All DJ Khaled does is win, and on Friday, the We the Best music man passed on that same positive attitude to the students at Miami Norland Senior High School in Miami, Florida.
Khaled’s We the Best record label partnered with local hip-hop station 99 Jamz and surprised the students with a $10,000 donation to the school’s band and music program.
“They could be young executives, young musicians, big artists,” Khaled told MTV News moments before he walked into the school gymnasium, where students sat in the stands and the bands played hit records like “All I Do Is Win” and “No New Friends.”
Miami Norland principal Reginald Lee saluted Khaled and 99 Jamz program director Derrick Baker, who is a graduate of the school. Lee stressed the importance of extracurricular activities, noting that participation in sports and music programs gives students the confidence to excel in the classroom. “They need something to feel good about, and this will definitely do it. That’s a great donation they gave to the band program and we definitely need those funds,” Lee said. “We have all these extracurricular activities kids can be a part of — drama, music and chorus — and then, you know, with budget cuts, this helps us. Those $10,000 are going directly to the band program so we can entice more of our kids.”
The all-star surprise generated considerable excitement for the kids who cheered, danced in the aisles and posed for pictures with the executive, record producer and radio DJ. “I’m glad to see this kind of fun and excitement,” said Baker. “When you give back to the arts, the kids get really excited, so I was glad to come back.”
Khaled hopes his donation will inspire a new generation of young professionals. “The message is love. It’s important to recognize where you come from,” he said. “Not only that, but to inspire them. I want them to see me face to face, take pictures, vibe and just communicate with each other because this is where I live. The message is I’m just like them.”
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