Sorry Not Sorry
by DJ Khaled (featuring Jay-Z & Nas)

Album: Khaled Khaled (2021)
Charted: 30
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, Nas, Jay-Z and Roc Nation singer-songwriter James Fauntleroy team up for an unapologetic track about living the dream. DJ Khaled supplied the languid production along with Tarik Azzouz and StreetRunner.
  • Fauntleroy kicks thing off, crooning the chorus where he celebrates the three artists coming up from nothing. A chill Nas then takes the first verse where he calls himself a "winner in life." He boasts that he's risen from being a street-based drug dealer to living "heavenly in Cabo, with a Mexican sombrero."

    Jay takes the baton on the second verse. Hova's rhymes address his billionaire status and incorporate a shout-out to his wife Beyoncé, who responds in kind with a "hey." Bey's contribution to the track earns her a credit under the name Harmonies By The Hive.
  • Jay Z, and Beyoncé previously collaborated with DJ Khaled for the producer's songs "Shining" and "Top Off."
  • Former rap rivals Jay-Z and Nas teamed up on four occasions prior to this song. After officially ending a long-lasting beef in a football stadium in 2005, they collaborated on:

    Nas' 2006 Hip Hop Is Dead cut "Black Republican."

    Jay-Z's 2007 American Gangster track "Success."

    Ludacris' 2008 Theater of the Mind tune "I Do It for Hip-Hop," on which they both feature.

    Jay-Z's 2013 Magna Carta... Holy Grail number "BBC" which also features Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, and Swizz Beatz.
  • The song samples Jay-Z's The Blueprint cut "Song Cry," which itself is built around Bobby Glenn's 1976 track "Sounds Like a Love Song." It's not the only Khaled Khaled track that takes inspiration from The Blueprint. The record opens with "Thankful," which samples a flute line from "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City," borrowed from Bobby "Blue" Bland's 1974 tune "Heart Of The City."
  • Both Bryson Tiller and Demi Lovato previously recorded songs titled "Sorry Not Sorry" but neither have anything to do with this track.
  • Hype Williams directed the video, which sees Khaled, Jay and Nas, dressed in tuxedoes, living it up in a casino.
  • This is a track from DJ Khaled's 12 studio album, Khaled Khaled, titled after the producer's real name, Khaled Mohamed Khaled. The Miami hitmaker told Billboard's Chelsea Briggs it translates from Arabic to "immortal."

    The producer explained he first had the idea to make an album called Khaled Khaled before he'd cut his first record, 2006's Listennn... the Album. "I figured I had to get past 10 albums," he said. "When you reach double figures, you've climbed the mountain."

Comments: 1

  • Rj from BostonWhy does Khaled say "GOOD Music" in the opening?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.

Divided Souls: Musical Alter Egos

Divided Souls: Musical Alter EgosSong Writing

Long before Eminem, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj created alternate personas, David Bowie, Bono, Joni Mitchell and even Hank Williams took on characters.

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.