Words By Trackstar The DJ

Intro By TCGraphics By P.

Life is a hustle and, if you want to rise above the competition, you have to outwork the opposing factors tenfold.

Let’s just say DJ Drama didn’t earn his position passing records to the DJ his entire career. Think about some of the hottest mixtapes you’ve heard this decade. Trap Or Die? Yeah, Mr. Thanksgiving increased Young Jeezy’s buzz to platinum status. Who kept your iPod on repeat with Weezy’s Dedications? Who else but the iPod King. Little Brother’s Separate But Equal? And of course the ever-popular Gangsta Grillz series. Yessir. Ya boy Drama did that and more.

Since our first interview with him, DJ Drama has seen many things transpire. From securing a deal for his Aphilliates Music Group to releasing the successful Gangsta Grillz: The Album, Tyree Simmons has made some major moves – so major even the Feds had to take notice. With legal turmoil drifting behind him, TSS Crew’s Trackstar The DJ exchanges words of wisdom with the superstar DJ (who also hosts Trackstar’s Boogie Bang 11 mixtape) about his musical backgrounds and what the future has in store. Follow the leader!

DJ Drama

TSS: Good to meet you, man. It’s not often you meet the person who is one of the best in your own field work.

DJ Drama: Thats what’s up, I appreciate it.

TSS: I’m not gonna be able to make the event tonight (Editor’s note – Drama was in St. Louis for a promo spot at a local club). But what can someone expect at a live event hosted by DJ Drama? Are you going to be hands-on-the-turntables spinnin?

DJ Drama: Most definitely. I couldn’t have the DJ in front of my name and not be that. So I’m gonna in…I’ma do my 1-2 thing, you know keep the excitement, keep the energy up and just rock for the people…

TSS: Ok, and you do the hosting thing too…

DJ Drama: Yeah, of course, I like to talk a lot of shit.

TSS: Blends and scratches?

DJ Drama: Definitely, yo. I show skill.

TSS: What type of music you planning on playin?

DJ Drama: Man, you know, party music, I don’t really know, it all depends on where I feel like goin, where the crowd is…

TSS: Ok, right on. What are you listening to right now?

DJ Drama: Willie the Kid.

TSS: (Laughs) Okay, let me rephrase that – what are you listening to whom you’re not directly affiliated with?

DJ Drama: Uhmm…What am I listenin to…I got Alicia Key’s in the CD player…

TSS: Previously, you’ve said you have trouble deciding when to stop the Gangsta Grillz series, whether to keep it going forever or take it out at the top of the game. What are your thoughts on that today?

DJ Drama: It’s still going strong and the brand is good. In a lot of ways I think it’s just heatin up, so you know it’s taking a bigger role and I think its important to hip hop and when people look back on this moment in time in hip hop it’ll definitely play a factor…

TSS: No doubt. How are you feeling about the album’s performance so far?

DJ Drama: I think the album is great. The fans and critics have been pretty responsive to it…

TSS: If there was no hip-hop, what would you be doing?

DJ Drama: Man, I don’t know. I grew up on hip-hop and it shaped me. So if there was no hip-hop, I wouldn’t be who I am. I mean, I been part of hip hop; I grew up in the hip-hop generation. Its always been a part of me, I’ve been on this path for quite some time….

TSS: I know you met the other Aphilliates in college. What did you go to school for?

DJ Drama: I went to school for Mass Communications. Radio/TV/Film.

TSS: How many members in the Aphilliates?

DJ Drama: It’s a lot. Eight DJs, artist, producers, a staff of about ten. The movement is heavy…

TSS: What’s up with DJ Jamad?

DJ Drama: He’s doin his thing, he’s got the Afromentals, he got his lane and he’s definitely reppin the crew…

TSS: I first heard him on the Outskirts joint…

DJ Drama: That was a big CD, that was big…

TSS: I saw he featured a St. Louis artist, Black Spade, on one of his recent mixes…

DJ Drama: Oh yeah? That’s hot. That’s just what we do – we represent the real side of music and we’re just doin our thing.

TSS: What is your perception of St. Louis?

DJ Drama: St. Louis is a big city…I know its got its own sound, its got its own lane, nahmean. I know Nelly brought a lot of things to light and a couple artists that came after him – Chingy, J-Kwon, and of coure the Lunatics and Murphy Lee and Huey and things of that nature. I’m sure that STL gets stereotyped because of some of the artists that came out and I’m sure there’s certain artists that are outside that box that don’t feel that, but at the same time I think Nelly needs to be commended for bringing that light to the city…but I know its probably a whole lot of talent out here I”m not even aware of…

TSS: Switching gears back to the mixtapes, where do you think the income stream is going to be coming from in the mixtape game in the coming years with CD sales down?

DJ Drama: I don’t really think mixtapes are about income. I just think mixtapes are about building movements and representing the foundation of hip hop, which is the streets. I don’t look at it from an income standpoint; it’s about making the people aware of where an artist’s foundation is…

TSS: No doubt, I agree. I used to sell mixtapes for a dollar…

DJ Drama: …And it was more about gettin your name out there than it was about gettin money…

TSS: Exactly. How important do you think the cover is to a mixtape?

DJ Drama: Very very important, very important. I think with mixtapes its everything, the quality of the tape, the cover goes a long way, early on when I was doing my thing in Atlanta, I wanted my covers to stand out and be vibrant, you know what i’m sayin, because I felt like that was the way you need to make people pay attention to your project even before they listen to it…

TSS: No doubt. I saw a quote of yours that I found real interesting: “I’m the type of dude that says if I can do it, anyone can do it; I’m special but I ain’t that special”. Can you elaborate on that?

DJ Drama: I just feel like, for me, from what I do and where I come from, thats what I believe in, I believe anything is possible with an idea and if you put your heart and your grind into it…you know, I’m good at what I do. But I know a lot of DJs who are better than me, WAY better than me, but are nowhere near as far into their career, you know. I’m one of the top dogs right now; I worked really hard to get here. But it really comes from me just being dedicated and doin my thing.

Gangsta Grillz: The Album currently in stores.

Visit www.gangstagrillz.com for more info on Drama’s upcoming shows & store appearances.