• Trailer
    Jul 20 2023

    Before rap music made its way onto the radio, mixtapes reigned as the primary means of distributing the genre. It was in 1996 that a young and talented DJ Drama made his debut in the mixtape scene with "Iladelph," a remarkable release that showcased Black Thought of the legendary Roots. Fast forward 25 years, and DJ Drama has transformed into a Grammy-winning hip-hop producer, record executive, and tastemaker earning himself the well-deserved moniker of "King of the Mixtape." Throughout his illustrious career, he has released a series of groundbreaking mixtapes that have not only disrupted the music industry but have also featured some of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time.

    Enter the world of DJ Drama's Gangsta Grillz Podcast, a captivating Audible Original presented by Kenya Barris' Khalabo Ink Society. Each episode of this highly anticipated podcast features DJ Drama and a legendary guest artist, including luminaries such as Lil Wayne, Tyler, the Creator, Wiz Khalifa, 2 Chainz, Pharrell, T.I., Jeezy, and Fabolous. Together, they delve into the intricacies of Drama's revered mixtape series, exploring its inception, production process, and enduring impact on the music landscape. Whether you're an avid fan of hip-hop or a lover of modern music, DJ Drama's Gangsta Grillz Podcast is an absolute must-listen, offering invaluable insights and enthralling conversations with the trailblazers of the genre.

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    1 min
  • Episode 1: KENYA BARRIS.
    Jul 20 2023
    In this quick sit down, DJ Drama and Kenya Barris talk about the history of the Gangsta Grillz mixtape series, the legacy of mixtapes in hip-hop, and the similarities between what DJ Drama does as a producer and what Kenya does as a writer.
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    11 mins
  • Episode 2: TYLER, THE CREATOR.
    Jul 20 2023

    Tyler the Creator and DJ Drama talk about their Grammy winning Gangsta Grillz album, Call Me if You Get Lost. They also discuss Tyler’s influences - Q-Tip, Native Tongues, and Pharrell - and Tyler’s place in hip-hop.

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    44 mins
  • Episode 3: WIZ KHALIFA.
    Jul 20 2023

    DJ Drama sits down with Wiz Khalifa to discuss the role mixtapes played in Wiz’s rise from local Pittsburgh artist to having the second longest running rap single in America. They talk about Wiz’s classic mixtapes - Kush and OJ, Cabin Fever, and Taylor Allderdice - his Taylor Gang label, and his generation of rappers.

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    33 mins
  • Episode 4: JEEZY.
    Jul 20 2023

    Jeezy and DJ drama talk about the role that classic mixtapes like Tha Streetz iz Watchin and Trap or Die played in Jeezy’s rise from selling music in the streets of Atlanta to releasing a multi-platinum Def Jam debut album. They also discuss working with industry titans like LA Reid, Diddy, and Jay Z.

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    34 mins
  • Episode 5: T.I.
    Jul 20 2023

    DJ Drama sits down with T.I. to discuss their fateful meeting, T.I.’s classic Gangsta Grillz mixtape, Down with the King, and how Tupac, Ice Cube, and Queen Latifah inspired his move to acting.

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    32 mins
  • Episode 6: LIL WAYNE.
    Jul 20 2023

    DJ Drama sits down with the legendary Lil Wayne to discuss Wayne’s approach to mixtapes, Wayne’s classic mixtape series, Dedication, and who could stand a chance against him in a Verzuz (hint: nobody)

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    37 mins
  • Episode 7: FABOLOUS.
    Jul 20 2023
    Fabolous and DJ Drama talk about Fabolous’ rise on the New York City mixtape circuit through appearances on DJ Clue mixtapes. They also discuss releasing mixtapes on the holidays, aging gracefully, and whether it’s worse to be called an “unc” or an “OG.”
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    32 mins