Drama Albums (13)
'The Notorious B.I.G. Tribute'
Release Date 5/12/2009
Tracks 20
Label 1 Stop
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Get Plugged In: The Mixtape'
Release Date 4/7/2009
Tracks 20
Label DOC
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Gangsta Grillz: The Album, Vol 2'
Release Date 12/2/2008
Tracks 13
Label Atlantic
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
While the original was the high-profile hip-hop DJ album done right, Gangsta Grillz: The Album, Vol. 2 is the high-profile hip-hop DJ album done as expected with all the inconsistency and empty glitz one would anticipate. Placing in the win column is the opening Atlanta anthem led by T.I. plus the aptly titled "Ridiculous," which finds Gucci Mane and crew succeeding at the Mike Jones/Paul Wall style of infectious party songs. Gucci also owns "Smoke," thanks to an amazing freestyle-like run at the mouth, and even if hip-hop's 2009 love of all things nautical makes you cringe, "Yacht Music" is the easygoing chillout number it aims to be, serving its leisure purpose splendidly. While "Tipper Love" with the-Dream should be on the list of highlights, it is worth noting that this is the album's second ode to a stripper, supporting the feeling that the DJ built the album polished track by polished track and without his eye on the full picture. Push "shuffle" and this everyday collection will sort just as well, which is odd considering that Drama made his name selecting and sequencing some of the hottest, most in demand mixtapes to ever hit the streets. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
'Gangsta Grillz: The Album'
Release Date 12/4/2007
Tracks 21
Label Atlantic / Wea
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Capping off a year where he truly lived up to his name, Drama ended 2007 with Gangsta Grillz: The Album, a winning collection of hard street music with one of the most powerful guest lists imaginable. Drama made all these friends back when he was officially known as DJ Drama, the name he used on his underground Gangsta Grillz mixtape series, which, it turns out, wasn't underground enough. Drama lost his "DJ" prefix due to legal threats from another DJ, but more importantly, he lost 81,000 copies of Gangsta Grillz mixtape CDs when he and his Aphilliates partner Don Cannon had their Atlanta office raided on January 16, 2007. With the two facing charges of racketeering, the "Free Drama and Cannon" T-Shirts hit the streets in big numbers, thanks to the widespread respect the DJ and his associates earned with the Grillz series. Those lucky enough to cop them can tell you, Grillz seemed to fire out one well-done release after another, most hosted by names as big as Lil Wayne or Young Jeezy. All this respect, hard work, and hard times pays off on Drama's first aboveground release, as most everyone who gained some street cred on a Grillz mix returns, and not with the usual B-list stuff they give to official DJ comps, but with prime material. Take OutKast's "The Art of Storytellin, Pt. 4," an amazing track with the duo in top form, rapidly spitting killer lines like "I started out starvin'/Now they got me out here Brett Favre'n/Tryin' to see if I still got it." Just as good but for completely different reasons is the all-star "5000 Ones," which could get any party started thanks to Jazze Pha's rousing production and good-time rhymes from everyone involved. Devin the Dude and Twista are at their smoothest during the soulful "Beneath the Diamonds" while producer Lil Jon stuns with his minimal joint "Grillz Gleamin." "Cheers" with Pharrell and Clipse is up to their usual high standards, and T.I. is welcome on all three of his tracks as he tries hard to pay back his boy Drama for becoming Grand Hustle's official DJ. It's interesting to note too that Gangsta Grillz: The Album really lives up to its title by offering a true collection of tracks instead of mimicking a mixtape. Skip the Diddy interlude (but not the hilarious Katt Williams one) and the intro "The Setup" (it wastes three minutes reenacting the January raid) and you've got Drama showing every other comer how the DJ album is done. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
'I Am the Street Dream'
Release Date 6/5/2007
Tracks 24
Label Corporate Thugs
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Headcrack Entertainment'
Release Date 5/7/2007
Tracks 17
Label Head Crack Entertainment/Amg Distribu
See Album Tracklist and Review
