#GangstaGrillz: A Coversation With DJ Drama & Don Cannon

The combination of DJ Drama and Don Cannon made a lasting impression on the music industry. From Drama’s Gangsta Grillz series, to Cannon’s flawless production for countless artists, these two men can honestly say that they capitalized on all the opportunities presented to them. On October 6th, the Toyota Music Ballroom was the site of the conversation with DJ Drama and Don Cannon, who spoke about their journey, the music business, and having to adjust to Southern culture.

Moderated by Maurice Garland and Branden “LSK” Peters, DJ Drama and Don Cannon exemplify the hip-hop story. Both natives of Philadelphia, these two men met in college at Atlanta’s AUC. Drama was already a DJ on the rise, while Cannon was a producer looking to get his music played for local artists. Don Cannon briefly discussed that his initial sound was reminiscent of DJ Premier, Q-Tip and J Dilla, so he had to adjust his music to fit the mood of the typical southern musician. Cannon was able to keep the same feel in terms of the melody; while rearranging the drum patterns to appeal to his new audience. From this transition, he came up with a style of his own, and it became popular not just in the south, but nationwide.

From the moment he moved from Philadelphia to Atlanta, DJ Drama said he appreciated the love he got, and how the south embraced a young DJ trying to make it in Georgia. Being from the east coast, Drama has always been a fan of the rapper’s rapper. With this being said, his primary focus as a DJ from day one was to showcase southern lyricists in order to show the rest of the world that top-tier lyricism existed below the Mason-Dixon line, not just the “crunk” sound that everyone was accustomed to. He established relationships with artists like Lil’ Wayne, T.I. and Killer Mike, all of whom are from southern states and rely heavily on their lyrics.

Both Drama and Cannon spoke about the evolution of the mixtape game, and how it’s changed from a person rapping over different beats to an unofficial album, so to speak. Artists have raised the bar when it comes to mixtapes, and it increases the level of competition in hip-hop. The transition from DJ/Producer to Music Executives are something that these two men are very proud of. Their marquee artist as of today is also a native of Philadelphia, Lil’ Uzi Vert. They elaborated on the process of promoting him, the criticism he receives, and the genius of his music.

DJ Drama and Don Cannon are like family. They’ve gone through everything you can imagine both in the music business, and as brothers. No matter how many arguments or disagreements they get into, they reiterated the fact that they will always be family, and nothing can change that.

"When the Allure of the Game, Keeps Calling Your Name..."

In the world of sports, an athlete retires when they lose the passion for the game, or when they become physically unable to perform. Year after year, the pain and stress of the season will eventually take a toll on the mind, body and spirit. While the decision for an athlete retiring is almost concrete (i.e. Michael Jordan, Brett Favre), the line gets blurred when it comes to artistry; music to be specific. In reiterating a previous statement, athletes leave their respective sport “when they become physically unable to perform”; which makes sense, but these same rules do not apply when it comes to music. Barring a vocal disability, a musician’s career can extend for as long as they desire; which brings us to the question: “How long is too long?”

Two of the most popular artists of the millennium are that of Eminem and Lil’ Wayne. Both of their careers have spanned over 20 years, and their impact has not been restricted to America; their influence is on a global scale. Not only have they been able to set the bar when it comes to record sales, but their level of talent and consistency of their releases throughout the years have pushed the envelope for the culture of hip-hop. In recent years many people believe that they have regressed in terms of their output, quality and overall drive. Although these things may be true, they can also be subjective.

Marshall Mathers (p.k.a. Eminem) burst onto the national music scene in 1999 with the release of The Slim Shady LP. The album was met with both critical and commercial success, debuting in the top 10 on the Billboard charts. What separated Eminem from the rest of the pack wasn’t totally dependent on his skin complexion, but lyrically, he was just better than everyone else. Since then, he has become the highest selling artist of the 2000’s in America, with ten #1 albums and five #1 singles. His most recent album, Revival, has been panned by critics and fans alike. The consensus has been that Eminem, being the introvert that he is, has become out of touch with the current climate in music. The public has always linked him to his contemporary, Jay-Z, who has maintained his relevancy due to his uncanny ability to reinvent himself and adapt to the times. Em’s talent level is still there, but his music has failed to translate in the modern-day music scene that has become dominated by streaming.

A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Dwayne Carter’s trajectory was perhaps the most atypical we’ve ever seen. Initially a member of the southern supergroup The Hot Boys, Lil’ Wayne was a rising star on a label full of superstars. As time progressed, business matters caused the core of the Cash Money Records label to disband, leaving Carter as it’s lone breadwinner. The demise of the CMR imprint seemed imminent, but while pressure makes some people fold, it turned Lil’ Wayne into a diamond. In 2004, with the release of Tha Carter, Weezy released a dizzying flurry of albums, mixtapes and features in the subsequent years. The culmination of all his hard work and sleepless nights was that of his seventh studio album, Tha Carter III, which became the highest selling album of the year, in any genre. His chokehold on the music industry lasted for about three more summers, with projects like Rebirth, I Am Not A Human Being and The Carter IV all topping the Billboard charts. Since 2011, legal troubles and disputes with label head, Bryan “Baby” Williams have affected Lil’ Wayne’s music. His fans attribute him taking a step back semantically to an apparent lack of focus, not a lack of talent.

Both of the aforementioned rappers have been a staple in hip-hop culture for quite some time, and they’ve reached heights that some of us can only imagine. With their careers on a steady decline, when would be the opportune moment to call it quits, if ever? With such polarizing music being released recently, we can still see those flashes of brilliance every now and again. It is obvious to many that these two artists still have a lot more to give before they officially “hang it up”, they just may need to re-adjust their focus and dedicate the time needed to mesh with the current state of music. Regardless of how far many feel they have fallen, they will always possess the ability that made them legends in the first place.

Honestly, it may be time for Eminem and Lil’ Wayne to move on from music, but who is really to say when the time is right? What many people fail to realize is that music isn’t necessarily for the audience, it can sometimes be for the artist; and an artist can make music for as long as they deem fit.

So, to Eminem, Lil’ Wayne, and any other musician that may have lost that fire, that passion for the art that has made them great at what they do; never stop searching for it… because when you find it, your true fans will always be waiting.

– Okla