Top 10: Gangsta Grillz Mixtapes
DJ Drama has established himself as legend in the mixtape game. His Gangsta Grillz series boasts over 150 projects, but these are the ten that mean the most to me.
10. In Due Time - K Camp
Favorite Song: Money Baby
Playful, Polished, and Popular. Off the rip, K Camp made it known that he could make hits in his sleep. Ten years later, this project could still turn up the kickback.
9. Trap or Die - Young Jeezy
Favorite Song: Get Ya Mind Right
Memorable, Masterful, and Motivating. Jeezy was the hottest rapper in the south when he linked up with Drama. This tape signified the streets’ marriage to mainstream media.
8. True Realigion - 2 Chainz
Favorite Song: K.O. ft. Big Sean
Tactful, Tasteful, and Timely. This tape gracefully transformed Tity Boi into 2 Chainz. On his second wind, 2 Chainz showed off his versatility and star power.
7. Crenshaw - Nipsey Hussle
Favorite Song: Face the World
Self-reliant, Sophisticated, and Soulful. The late Nipsey Hussle was prophetic and prolific with every verse on this project. A classic in its own right, this mixtape is timeless.
6. Call Me If You Get Lost - Tyler the Creator
Favorite Song: Wilshire
Vivacious, Vulnerable, and Vindictive. Normally self-deprecating, Tyler used this opportunity to boast his accomplishments and address his doubters. He shied away from his typical experimental vocals and gave us his purest, most simple form of emotion through bars.
5. In My Mind (The Prequel) - Pharrell
Favorite Song: This is the Life ft. Fam-Lay
Charismatic, current, and cocky. My guess is that Tyler’s reversion to “confident bars” on a Gangsta Grillz Tape has a lot to do with Pharrell. Skateboard P revealed a side of him that he had not shown before and has not shown since.
4. I Promise I Will Never Stop Going In - Rich Homie Quan
Favorite Song: Man of the Year
Ageless, Ambitious, and Authentic. Quan linked with Drama at the prime of his career. This tape brought forth a variety of emotions and inspired a generation of Atlanta artists.
3. Dedication 2 - Lil Wayne
Favorite Song: Georgia Bush
Lyrical, Luxurious, and Legendary. Dedication 2 is widely regarded as the best mixtape of all-time. Wayne flexed his lyrical ability over the rap industry’s most popular beats and set the standard for what a mixtape should be.
2. Dreamchasers 2 - Meek Mill
Favorite Song: Lean Wit It
Demonstrative, Demanding, and Dreamful. Meek erupted from Philly on to the global stage with this project. Although he had features from the biggest stars in rap, he was never outshined and he has not let up since.
STN MTN - Childish Gambino
Favorite Song: U Don’t Have to Call
Nonchalant, Natural, and Nostalgic. The worst thing an artist can do is overthink. Bino avoided that when he rapped and crooned over his favorite popular instrumentals. His pen was pure and his relation to every track was felt.
