As 2007 comes to an end, DJ Khaled's grind picks up. Speaking to zone right before his 6pm radio show on WEDR 99 Jamz, "Mr. Miami" looks back on his big year, how Kris Kringle stuffed his Christmas stockings with cash, holiday shopping for his girlfriends, and why he'll probably be screaming "We the best" well in to 2008.

zone: What were the highlights of 2007 for you?
KHALED: I won a BET award. I won an Ozone award. I won Dirty awards. And my album's been so successful. "We Takin' Over" and "I'm So Hood" are two of the biggest records of the year. The success has been amazing.

Going back to your childhood, what were your Christmas experiences like?
Around this time of year, I would be working extra hard with my family. And even when I was a kid, I was so in to music and getting creative. I was trying to be the next hip hop mogul. I was so in to my music and my work. I had a big, humongous Cerwin-Vega stereo system in my room when I was like 10 or 11.

Were you into toys and things like that as a kid? What was your favorite gift?
My parents used to give me money. When I was a kid, I just loved money. I was a little don. When I was really young, my favorite gif was money, and when I was 13 I got my turntables. It was a big deal to me. And then, of course, I had to upgrade and got the MPC drum machine.

What is a regular holiday season for you like now?
It's all work. I'm on the radio every day. And this is when it gets really busy, because everybody wants to book me for a show. So this is like the come-up month. At the same time, this is when you get hurt, not physically, but hurt in the pockets. You make money, but you gotta spend money and get everybody gifts. And you got girlfriends that want to act like Christmas is... you feel me?

What's the biggest present you've given someone for Christmas?
Umm, probably some money. I've probably given someone like $10,000 or something in cash.

What do you want for Christmas?
I want to get my dream home, but I don't think that's gonna happen for Christmas. Nobody is gonna buy that for me. I'll try and buy it for myself. I got a beautiful home now, but I believe in upgrading every year.

What do you have planned for 2008?
For 2008, I'll be working on my new album and I want it to be number one in the country, like the other two albums. And I'm launching off my label called We the Best Music. And I two new artists named Ace and Bali. They're going to be the next big things out of Florida. I'm A&R for Luda's new album. I'm managing The Runners. We're gonna take it to another level. I'm working with Fat Joe and Rick Ross for their albums. But that We the Best Music is gonna be huge!