We had the opportunity to chop it up with one of the hardest working producers in the game Drumma Drama. The man responsible for a slew of Yo Gotti hits including his smash single Touchdown, I got that Sack, Real Niggas, and the newest single “Check” off of Yo Gottis CM7 Mixtape. His credits don’t stop there he has also worked with J-Money/Futuristic, Yung LA, Young Dro, Gucci Mane, Jim Jones, Alley Boy,Future, Don Trip, French Montana and more!!!
With an appetite for success Drumma Drama is sure to solidify his place in the game. He talks about his start in production, the ups and downs that he experiences in the music business and drops some knowledge for any up and coming producers!!!
Check out the intervew Below!!!
HHFH: So whats good Drumma Drama..Can you tell us a little about yourself? and where your from?
DRUMMA: To jump shit off, I’d say that I am a bit more that a producer. I’m more of a rising, young mogul/entrepreneur…I’ve just been blessed with these hands, man. The music thing is my gift. I’ve lived a few places. There are a few cities I can go to and call home, but straight up and down, I’m from North Memphis.
HHFH: How did you first get into Music/producing?
DRUMMA: When I was young, I used to listen to Notorious B.I.G.’s, “Life After Death” album a lot, and I loved his beats. He had crazy bangers on that album. I liked the records so much that I would rewrite my own lyrics to em, on some cool shit, just for fun. But, I really wanted to remake the “Somebody’s Got To Die” beat, so I hit the internet in search something to use to do it, and I found Fruity Loops(its called FL Studio, now). On my 1st attempt to remake that beat, I was successful. And it’s been poppin every since that moment. I started making my own shit.
HHFH: How long have you been producing for?
DRUMMA: I started when I was like 13-14 years old. But, I’ve been serious about making a professional career out of it since I was about 18 years old. So, if we’re counting those early days…we’d be at about 9-10 years, now.
HHFH: How would you describe your sound?
DRUMMA: My sound? One word; Diverse. The music that I create stems from my life. The shit that I’ve been through…been exposed to, that’s my sound. It starts with a great deal of Memphis mixed in with a lil bit of that Roc-A-Fella era, add a few tea spoons of Mannie Fresh, a cup that Trap shit, and whole lot of hustle, and…wah lah, you got a beat from Drumma Drama. I draw a lot of inspiration from movie scores, and classical music, as well.
HHFH: What producers did you look up to when you were growing up?
DRUMMA: Kanye West, Just Blaze, Carlos Broady, Mannie Fresh, Shawty Redd, DJ Toomp, J. Dilla…might be a few more, but off the top of my head, that’s my line-up.
HHFH: How do you feel about collaborating with other producers? I haven’t really seen you do that to much is there any reason why?
DRUMMA: Man, really…I’ve tried to get involved with a situation, as such…more than once, but it don’t ever really work out right.
HHFH: Ok there has been a new wave of producers rapping or at least making an attempt to… How do you feel about that? Do you think that producers should leave rapping to the rappers or do you think its a way to capitalize off of game?
DRUMMA: I mean, I don’t feel any particular way about what other niggas are out here doing, right now. I’m focused on Drum! Haha! Here’s my honest opinion on that: The game ain’t as sweet to some as it is to others. Get it how ya living, for real…if that’s what you feel gon get you a check…go ‘head, handle ya business!
HHFH: Do you have any plans on dropping any music as an artist/rapper?
DRUMMA: I’ve recorded a few songs before. I can do that rap shit, easily. I just choose not to. I’d rather make beats or A&R some shit before I fuck with that rap shit. But If there’s ever a time perfect enough…hey, I might fuck around with it…just for the check, though. I don’t have a serious passion to rap…this beat thing is my niche.
HHFH: Ok moving on!!! Man I checked you credits list and its pretty impressive. Yo Gotti, Starlito, J-Money/Futuristic, Yung LA, Young Dro, Gucci Mane, Jim Jones, Alley Boy, Trouble, Future, Don Trip, Ofishal & more….
Out of all these credits who did you enjoy working with the most?
