy chicken wings.

The interview also revealed that, in addition to lacking emotional intelligence, DJ Khaled really isn't that smart. It is obvious that the guy is surrounded by "yes" men 24/7 and that there is a strategy team behind every move he makes. He claims to be a mogul, strictly speaking is a mogul, but I can't get over my suspicion that he didn't write this book.

The book charts DJ Khaled's career. He started as a DJ and, over time, became a phenomenal DJ, according to him. I respect that hustle. I find it odd, though, that whenever people criticize his live performances, they talk about how horrible he is at basic turntabling. I'm not a purist, I realize that there's more of a market for the mixing and queueing of tracks (which he had to have been skilled at as a radio DJ) then there is for the acrobatics of the needle, but this guy wants us to believe that he won $5000 in a DJing contest 20 years ago. Why wouldn't he still demonstrate this skillset? Did he forget? Am I misunderstanding something?

Further, there has been a continual debate as to what it means for DJ Khaled to be a "producer." Most would imply that this means he makes beats. In the book, he never mentions making beats. It's easy to verify that he hasn't made the beat for any of his hit songs, but did the guy ever make beats at all? He's admitted that he doesn't rap because he's not a good rapper. Okay, that's pretty easy to glean. I think he allows the myth of him making beats to survive because there's really no downside to it.

There is some genuinely cool stuff in the book. Khaled claims to have witnessed Birdman meeting Lil Wayne for the first time while working at a record store in New Orleans. Amazing. Khaled claims that he turns up the temperature in his hot tubs as high as it will go because "they" don't want you to have a hot tub. Amazing. DJ Khaled loved the Rick Ross breakout Hustlin' so much that he played it on repeat for long enough to get suspended from the radio station he worked at. Amazing. He claims that you've got to think future to be future, just ask his friend future. Great line.

DJ Khaled has made a career out of orchestrating incredible hit songs. This was made possible because he's an enthusiastic, relentless dude and he foresaw the rise of the Miami rap scene. I just find it hard to like him. The book left me with too many unanswered questions.
Profile Image for Lindsay Lewis.
12 reviews3 followers
March 21, 2018
Wasn’t aware that he had written a book, so picked it up on a whim. Pleasantly surprised. Grammar aside, his message was strong. And of course, it reads as if it’s Khaled’s voice, which is quite entertaining as well. Easy read & worth having in your collection.
Profile Image for Amy Sunahara.
146 reviews
February 10, 2017
Solid 3.5 rating. Would've enjoyed listening to this book with DJ Khaled reading it. His voice comes through in the book, but actually hearing his voice would have made it that much more worthwhile. (Listening to NPR's Morning Edition interview with him exemplifies this.) I believe his Keys are relatable (Bless Up and Secure the Bag) - especially for any age - and find his nuggets of wisdom entertaining and useful, such as having a lot of pillows "to rest your greatness"; "Workers work. Bosses own."; and "And when they ask you, "How's business?" always tell them, "Boomin'." I also appreciated that he wrote a chapter called "God is the Greatest" and is upfront and unapologetic about his belief in God and his religion.
Profile Image for Simpiwe Balfour.
3 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2017
This is a page turner. I couldn't put it down once I started. Most books normally take a week, this was done in two days.
Most of the stuff he talks about I twined with his personal experiences are very vivid to the point where you can see the "Lions."

The man is great thinker and he will continue to inspire Fan Luv in places where people don't even listen to his music. It's not your typical rapper story, where he went from rags to riches. His parents payed a good foundation and he just continued and make his own mark on the world.

