In 2008, DJ Hed first met DJ Drama at a pool party in Las Vegas. At the time, Hed was a community college student trying to get on the radio and Drama was … DJ Drama; Gangsta Grillz creator and a cultural leader. For twenty minutes after that interaction, Hed stared at the “dramatic@tmo” email thinking of the next move. Fifteen years later, Hed and Chuck emailed Drama for a Home Grown interview at Generation Now in Atlanta.
From the 2008 pool party to his current project I’M REALLY LIKE THAT, DJ Drama has shown much love and appreciation to Cali artists. The recent project includes West Coast features from Tyler, Nipsey, Blxst, LaRussell, Mozzy, Roddy, and Symba. In the interview, the Grammy winning DJ speaks on why these collaborations were included in the project.
Drama has created some cultural moments with Cali artists, two in particular, Tyler and Nipsey. On DSPs, Nipsey’s Crenshaw does not include DJ Drama, but Drama was a part of the 2013 cultural moment when Nipsey was selling his Gangsta Grillz hard copies for 100 a piece. Jay-Z bought 100 of the CDs. In the interview, Chuck admits that Crenshaw only exists in his head with Drama’s contributions. In 2021, while we were in our homes navigating the reopening after the lockdown, Drama and Tyler brought Gangsta Grillz to the new generation of rap fans with Call Me If You Get Lost . The collaboration would give Drama and Tyler a Grammy for the Best Rap Album.
Watch the interview below, and learn why DJ Drama loves California so much.