DRUMMA: Yo Gotti, hands down. That’s family! He’s like big brother to me, for real. It’s been like that from day one. Plus, we got crazy studio chemistry, too. We go in on that Cocaine Muzik. Besides Yo Gotti, I like working on Lil Durk shit…he’s a cool lil dude. I stayed in ATL for second in 2009, and I was working with Future a whole lot; that was turnt up. Eldorado Red is my homie…we go in, too! All my independent clientele, too! They make the best music, because they are bound by no limits.
HHFH: How did you meet all these guys? Who or what did you do to get all these placements? Explain the gind!!! I am very interested to know!!!
DRUMMA: In the beginning, it was like a street grind up. I popped up at studios, and got in niggas faces with CDs. I just let the music do all the talking. Now, I have a lot of connections…I respect the relationships I’ve built with these artists, and managers, and they look out for the kid.
HHFH: What was your break out record? what what the track that you think got you noticed?
DRUMMA: Yo Gotti – Touch Down. It blew up instantly. It got like 2M+ views on YouTube in just 2-3 months. Also, Yo Gotti’s, “I Got That Sack”…that incredible for me.
HHFH: How big was the “I got that Sack” record for you???
DRUMMA: Man, GIGANTIC! It did good numbers. I got an exorbitant amount of recognition from record. Gotti said it would be a hit, though. The remix was even crazier! I couldn’t even believe I had Yo Gotti, Young Jeezy, and T.I.P. on my damn! That shit was unreal, but it motivated like nothing else. Its a major accomplishment for me.
HHFH: When you want to work with an artist that you dont know personally what do you do to get their attention or what do you do to get your beats to them?
DRUMMA: I’ve just been getting emails and texts from artists management, labels, etc. to work. I try to capitalize in this industry whenever/wherever I can. If I see an opportunity, I introduce myself, and do whatever I can to get beats the out. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, people look out for me, too.
HHFH: Now you know I heard about your from Dimepiece.. we were all in the studio one day and she played a track that you gave to her and we were all just looking at each other with smiles on our faces!!! (Laughs) The track you gave her was crazy.. How did you meet DImepiece and what led up to you and her working together!!!
DRUMMA: She hit me up. She was serious about working…I peeped her hustle, I liked the music I heard from her, so we linked up in ATL, and made it happen. She’s from Memphis, so when we got together in the studio, it was like we’d already known each other. When I played the beat, she turnt all the way up, and it is what it is, now.
HHFH: Thats dope!!! Are there any artists that you want to work with who you havent yet?
DRUMMA: Hell yeah! So many! I wanna work with Jay-Z, Kanye, DJ Khaled, Fabolous, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, The Game, Meek Mill, Wiz Khalifa, ASAP Mob, Lil Boosie, UGK, Lloyd, Beyonce, Rihanna, The Dream, Chris Brown, and whoever else that will give me the chance to shine with em.
HHFH: Now a days producers and artists dont actually meet up in the studio anymore. Most of the time is all done via email. How do you feel about that?
DRUMMA: The email thing is aight, but I don’t really like to do that shit. It’s hard for me to pick beats for people and send it to them, but I ain’t gon front like I won’t do it. I try to put a lil pressure on artists to get in the studio.
HHFH: Has there been any time that would have liked to go into the studio with the artist and contribute to the recording process?
DRUMMA: I feel like that every single time. I like to do the studio “work” with em. I really do.
HHFH: Who was the artist that you would have liked to go into the studio with? and why?
DRUMMA: Jadakiss. I was in New York, he was supposed to come by the studio and record his for “Red, White, & Blue”, but I had to fly back home, so I missed him. It was cool, though, because I got to meet Chris Lighty,(R.I.P.) at the same studio the night before. Jadakiss ended up recording his verse in Las Vegas or shit, I believe. He killed that track, though. I was happy. He’s one of my Top 5 MCs, for real.
HHFH: Now I need you you to be 100% honest with me. Most producers I speak with tell me that there beats are like there babies and they dont like just giving them away to anybody.. Has there been a time when you sent a track out to an artist and when the song came out you were not happy with what they had done?
DRUMMA: That ain’t happened to me, yet. I usually send records that I’ve crafted for the artist(s) or something that I know they can get their shine on.
HHFH: Has anyone ever swagger jacked your style or straight up stole a beat from you?
DRUMMA: I hear my lil quirks in a few producer’s beats, but I switch up so much, it don’t even matter to me.
