His fifth studio album We the Best Forever (2011) also saw similar commercial success, and helped bring Khaled to international prominence, as it featured the song "I'm on One", which was his first top ten hit. His sixth and seventh albums, Kiss the Ring (2012) and Suffering from Success (2013), charted in the top ten on the Billboard 200, and his eighth studio album, I Changed a Lot (2015), peaked at number 12.[5] In 2015 and 2016, Khaled gained worldwide attention as a media personality, due to his activity on social media. This foresaw the release of his ninth studio album Major Key (2016), which gained critical and commercial success; it debuted at number one the Billboard 200, was certified gold, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album.
He released his tenth studio album, Grateful, in 2017, which contained the singles "I'm the One" and "Wild Thoughts", which charted at number one and number two on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and was also certified platinum. His eleventh album, Father of Asahd, was released in 2019; it peaked at number two, and the song "Higher" won Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, Khaled's first Grammy award win. His eponymous twelfth album was released in 2021.
Outside of music, Khaled has gained success as a writer, with his book The Keys featuring on the New York Times Best Seller list. He has also featured as an actor, appearing in Spies in Disguise (2019) and Bad Boys for Life (2020).
Never Surrender
DJ Khaled Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trust no one, nobody (nobody, nobody, no no no)
DJ Khaled!
Gotta be careful who you trusting
Be aware of your surrounding when you hustling
Them niggas smiling at you ain't your friends, dawg
All the real ones are dead or in the pen y'all
Almost had it all then the day comes
When they walking through your house with the strap out
Pointing at your head, got the bread then you black out (yeah)
Bright lights down the hallways
Left his best friend for dead for the small wage (ay)
They say that every dogs got a day coming
It's like he seen a ghost but he ain't say nothing
Eyes wide shut like you looking at me
Window pain to the soul say they niggas happy
But the pictures ain't say them words and we dry stomach
The homie didn't keep it one hundred
The cops doing roundups, say they got a suspect
Finally got a name now, I'm still thinkin fuck that (fuck, that)
For money, niggas murder what they close to (get this nigga)
Entire families these mother fuckin' ghost you
Smoke you, was it worth what the life was?
Just prepared for the payback because it strikes cuz
Was it worth what that life was?
Prepare for the payback when it strikes cuz
Cuz when you need it the most ain't no one ever around
Cold world, cold world
Yo, the pain's unbearable, remains unaware-able
He fuck around jump off a building if you dare him to
The greats they done already killed him, who you compare him to
Figure out what he said will take a year or two
Family over everything, skills over politics
He don't need the accolades as long as you acknowledge it
Just playing the hand you was dealt, no aces
Betrayal is worse than death in most cases
The world is filled with hypocrites that's so racist
Multiple shots to the face, No chasers
Mad cause you blew up quick and you excited
Your man that you grew up with get you indicted
This was your nigga, yo, for him you let the trigger go
Found out at the trial they got audio and video
Shit don't always happen how you plan it
Get jammed up and really find out who your fam is
You could feel the picture, you don't need to see the canvas
That nigga Jay'll Hawk you, he don't even play for Kansas
You know when it's someone you love the hurt's pure
You front tryna hold it in, it hurts more
He was right there back-to-back with me, my first war
Even had a crack spot together, the first floor
Used to buzz em in then meet him right by the first door
That was 'prolly a year before I went on my first tour
Friendship was worth more than a couple of ounces
He was 'sposed to be with me arguing with the bouncers
Instead you ended up somewhere far in the mountains
Talking 'about what we was doing, what we was counting
Nothing but old pictures of old sixes
Old BM's with the kids, old snitches
Two sides, both wishes
Karma is the sister of life, they both bitches
See there's a story in my life
There's a story in my pain
There's a story in my tears, oh-oh oh
There's a story in me
Yeah, for life
Lord forgive me for my sins, I was chasin' ends
And I'm into makin' money, I ain't in to making friends
Cause these niggas rattin', I ain't finna take a chance
Homie said he 'bout that action they grabbin' me take the stand, damn
Say loyalty make a man, got a homie and he told
I don't even shake his hand, I don't even crack a smile
Knew him since a child, man this game so foul
But niggas made vows to a code I never break
Ridin' in the heavy weight
Thirty-six O's in the bird, call it feather weight
Never on time, when I show up I be ready late
Niggas got fat while we starved they already ate
And I'm trying to get full, masks on clips full
If he got the money we attack him like a pitbull
We sellin' soft, we sellin' hard like it's a brick store
On my dick, nigga, thought that's what your bitch for
Hah!
