DJ Drama
DJ Drama |
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Tyree Cinque Simmons (born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an Atlanta, Georgia-based hip hop artist and the official DJ for Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist T.I.. Drama is best known for producing mixtapes, including the successful "Gangsta Grillz" series and Dedication 2, which the New York Times called one of the "10 best recordings of 2006".[1] He also works with Lil' Wayne.
DJ Drama's debut album Gangsta Grillz: The Album was released in December 2007 on the Grand Hustle label. The album's first street single, "Takin Pictures", featured Young Jeezy, Willie The Kid, Jim Jones, Rick Ross, Young Buck and T.I.[2], while the first official single, "5000 Ones", featuring Nelly, T.I., Yung Joc, Willie the Kid, Young Jeezy and Twista, debuted on BET.[3]
In 2005 Drama independently released 17 of his 20 southern-based mix tapes, featuring acts such as Saigon, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Webbie, and Little Brother.
DJ Drama owns Aphilliates Music Group with DJ Don Cannon and DJ Sense. In 2006, Aphilliates Music Group inked a label deal with Asylum Records.[4]
Racketeering charges
On January 16, 2007, DJ Drama and DJ Cannon were arrested on racketeering charges after a raid of the Atlanta offices of Aphilliates Music Group.[5] Authorities seized nearly 81,000 CDs and held both Drama and Cannon at Fulton County jail on charges of racketeering. They were released the following day on $100,000 signature bonds. His Tour Van has been seen for sale on an online police auction site, for sale by the city of Morrow, GA [6]
Discography
Albums
- Gangsta Grillz: The Album (2007) (U.S. Sales: 250,000)
- Gangsta Grillz 2: The Album (December 2008)
Mixtapes
- Dedication With Lil' Wayne
- Welcome To The Traphouse With Young Buck
- Trap Or Die With Young Jeezy
- Tha Blue Carpet Treatment Mixtape With Snoop Dogg
- Dedication 2 With Lil Wayne
- I Told U So With Yo Gotti
- The Leak With T.I.
- 4th Ward Day With Slick Pulla
- Gangsta Grillz 16
- Interstate Trafficking 5.0 With Evil Empire
- Down With The King! With P$C
- American Gangsta Part 2 With Gorilla Zoe
- Election Day With Slick Pulla
- Gangsta Grillz Vol. 17
- All Hail The King With Katt Williams
- Heavy In The Streets 12 With DJ Scream
- Soundtrack To The Streets Pt. 8 With DJ Thoro & Big Mike
- We Got It For Cheap Vol. 3 With The Clipse & Re-Up Gang
- Hood Generals With B.G.
- The Notrious L.A.D With LA The Darkman
- Underworld Rise With Brisco & E-Class
- The City Is In Good Hands With Snoop Dogg
- There Is No Competition With Fabolous
- The Preview With Ludacris
- Definition of a G With Yo Gotti & Gucci Mane
- Full Circle With Tha Dogg Pound
- Gangsta Grillz: The Movie With Gucci Mane
Awards
- BET Hip-Hop Awards
- DJ of the Year [Nominated]
- Ozone Awards
- 2008, Best Mixtape ("Hood Generals") with BG [Won]
Notes
- Interview with DJ Drama's sister after the January 16th raid, Mixtapeshow.net, January 27, 2007
- April 2007 Interview, Allhiphop.com, April 2007
- Jeff Leeds, "Cracking down on mixtape CDs", New York Times, January 22, 2007
- Samantha M. Shapiro, "Hip-hop outlaw (industry version)", New York Times Magazine, February 18, 2007
- "Exclusive: DJ Drama Q&A", Rhapsody.com, January 11, 2008
References
- ^ Samantha M. Shapiro, "Hip-hop outlaw (industry version)", New York Times Magazine, February 18, 2007
- ^ Rap Basement - T.I., Jeezy, Jim Jones Blast Mixtape Raid On New DJ Drama Track
- ^ illRoots » Blog Archive » DJ Drama - 5000 Ones
- ^ "Andre 3000 keeps DJ Drama waiting", Mixtape Mondays, MTV, August 4, 2006
- ^ "With arrest of DJ Drama, the law takes aim at mixtapes" International Herald Tribune, January 19, 2007
- ^ GovDeals.com: Seized Custom Tour Van