Ask any southern rap fan to name the most prominent DJ in his
region right now, and the words DJ Drama are sure to spew out of
his mouth. Introducing the rap world to platinum-selling Def Jam
artist Young Jeezy and ATL sensation Young Dro as well as keeping
fans satisfied with exclusive pre-albums from Lil Wayne, Young
Buck, Bun-B of UGK, Eightball & MJG and Project Pat with his
Gangsta Grillz mix tape series, Drama has supplied stirring street
soundtracks to every block, back alley and trap house like a pirate
radio station on disc.
For his next move, the Atlanta-based mix tape messiah brings this
street music to the mainstream with the February release of his
Grand Hustle/ Atlantic mix tape album Gangsta Grillz. Following the
same formula that branded his trademark, the album flows with
blended, mix tape transitions between songs and features many of
the hottest names in rap music.
"This won't be the first time that street music came to the table,
but I'm going to show them what I got. I introduced a lot to the
world, and now I'm gonna introduce it on a bigger plain," Drama
explains. "This album is going to bring the movement of southern
rap culture, the mix tape game, quality hip hop to the masses where
they no longer have to go to a street corner or a bodega or the
Internet to know about Gangsta Grillz."
Born and raised between West Philadelphia and the city's Germantown
sections, Drama became a fan of DJ culture since copping his very
first mix tape- DJ S&S's Old School Part 2- after a trip to New
York City with his older sister. But it wasn't until being
captivated by Omar Epps' character DJ Gee Q in classic hip hop film
Juice would he step behind the ones and twos himself.
Early on, Drama created a local buzz selling mix tapes in his high
school and deejaying at house parties. After graduation, he moved
down south to attend college at Clark Atlanta University and
brought his hustle game along with him. He began peddling mix tapes
on campus with a catalog that included a reggae series,
instrumental series and neo-soul series. But his bread and butter
came when he dropped his first southern-based tape Jim Crow Laws,
his fastest-selling tape to date.
Quickly recognizing the demand for southern mixes, he renamed the
series to Gangsta Grillz and asked then-upcoming crunk king Lil Jon
to host. It was an instant hit. Before long, Drama got a call from
Grand Hustle co-CEO Jason Jeter, who wanted Drama to do something
that had never been done before- compile an album-like mix tape
with only artists from the label's group Pimp $quad Click. And
classic mix tapes from many of the rap game's top players came back
to back.
"The brand has been the success of many careers- myself included.
It's helped Young Jeezy's career; it's helped DJ Don Cannon's
career. It's helped the Aphiliates' career; it's helped T.I.'s
career. It's helped the streets," Drama insists.
And the Cannon-produced lead single "Cannon (remix)," featuring Lil
Wayne, T.I., Freeway and Aphiliates Music Group artist Willie the
Kid, is just a subtle warning until the album drops.
On the gritty, mid-tempo banger "187," Project Pat's choppy,
chant-like rhymes contrast with Eightball's calming verbal stabs,
MJG's quick tongue twists and B.G.'s nasally whine on the hook atop
a dark bass line and eerie synthesizers. On "Definition of a
Gangsta," Memphis money maker Yo Gotti trades war stories with
Baton Rogue bad boys Lil Boosie and Webbie over dynamic bass
pounds, haunting pipes military-styled cadence. And on the stunt
fest "Million Dollar Baby," Lil Wayne swings his nuts like num
chucks on top of Just Blaze's muffled heavy metal guitar riffs
while Drama gives motivational speeches on the hook like a boxing
trainer.
And on the breezy, Khao-produced "Cheers," the Clipse and Pharrel
toast their drinks to prosperity and wealth aided by live drums,
soft cymbals and a neo-soul vibe.
But just because Drama delivers the best that the Dirty South has
to offer, don't think that his limits are below the Mason Dixon
line. Beanie Segal and Cassidy collaborate on the 80s-influenced
"No Rules." Testifying over a faint electric guitar and dramatic
piano chords, Beans bears witness to his situation with Dame Dash
while Cassidy advises about the cautions of central lock up.
Already ghetto gold from mix tape downloads, bootlegs and Ipods,
Gangsta Grillz is packed with more hits than your favorite rapper's
Myspace page and certified platinum before it even hits the stands.
"You roll down your window in any hood and you'll hear a Gangsta
Grillz drop," says Drama. "You can go to any hood in any city and
ask somebody if they got a Gangsta Grillz. They gone tell you yes.
If you don't know who DJ Drama is, you don't know nothing about hip
hop right now.
