DJ Drama

Before Drama burst onto the scene mid-decade, mixtapes were essentially thought of as a NYC-centric phenomenon, but the ATL DJ took the focus to the South when he helped produce classic, single artist mixtapes with T.I., Lil' Wayne, Saigon and many more. His disks combine the slapdash charm of traditional mixtapes with the polished veneer of official CDs, resulting in collections that are oftentimes stronger than the major label releases they accompany. He is best known for his Gangster Grillz series, and the Lil Wayne installment is considered among the top Southern hip-hop releases of this decade. Aside from churning out mixtapes, Drama is also T.I.'s official DJ, and is respected by communities from every region. The DJ made headlines in the beginning of 2007 when his offices were raided and he was hit with racketeering charges in connection to his mixtapes. The hip-hop nation rallied in support of its premier tastemaker.