"They don't want you to flight that private jet"

I'm super impressed.
Profile Image for Queen.
22 reviews24 followers
January 6, 2017
The Keys is sensational! DJ Khaled delivers the fundamentals of being, becoming and living in a clear and simple way. The "keys" aren't anything new but rather reinforces what's elementary; "secure the bag", "don't ever play yourself", "stay away from "they", "special cloth", "win, win, win, no matter what", "we the best", etc. This book oozes with sincerity because the author is genuinely sincere in spreading and living in peace, love and harmony. Truly worthy of 5 stars!
Profile Image for Jenny.
270 reviews8 followers
February 14, 2017
I just had to see what kind of advice DJ Khaled had to give. And you know what? It wasn't bad at all. Matter fact (as Khaled would say), I found a lot of it down right inspiring. And now I'll never drive my jet ski in the dark.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
295 reviews8 followers
December 28, 2017
This book was surprisingly terrific. Yes, you can basically hear Khaled in your head as you are reading this, but the book offers a lot of great life advice. I know I will find myself coming back to this at least once a year because it is so incredibly motivating.
Author 2 books2 followers
January 3, 2018
The structure of this book is great! I enjoyed how he added the perspectives of his peers about his career. Amongst other things I enjoyed it was a very creative book. His come up is told in great detail with great imagery.
Profile Image for Lindsey.
Author 2 books5 followers
February 8, 2018
I am Fan Luv despite knowing next to nothing about Khaled. This book told me all I need to know, extremely inspiring and gifted from his big influential heart. He knows The Secret and like all other masters, knows that sharing it adds to blessings, never detracts.
Profile Image for Kendy.
274 reviews10 followers
May 18, 2017
I could not take this seriously. I was a third in and skimmed the rest.
Profile Image for Erika Moreno.
83 reviews2 followers
April 6, 2018
I picked this up randomly on the way out of the book store, bf said he wanted it, and so I started flipping through it on our way out. I was actually intrigued by one of the first lines I saw when I flipped the book open so I ended up being the one to actually read it.

I never really followed DJ Khaled, just heard about his infamous Snapchats from said bf, but overall I enjoyed his story. It took me a few months to read because life but it’s a short, easy read interspersed with motivating anecdotes.

Profile Image for Sonika Tayade.
4 reviews
January 11, 2024
I actually read this a while ago but just wanted to mark it as read since it was in my want to read list. only read half of it but he has some good advice lol.
Profile Image for Tony | Outwork.
86 reviews4 followers
May 7, 2017
This book will probably be one the most read pieces of literature in the entertainment industry.

It’s small and easy to consume. It’s powerful and hard to put down.

My favorite part of the book is when Khaled recounts his rise to the top, staying true to his vision every step of the way. DJ Khaled is one of the most recognized names in all of music today, yet he doesn’t rap or sing. However, what he does do is more important.

“Becoming the best is not a product of luck or magic. It takes dedication, blood, sweat, tears, and some serious hardship. Just don’t give up. Never surrender. I may have been up and down over the years but each time the stakes got higher and I made sure to gain a little more ground with each win.”

I really enjoyed Khaled's thoughts on how to succeed. He doesn't really talk about a system or a method or the best ways to do things. He talks about The Keys, some principles that he sticks to that has enabled him to achieve tremendous success.

Major Key: Win, win, win, no matter what.

One of the things that really resonated with me is that he talks about succeeding in the music industry without having to be a gangster or having to act like one. He talks about being yourself and being genuine as the key to connecting with all types of people. When you are true to yourself, then you go out and ask other people to help contribute to your success.

View more at: www.outworkindustries.com/book-club

r/Tony

9 reviews
January 17, 2018
The Keys is pretty great. When Khaled makes a point, he makes it! It isn't five star because it could be a written a little better, but then I am reminded that a writer chooses a style their audience would appreciate. He addresses the "Young World" multiple times throughout the text which should prompt the reader to realize this probably was not written for the adults and English majors. It is not "canonical," and it will probably not ever be considered one of the "greats," so when you accept that, you learn to appreciate it for what it is - a book of mogul's core philosophies, a mogul who is successful, regardless of the lack of an degree and a privileged life.

He makes great points throughout this book. Many of us follow these "Keys," but we just call them something different. The "Young World" may not be familiar with these ideas, so they will definitely benefit from the anecdotes and philosophies the book shares.

I took one star away because of the use of profanity. He uses it at times, not a lot. Still, I do not support the use of profanity while addressing the youth. Also, when considering the young audience, why not offer the book in paper copy? The hardback option is too expensive.

