The DJ and artist behind both the "Gangsta Grillz" mixtapes and official Atlantic compilation of the same name, Drama explained to SOHH why he dropped the DJ prefix on his latest project.
"You know my name, I got the name for the album, it's Drama, not DJ Drama, it's just Drama," the Philadelphia native told SOHH. [Watch interview here]
Apparently another DJ Drama came forward to contest Drama's claim on the name, and after being unable to reach an agreement, Drama and Atlantic Records were forced to go another route.
"This punk @$$ dude came outta nowhere and started yapping to the label," Drama explained. "I was ready to cut him a check. I was going to cut him a nice check. I was gonna give him some money for the name, because he can't go nowhere and say DJ Drama and they think it's really him. You might as well just give up the name you not gonna be able to do nothing with it, but his punk @$$ disappeared."
Without a means to settle the dispute, Drama opted to leave the DJ part out of his name, but even that took some ironing out. Fortunately a delay in the release schedule allowed Atlantic and Drama time to procure the name he eventually ended up with.
"When my album got pushed back, if I would have had to come out there I would have had to come out as Dram or Dramatic, not Drama -- Drama I can rock with," Drama said. "Shout to the artist Drama who is incarcerated. Me and him had a conversation, he gave me the blessing to be able use the name, so you know I cut him a check."
Drama also had some choice words for the DJ behind all the drama in the first place.
"Punk @$$ dude man, you didn't even want to play ball, at least come play ball," Drama said. "Where are you gonna go and say DJ Drama? - I'll still cut you a check but it's gonna be a little one this time."
Gangsta Grillz: The Album is currently in stores.
[For more on the ATL scene peep SOHH Atlanta]
SOHH Exclusive: DJ Drama Explains Legal Drama Over His Name | Daily Hip-Hop News | SOHH.com /
