DJ Khalil

Khalil Abdul-Rahman Hazzard, professionally known as DJ Khalil, is an American music producer and DJ from Los Angeles. The son of NBA player Walt Hazzard, he signed with rapper Dr.

Born into LA royalty—his father Walt Hazzard was an NBA legend—DJ Khalil emerged as one of the West Coast's most versatile studio architects, proving his range across Dr. Dre's *Compton*, Kendrick Lamar's *DAMN.* and *To Pimp a Butterfly*, and Eminem's *Recovery* era work. Rather than chasing a signature sound, Khalil became the kind of producer executives call when they need a problem solved: someone who understands both the grimy underbelly of West Coast production and the pop-rap crossover that moves units. His connections to hip-hop's heaviest hitters—from Dre's mentorship to his ongoing relationship with Kendrick—placed him squarely in the conversation during the 2010s, even if his lower profile kept him out of the spotlight's glare.