HHFH: There are so many horror stories about producers not getting paid for beats. Have you ever had any problems in that area?
DRUMMA: I’m talking money on the front end. I like to do the business, and build the friendship and shit from that point. It’s less stressful that way. I’ve had a few delays with checks before, though, but nothing too crazy. I pray that never happens to me…I’m not that nice, ya feel me. I hate that shit happens to producers. I wish niggas would stop bullshitting and cut that check. That shit is bad business, and its what drives producers to shop their beats with other artists and not give a fuck about your song.
HHFH: What would you do if someone did steal your beat?
DRUMMA: Steal my beat? As in remake my shit or just take my credit? Either way, I coming to see about ya. There’s a few ways to square that up, but I would hope, for the culprit’s sake, it’s settled safely and with a an attorney. But it will be settled.
HHFH: Moving on to the technical talk that all the producers are wating for..
Walk us through a typical production session with Drumma Drama? How do you make your beats? Is there any particular system for you to create that hit?
DRUMMA: Sometimes I have an idea or concept and I sit down and crank it out. Sometimes I’m sitting down…most of the time I stand up to create records. Otherwise, I go get junk food…PB&J sandwiches, any type of candy, and few bottles of water and just play shit from my keyboard or midi controller. When I get something going that gives me that “feeling”…I build on that. I like to make my beats early in the morning. I’m a morning person. I wake up ready to work. No lie!
HHFH: Can you give us a run down on all of the equipment are you using to make your beats today? dont hold back mayne!! We want to know (laughs)
DRUMMA: I can’t give away everything…NOT EVERYTHING! I use Reason, Logic, Fantom, Maschine(rarely), and Access Virus, mostly. I used to be and MPC junkie, though.
HHFH: I know that you don’t want to give away all of your secrets but what are some things that you always do when making a beat?
DRUMMA: Mix, mix, and mix, again.
HHFH: Some producers swear that its “All in the Mix”, Do you agree with that statement?
DRUMMA: Fucking right! The worst beat can be a banger if it’s mixed good enough.
HHFH: Do you work with any mix engineers? or is it all in house?
DRUMMA: I do my own shit a lot. But Leo from Memphis is a guy that I like to work with…Alec from Music House in ATL, as well. I like KY’s mixes, too!
HHFH: When looking back at your career are there any things that you wish you had done different?
DRUMMA: Nope. I can admit, I could’ve been further along in my career, but I did what I had to do to hold my home life together, and those things kept me from giving 100% effort in this game, but my family will always come before this. Straight up. I’m here, now…that’s what really matter. I’m gon stay humble, stay hungry, and keep working.
HHFH: How do you feel about the state of Hip Hop in 2012?
DRUMMA: I can’t complain. I’m just happy to be a part of things. Everybody is hustling…getting it how they live, and thats how I like to play.
HHFH: Tell us one thing you love about the music business?
DRUMMA: Fans, and the very people that keep it real, out here. The people that you can relate to, and make history with.
HHFH: Tell us one thing that you dislike about the music business.
DRUMMA: All the political garbage, fake friends, and shiesty people, artists and producers, alike, have to put up with. That shit ain’t playa, at all.
HHFH: What advice can you give to the up coming producers that are reading this?
DRUMMA: Pray. Work hard. Fuck the critics. Make sure your paperwork is correct. Invest in yourself.
HHFH: What does it take for people to take you seriously as a producer?
DRUMMA: Consistency!
HHFH: Tell us something we don’t know about Drumma Drama?
DRUMMA: I’m still in college, pursuing a degree in business. I could’ve been done but, shit got crazy here and there, so school kinda fell of my list. But, I’ve reformed, and its all good.
HHFH: What can we expect to hear from Drumma Drama in the future? what projects are you working on now?
DRUMMA: I’m working on projects with Lil Durk(OTF/GBE, 3Hunna); check for that! I did some shit with French Montana in Miami, I’m waiting that to be release. LEP Bogus Boys got work with me. Working on some things for MMG, as well. I got more shit on the way with my bro, Yo Gotti, too.
Also, go download Yo Gotti’s latest single, “Check”, produced by, yours truly, at iTunes, right now. Get at me on Twitter/Instagram : @drummadram. Like my Facebook fan page: Drumma Drama.
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