With a resume that includes 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 mixtape series, DJ Drama is often looked upon as the voice of the streets. Early on, Drama created a local buzz selling tapes in his high school and naturally brought his hustle with him when he relocated to Atlanta and began peddling mix tapes on campus. Offering a catalog that included reggae, instrumental and neo-soul mixes, his bread and butter came when he dropped his first southern-based tape Jim Crow Laws- his fastest-selling tape at the time. He renamed the series of tapes: “Gangsta Grillz” and asked then-upcoming crunk king Lil Jon to host.
-Excerpt from JENESIS Magazine

Read the full interview after the jump. Thanks to Quentin for sending me the transcript!

Quentin Cuff:: You moved from Philly to Altanta, to attend Clark Atlanta University, how often do you visit your hometown?

DJ Drama: You know, a couple times a year to see my family and friends.

Quentin Cuff: When did you begin disc jockeying and who were some of your biggest influences?

DJ Drama: I began dee-jaying in ‟92. The movie “Juice” was a big influence on me. I would have to say that Jazzy Jeff, Cash Money, a lot of the Philly legends.

Quentin Cuff: What was the first piece of vinyl that you ever picked up?

DJ Drama: It was a vinyl called “Street Rap”. It was a compilation; it had “Roxanne Roxanne” on it. It had Run DMC “Rock Box” on it. It had “Request Line” on it. The record had a whole bunch of songs on there.

Quentin Cuff: What was the first hip hop related item you ever bought, if that wasn‟t it?

DJ Drama: Some Adidas shell toes. I was a Run DMC fan.

Quentin Cuff: Why do you call yourself “Mr. Thanksgiving”? It‟s obviously not because of the Holiday season.

DJ Drama: (Laughs) It‟s because I feed the streets.

Quentin Cuff: What was the most memorable concert or event that you‟ve ever DJ‟ed?

DJ Drama: Man, there‟s too many of them! I‟ve DJ‟ed in Toyko and London. I‟ve DJ‟ed the Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta; I‟ve DJ‟ed the MTV Awards. I‟ve DJ‟ed in Madison Square Garden when T.I., Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Diddy, and Kanye West we‟re all on the stage at the same. I‟ve had a blessed career.

Quentin Cuff: Who is the liveliest performer that you‟ve ever shared the stage with?

DJ Drama: Myself!

Quentin Cuff: (Laughs) What was the name of the first mixtape you ever put out?

DJ Drama: It was a called “Illadelph”. I had The Roots on it, Dice Raw, 100 X, a lot of Philly Cats. Quentin Cuff: What do you think of Philadelphia‟s hip hop scene right now? Atlanta definitely has one of the hottest music scenes. What about Philly?

DJ Drama: It‟s dope. It‟s always been dope. I just think that there‟s a lot of talent with no outlets. Quentin Cuff: Your T.I.‟s official DJ, how did you link up with T.I. and what does it feel like now that you both have achieved success?

DJ Drama: I met T.I. about eight years when he got his first deal at Arista. His manager brought him through my crib and it was a wrap from there, been connected ever since. We both knew that each of us would have the level of success we had. It‟s been a good ride.

Quentin Cuff: Years ago you put out “Trap or Die” with Young Jeezy. That mixtape solidified Jeezy‟s name in the rap game. How did you meet Young Jeezy and how did it feel to make history with him?

DJ Drama: It feels good to make history. I was living in the Fourth Ward and he was in the Fourth Ward all the time doing his thing. He saw what I was doing with the whole DJ thing and when he was ready to drop his mixtape he came to the right man.

Quentin Cuff: Angela Yee interviewed you about Jeezy allegedly saying “Fuck DJ Drama”. You responded by saying that there wasn‟t a problem with him. Can you tell us how your situation with Young Jeezy got cleared up?

DJ Drama: No, it ain‟t anything. There‟s really nothing to get cleared up because there was no situation.

Quentin Cuff: When you hooked up with Lil Wayne for the Dedication, you created one of the most popular mixtape series in hip hop history. How did you meet Wayne and what do the Dedication mixtapes mean to you?

DJ Drama: I met Wayne when I was on the tour bus with Tip. Tip was on the phone with him and I hollered at him for a minute. We already had mutual respect for each other. He was aware of my work, so I told him, “Let‟s do it”. To see where he is in his career, and to hear a lot of people say that they started really checking for Wayne on our mixtapes is amazing. Again man, my career‟s been a crazy one and Dedication is what it is. As a fan of the game, I can take myself away from it and look at it and be amazed by what it‟s accomplished.

Quentin Cuff: What are your favorite songs from each Dedication mixtape?

DJ Drama: Off the new one, it would be “Art of Storytellin‟” or that “Dick Pleaser”. Off the second one, I like “Get „Em” and I like “Spitter”. And from the first one, I really like the “Intro”.

Quentin Cuff: Recently, the internet‟s been buzzing because Don Cannon left the Apphiliates. Was there friction between you two?

DJ Drama: Not at all, Cannon‟s my little brother man. That‟s family for life. He didn‟t really leave the Apphiliates, because we are a movement. He just chose different management.

Quentin Cuff: What are some of your favorite mixtapes that you did not host?

DJ Drama: I‟m a big Green Lantern fan. His tapes always progress the game. I like the classics man. Doo Wop “95 Live” and Tony Touch “50 Emcees” and S and S “Old School Part 2”. Things like that. Quentin Cuff: What‟s coming up for you in ‟09?

DJ Drama: I think the next Gangsta Grillz album is going to be bigger and better. More music, we got LA the Darkman‟s project coming and we got more Willie the Kid coming.

Quentin Cuff: What‟s the one song you put on at a party to make it pop off?

DJ Drama: It would probably be one of my own.

Quentin Cuff: Good look on the interview Drama.

DJ Drama: No problem, family.

For more information about DJ Drama visit gangstagrillz.com or http://www.myspace.com/djdrama
To contact Quentin Cuff email him at quentinc@fab5ent.com or facebook friend request Quentin Cuff.

Related posts:

1. Mixtape Review: Gucci Mane & DJ Drama – “Movie 3: The Burrprint” (+ Download Link)
2. Young Jeezy Too Hard For Twitter: “It Sounds A Lot Like Snitching”
3. DJ Drama ft. Akon, Snoop Dogg, & T.I. – “Day Dreamin” Video HQ
4. Brand New Styles P. Video Interview
5. OJ Da Juiceman x DJ Drama – Orange – Mixtape Download

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