Certified Fresh: D.R.A.M. – A Virginia State Of Mind

With New York and Los Angeles as Hip-Hop’s most prized beacons, and cities like Chicago, Atlanta and more recently Toronto emerging as hotbeds, the scope of where quality music can come from has expanded. But seldom does the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia get credited for its contributions.

Comprised of the seven cities–Virginia Beach, Hampton, Norfolk, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Newport News–the area bred renowned artists like Pharrell/The Neptunes, Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Teddy Riley, Jodeci’s DeGate brothers (notably DeVante Swing), and Clipse. And that’s scratching the surface.

A list of the aforementioned bunch rests among the elite class of their respective crafts, but it’s been a while since a new act from the seven cities has emerged with dominance. Thankfully, the Internets have cured our blindness, as a newcomer name D.R.A.M. (Does.Real. A$$.Music.) dropped a jaw-dropping debut project called #1EPICSUMMER. Like other artists from a generation shaped by social media and blog-influenced, the Hampton native’s style cannot be constricted into one box. Lyrically capable, but also astute when delivering fine melodies, D.R.A.M.’s draft day equivalent is a 19-year-old 6’5” combo guard who still may have some growing to do.

D.R.A.M.’s breakout track, “Cha Cha,” has gained traction on SoundCloud, and is moments away from bubbling onto other formats. In other words, it’s quite possible that he could be a special talent. Gather around the proverbial campfire and learn more about him below.

Who: D.R.A.M., a native of Hampton, VA., is rapper-singer on the rise. Crossing the water to make an impact on Norfolk’s showcase scene proved to be viable, as that would be the grounds for him to meet Gabe Niles (of Virginia soul duo, Sunny & Gabe), who would later produce the bulk of #1EPICSUMMER. As the saying goes, the rest is history.

Credentials: Though new to the scene, D.R.A.M.’s #1EPICSUMMER project has managed to catch some ears. Most notably, legendary MC and producer Q-Tip went on Twitter to sing his praises.

Fun Fact: D.R.A.M. used to record songs in a recording booth in the now-defunct Coliseum Mall in Hampton, VA.

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Photo: Instagram

Hip-Hop Wired: #1EPICSUMMER sounds a lot like it’s an album. Did you approach making the project like an LP or mixtape?

D.R.A.M.: I can honestly say that it’s like a little bit of both. This was the first project that put people on [to my music]. Essentially, we set out to make a mixtape, but over time it felt like it was more than that. But it’s still a mixtape.

We focused on making good music. Not necessarily focusing on how people would perceive my first body of work. We just wanted to hit [listeners] off with a bang.

HHW: At what point in recording the project did you think, “Oh, we got something special?”

D.R.A.M.: It’s so crazy, because as the songs were coming along, it wasn’t really set on to be like, ‘at this point we have something here.’ By the time we had about 20 songs ready, we said lets compile something from it.

I think we knew we had something cold on our hands was when we made “Cha Cha.” We always knew that the song would be the one people would cling to most. It might not be the best song on the project] in my eyes, but we knew we had one when “Cha Cha” was performed and we saw how people responded.

HHW: Is the title literal in a sense that the project is based on summer 2014?

D.R.A.M.: I’d say at least 70 to 80 percent of the project was recorded in the summer and most of the content is based on that time. Aside from the fact that the music was created in the summertime, it was the first summer of the rest of my life. It was an eye opener to a lot of things and a whole new environment of people who are interested in my sound. I went to New York City for the first time, besides some tourist sh*t. I felt like it was perfect to coin the project that.

HHW: How did you connect with producer Gabe of Gabe and Sunny, who helped you shape the project?

D.R.A.M.: We’re both from the 757. He lives in south Norfolk. I’m from Hampton, but I’m usually across the water [in Norfolk] for the most part. But we’re some the same area, pretty much.

HHW: Were you two longtime friends?

D.R.A.M.: We knew each for two years from doing events and sh*t. Gabe DJs a lot of events out here. Back in the early days, when I was doing little showcases, we would cross paths and it was always a mutual respect between us.

It wasn’t until the end of 2013 when I reached out randomly. I caught on to Sunny and Gabe’s music. They blew me away, because it didn’t sound like anything from this area. I reached out and over the course of some time, we said we might was well make music together. Long story short.

HHW: While Gabe produced a bulk of the project, it was Kain Solo who produced “Cha Cha” right?

D.R.A.M.: I found the beat and it was dope as a b*tch. It was just the loop with the drum kits, or whatever; it was intended to get the crowd hype during shows.

I sent it to Gabe, and I guess he didn’t check it out. Then I bugged him about it and he finally listened to it, but he never said anything about the record. I hit him back like, “What’s good?” He replies, “I’m about to send you something.” When I listen, Gabe actually revamped the whole layout of the song with claps, the hi voice and effects. So “Cha Cha” was actually a collab.

HHW: A personal favorite on the project is “1#EPICRANT (Ode To The Struggle Rappers),” because it’s a song that shows your lyrical prowess. What inspired that record?

D.R.A.M.: It’s a song that’s intended to show people where I came from. I always incorporated melody and singing into my music, because I knew it would set me apart. But I had this big chip on my should, when I’d say, “Bruh, I gotta have these bars.” I broke free from that for the most part with this project, but I had to have one song that was an overhaul of bars.

The song also represents the area. If you hear artists who are making noise at local showcases, a lot their music sounds like that; complaining or speaking on the struggle, but very passionately. My track is half and half. I wanted to show my skills, but I wanted to poke fun at how people give it up in the 757.

HHW: Q-Tip recently paid homage on Twitter. How did you react?

D.R.A.M.: It was so crazy. When I was in NYC for CMJ, we went to the club Tip was deejaying at. His manager had me come meet him at the DJ booth. Tip told me he loved the record, so my head is gone. I’m tripping. I’m talking to f*cking Q-Tip, and I’ve never really been outside of my hometown. Meanwhile, I’m looking at this man in his face and he’s hype about my record.

About an hour later when we’re in the club, he drops “Cha Cha” and runs it back like three times. Everyone was looking confused at first, but by the end of the session, when he’s deep into the song, everyone was cha cha’ing with their ladies. It was like an older crowd. They were dancing. I’m swimming thru the crowd, watching people enjoy my song.

It was a crazy feeling, because Tip was playing it. Then the next day he went to Twitter about it. Much love to Q Tip. That’s big homie.

HHW: The 757 has a history of artists that includes legends like The Neptunes, Timbaland, Teddy Riley, and Missy Elliott. But you’re in a new wave of artists. What do you think differentiates the new artists from the legends?

D.R.A.M.: I can only speak for myself. We’re on a constant. My camp has kind of considered this. During that golden era [of 757 artists] in the mid 90s to the mid 2000s–particularly the late 90s to mid 2000s–that conglomerate of Virginia heat was coming through. They were doing their sh*t in house, working with each other. It set the basis for how to do it for artists from out here.

I don’t think that we’re trying to do something different than what’s been done. We’re just trying to do it our way and pay homage to the foundation that the Virginia titans have laid in front of us. The way that they attacked the music industry was crazy. My camp just wants to kill it on some family sh*t.

Essentials:

“Cha Cha”

“IBG2U”