My pain ain't never been told (ain't never been told)
All the success that I'm suffering from
Came from this knowledge I sold (this knowledge I sold)
My family fucks with me
And fought the enemy that stood in my way (my way)
That's why I don't trust nobody
And I doubt you'll ever see that day
Where I surrender to you (surrender), surrender to you (surrender)
Surrender to you, surrender to you
Which I will never do
'Cause when you need it the most ain't no one ever around (nobody's around)
Cold world (cold world), cold world (mmm, yes it is, yeah)
And the ones that you keep close are the ones will take you down (always take you down)
Cold world (cold), a cold cold world
Where I surrender to you, (surrender) surrender to you (surrender)
Surrender to you, surrender to you
Where I surrender to you, (surrender) surrender to you (surrender)
Surrender to you, surrender to you
Which I will never do
Oh-oh oh whoa
Oh-oh (oh-oh) oh-oh
See there's a story in my life (Surrender)
There's a story in my pain (Surrender)
There's a story in my tears (Surrender)
There's a story in me (I won't Surrender, I won't surrender, oh no no no)
In DJ Khaled's song "Never Surrender," the lyrics express the importance of trust within a circle, but also the reality of betrayal within that same circle. Khaled emphasizes the need to be careful and aware of those you trust, as not everyone you think is a friend has the same intentions as you. He warns that those whom you once considered as friends might end up being the ones pointing a gun at you and stealing your money. Each verse tells a different story about betrayal, from someone snitching and getting their friends into trouble to someone ending up in the mountains instead of fighting the same battles together as a team.
The chorus is a reminder that nobody will always be around when you need them the most. The cold world we live in further perpetuates the importance of keeping one's circle tight, as sometimes even close relations can be the ones to bring us down. The bridge reflects on the idea that everyone has a story of pain and tears, and that surrendering to anyone isn't always the best solution; sometimes, walking away is the only way to prevent further harm.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep your circle tight
It is important to have a small and trusted group of people around you.
Trust no one, nobody (nobody, nobody, no no no)
Be very cautious when trusting others, because people can be deceptive.
Gotta be careful who you trusting
You must be careful about who you decide to trust.
Be aware of your surrounding when you hustling
When you are working hard to succeed, it is important to pay attention to everything around you.
Them niggas smiling at you ain't your friends, dawg
Just because someone is friendly to you does not mean they are your true friend.
All the real ones are dead or in the pen y'all
Many genuine people who are trustworthy have either been killed or imprisoned.
When they walking through your house with the strap out
People with weapons may invade your home, threatening your life and safety.
Pointing at your head, got the bread then you black out (yeah)
Your life can be threatened when somebody steals from you, leaving you in a state of distress.
Betrayal is worse than death in most cases
Being betrayed by someone you trusted is often more painful than death.
The world is filled with hypocrites that's so racist
There are many people in the world who are hypocritical and prejudiced.
Family over everything, skills over politics
Family should come first and be a priority, and it is more important to have valuable skills than to be involved in politics.
Ridin' in the heavy weight
He is operating and making a profit in a high-risk and high-stakes environment.
And the ones that you keep close are the ones will take you down (always take you down)
The people you consider to be your closest allies can often become your greatest enemies.
My family fucks with me
His family supports him and stands by him.
That's why I don't trust nobody
Because of the danger and deceit in the world, he does not trust anyone.
Where I surrender to you, (surrender) surrender to you (surrender)
He refuses to give up or submit to anyone else.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kevin Cossom, Robert Williams, John Stephens, Khaled Khaled, Aliaune Thiam, Jason Phillips, Anthony Hamilton, Nicholas Warwar, Brad Jordan, William Robinson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kingcrowns8801
Certainly but you hear the sadness
Cold world (cold world), cold world (mmm, yes it is, yeah)
And the ones that you keep close are the ones will take you down
(always take you down)
Cold world (cold), a cold cold world
'Fore I surrender to you, (surrender) surrender to you (surrender)
Surrender to you, surrender to you
'Fore I surrender to you, (surrender) surrender to you (surrender)
Surrender to you, surrender to you
Which I will never do
Thats tough! For all the homies locked up, dead or struggling.... solute. Make it out!
@cyrennasauceda6835
2024 who’s still here?🥳🫶
@markvirgilpereiraSR
Glad my neighbors have a flagpole
@Etienne.Womack
Everybody verse was a gem! Keep your circle tight,trust no one 💯
@17shanew
Jada’s verse was magical. You could feel every thing Meek said he meant.
@cecilialanay6579
Everything Meek said was from a deep deep place 🔥
@da_oneand_only6630
Meek has it in 🧡
@reuken9164
The way Khaled is able to put Hamilton, John Legend and Akon to sing on a rap song is a different level if you know music👊🏾
@naaemhassan9714
That Part!
@neilmccoy1144
Genius Level
@SingersDream
Ikr! I love too that they have riffs and choruses in between each rap verse. ❤❤