AMG Review of Live from the 305

David Jeffries
All Music Guide

After a trilogy of slick, polished albums that featured million-dollar guest lists, Terror Squad DJ and Def Jam South president DJ Khaled partnered with Poe Boy Music head and Florida music mogul E-Class for this much more street-sounding, hometown affair. "This album contains the heart of the hood, it's about repping your city like a G," Khaled explains during the intro, and the high-caliber and genuinely hood tracks that follow support this claim, beginning with the Brisco and Trick Daddy highlight "Look What I Did." A silly, infectious hook, a futuristic Jackpot production, and classic crunk lines from Brisco make "Black Shades" the club pick, while the stately synth lines and a Miami all-star guest list (Flo Rida, Ball Greezy, Rick Ross, Pitbull, Ace Hood, and many more) turn "Yayo" into a 305 anthem. Egos must have been checked at the door as the veterans mix well with the newcomers, while the sometimes overzealous Khaled keeps his over-song shout-outs tastefully in check, keenly aware that these hard-hitting numbers can speak for themselves.