AllRespect.com // DJ Drama's New Single -- Featuring T.I., Akon and Snoop -- Hits The 'Net

Posted on 2008-12-24 03:00:11
Artist/band(s): Akon [FB]

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1601836/20081223/dj_drama.jhtml

"Day Dreamin' " is the lead track from forthcoming Gangsta Grillz 2: The Album (The Mixtape President).By Jayson Rodriguez

DJ DramaPhoto: Ben Rose/ Getty Images

"I don't want to dramatize it too much — no pun intended," DJ Drama said. "[But the album is] just bangers, something that can rock from beginning to end."

You'll have to forgive the influential mixtape DJ: It's easy to boast when you can score Akon, Snoop Dogg, and T.I. on one song.

The aforementioned trio appear on Drama's "Day Dreamin'," which hit the web on Monday. The track is the lead single from his Gangsta Grillz 2: The Album (The Mixtape President), which is tentatively scheduled to be released in late February on Atlantic Records.

"Day Dreamin'," however, is a bit of a departure for the Atlanta-based DJ (who, of course, was the target of a mixtape sting almost two years back). The Drumma Boy-produced record is more of an upbeat dance number compared to his previous singles like "Feds Taking Pictures" and "5000 Ones."

"Can you believe my fantasy girl is a go-go dancer ... Yeah, she got me day dreamin'," Akon croons on the chorus.

Drama, however, said the song represents him as much as any of his other records.

"It's a no-brainer, to me," he told MTV News of making the song the first single from the album. "The record is hot and the feedback was great, so I went with it. My last album, I had good records, and that album was a success to me [despite] very little video and airplay.

"I don't wanna get pigeonholed," he continued. "The brand is Gangsta Grillz, but if people question the type of songs that I put out, those are the type of people that questioned Gangsta Grillz before I did one with [underground rap group] Little Brother, before I did one with Pharrell. Gangsta Grillz is what I make it. It represents what I am. DJ Drama is a DJ that loves music in all forms. I want women to dance, because then the guys are gonna follow. I'm excited [by the album]. I just wanna put out big records."

Drama snagged the beat for "Day Dreamin' " from producer Drumma Boy, who also helmed Young Jeezy's "Put On" (featuring Kanye West) and worked on the DJ's debut. He then turned to Akon for the foundation of the track. The Senegalese singer had recorded vocals for Drama's first album, but the effort didn't make the project. Drama said he was eager to make sure 'Kon make the cut this go 'round. And when he got the vocals back, he said he knew it was the single.

Now, the DJ's goal is to get more video and radio play for this album.

"The streets already know me," he said. "Mixtape after mixtape, 'hood anthem after 'hood anthem; from the Guccis to the Jeezys to the Tips to the Waynes to the Ludacrises. The streets know me. This is the record that really shows it's the album and not the mixtape."

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