Ask any southern rap fan to name the most prominent DJ in his
region right now, and the words DJ Drama are sure to spew out of
his mouth. Introducing the rap world to platinum-selling Def Jam
artist Young Jeezy and ATL sensation Young Dro as well as keeping
fans satisfied with exclusive pre-albums from Lil Wayne, Young
Buck, Bun-B of UGK, Eightball & MJG and Project Pat with his
Gangsta Grillz mix tape series, Drama has supplied stirring street
soundtracks to every block, back alley and trap house like a pirate
radio station on disc.
For his next move, the Atlanta-based mix tape messiah brings this
street music to the mainstream with the February release of his
Grand Hustle/ Atlantic mix tape album Gangsta Grillz. Following the
same formula that branded his trademark, the album flows with
blended, mix tape transitions between songs and features many of
the hottest names in rap music.
"This won't be the first time that street music came to the table,
but I'm going to show them what I got. I introduced a lot to the
world, and now I'm gonna introduce it on a bigger plain," Drama
explains. "This album is going to bring the movement of southern
rap culture, the mix tape game, quality hip hop to the masses where
they no longer have to go to a street corner or a bodega or the
Internet to know about Gangsta Grillz."
Born and raised between West Philadelphia and the city's Germantown
sections, Drama became a fan of DJ culture since copping his very
first mix tape- DJ S&S's Old School Part 2- after a trip to New
York City with his older sister. But it wasn't until being
captivated by Omar Epps' character DJ Gee Q in classic hip hop film
Juice would he step behind the ones and twos himself.
Early on, Drama created a local buzz selling mix tapes in his high
school and deejaying at house parties. After graduation, he moved
down south to attend college at Clark Atlanta University and
brought his hustle game along with him. He began peddling mix tapes
on campus with a catalog that included a reggae series,
instrumental series and neo-soul series. But his bread and butter
came when he dropped his first southern-based tape Jim Crow Laws,
his fastest-selling tape to date.
Quickly recognizing the demand for southern mixes, he renamed the
series to Gangsta Grillz and asked then-upcoming crunk king Lil Jon
to host. It was an instant hit. Before long, Drama got a call from
Grand Hustle co-CEO Jason Jeter, who wanted Drama to do something
that had never been done before- compile an album-like mix tape
with only artists from the label's group Pimp $quad Click. And
classic mix tapes from many of the rap game's top players came back
to back.
"The brand has been the success of many careers- myself included.
It's helped Young Jeezy's career; it's helped DJ Don Cannon's
career. It's helped the Aphiliates' career; it's helped T.I.'s
career. It's helped the streets," Drama insists.
And the Cannon-produced lead single "Cannon (remix)," featuring Lil
Wayne, T.I., Freeway and Aphiliates Music Group artist Willie the
Kid, is just a subtle warning until the album drops.
On the gritty, mid-tempo banger "187," Project Pat's choppy,
chant-like rhymes contrast with Eightball's calming verbal stabs,
MJG's quick tongue twists and B.G.'s nasally whine on the hook atop
a dark bass line and eerie synthesizers. On "Definition of a
Gangsta," Memphis money maker Yo Gotti trades war stories with
Baton Rogue bad boys Lil Boosie and Webbie over dynamic bass
pounds, haunting pipes military-styled cadence. And on the stunt
fest "Million Dollar Baby," Lil Wayne swings his nuts like num
chucks on top of Just Blaze's muffled heavy metal guitar riffs
while Drama gives motivational speeches on the hook like a boxing
trainer.
And on the breezy, Khao-produced "Cheers," the Clipse and Pharrel
toast their drinks to prosperity and wealth aided by live drums,
soft cymbals and a neo-soul vibe.
But just because Drama delivers the best that the Dirty South has
to offer, don't think that his limits are below the Mason Dixon
line. Beanie Segal and Cassidy collaborate on the 80s-influenced
"No Rules." Testifying over a faint electric guitar and dramatic
piano chords, Beans bears witness to his situation with Dame Dash
while Cassidy advises about the cautions of central lock up.
Already ghetto gold from mix tape downloads, bootlegs and Ipods,
Gangsta Grillz is packed with more hits than your favorite rapper's
Myspace page and certified platinum before it even hits the stands.
"You roll down your window in any hood and you'll hear a Gangsta
Grillz drop," says Drama. "You can go to any hood in any city and
ask somebody if they got a Gangsta Grillz. They gone tell you yes.
If you don't know who DJ Drama is, you don't know nothing about hip
hop right now.