Don't be a "They." Give this book the rating it deserves. :)
1 review
November 15, 2017
I thought the book was very good only for a particular type of person. The book is really only for people who would like to be in a career being creative and selling your creativity, for example an artist, entrepreneur, music producer, or a director. This book will be very inspiring if you are thinking or in one of these careers. I really enjoyed the book because i'm thinking about being an entrepreneur, and his keys inspired me to be myself and to work hard. This book is written more as an tips to success than a biography of Dj Khaled. In the book he talks about all the ways he has become successful and the things he wished he knew before making it big. In the book he also talks about stories from his past and lessons he learned on the journey to success. The message of this book is definitely to be yourself and use your creative energy to build something unique and special to you, and build this thing as your career. In the book you will learn all the ways to be successful, and you will be inspired to work hard at what ever career you would like to do in the future.
Profile Image for Cody Toohey.
52 reviews3 followers
July 3, 2017
I actually didn't really know who he was. I saw a 5 min thing on the voice.. then I saw this book on my feed on good reads.. then I saw it at my library on the shelves that I can't help but find atleast 3+ books at a time. :/ I figured it might be a sign to pick it up. As I read this I youtubed him. Haha ok I knew a song or two. Listened to a few other newer songs. Not bad. Anyways I found myself liking this book and his tidbits and personal stories. Right now I'm trying to read a lot of books for self growth and about things I know nothing about. And I can say I really knew nothing.. He talks about God, he talks about energy and vibes and I really connected to those parts. I was pleasantly surprised. I'm very happy for his success. It seems that his hard work has helped him a million times over. Good for him. I like a success story.
July 2, 2017
I didn't know @djkhaled had written a book so when I seen it in the bookstore, I had to buy it. In this book DJ Khaled gives his advice on what it takes to become a success. "The Keys" are the lessons he gathered from his life's experiences. Khaled also shares some entertaining stories about his life. Including the legendary story of him being lost at sea on his jet ski while using his cell phone and Snapchat as his guide...Another interesting aspect of the book is that it also contains perspectives from other people. Artists such as Rick Ross, Jay Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs, just to name a few, write of their accounts with this charismatic DJ...So, if you are looking for an entertaining book of motivation, this is the book for you.
Profile Image for pdbkwm.
346 reviews37 followers
May 11, 2017
Despite being a millennial, I don't use Snapchat. Apparently it's a big thing, especially because DJ Khaled is there dropping words of wisdom in the form of keys. I only know him from his music, but I was excited to read this once I saw an interview with him.

I won't lie and say the book is the best self help book out there. It's not. But it's funny, inspiring and DJ Khaled's voice comes through really well. You can tell just how much he wants everyone to succeed in whatever they do. The Keys is really all about positivity and hard work.

I don't think I'll be checking out Snapchat anytime soon, but I'm glad I picked this one up. I really enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Mark.
202 reviews
May 17, 2017
This book wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but was enjoyable nonetheless for what it was; a sort of self-help, positivity and career guide rather than a biography of DJ Khaled's career.

However, his message is clear and even if I don't buy 100% into some of the lessons he imparts, it's clear that he does and he is proof that it worked for him.

I did take away a couple of his 'keys' that I hope to use in my day-to-day life and if you're into that sort of thing then it's a book that is well laid out and easy to digest.
Profile Image for Jorie.
222 reviews14 followers
June 26, 2017
Loved this book! DJ Khaled has always made me smile and this books explains why. One of the most successful people of our day explains his values and keys to success so that you can feel his positive energy and apply the same win-win-win attitude to whatever you do. I would caution any grammar police out there - this book is written in a conversational form, but it makes it feel like you are lounging on a hammock, talking with DJ Khaled himself. His advice is universal, simple, and applicable to anyone with a dream. It was neat to get to know him so well!
Profile Image for Laura Aranda.
56 reviews11 followers
May 12, 2017
DJ Khaled is such an incredible force of positivity. Many people may not take his keys to success seriously, but I think they all serve as reminders that happiness and determination lie at at the foundation of success. I especially appreciated when DJ Khaled discusses his anxiety about planes--I related to his experiences and his determination to succeed otherwise. I appreciated this book immensely for exactly what it was--nothing more than some genuine advice from DJ Khaled.
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