Rapper, singer and producer DRAM – a stage name which stands for Does. Real. Ass. Music. – broke through to the mainstream with the 2016 summer mega-hit ‘Broccoli’, featuring next-gen rapper Lil Yachty. Born Shelley Massenburg-Smith, this Virginia-based artist issued his debut mixtape, #1 Epic Summer, in 2014, earning his first regional hit with the uplifting single ‘Cha Cha’. Buzz around the track amplified until Beyoncé herself shared a video featuring the single, bringing the artist international exposure and prompting the release of a second mixtape, 2015’s ‘Gahdamn!’.
Only months later,DRAM released what would become his breakthrough single, ‘Broccoli’. Featuringthe vocal talents of viral hip-hop phenom Lil Yachty, the release became aglobal sensation, going seven-times Platinum and making the artist’s debutappearance in the Billboard Top 40: ‘Broccoli’ has since accumulated close to350 million views on YouTube.
The debut albumthat followed more than lived up to the promise of DRAM’s early singles. BigBaby DRAM debuted at No 19 on the Billboard 200, featuring guest contributionsfrom Young Thug, Erykah Badu, Trippie Redd, and Playboi Carti. Since therelease of his debut, DRAM has issued two further EPs and made appearances ontracks from Calvin Harris, Smokepurpp, Chromeo and Young Dolph. 2018 saw the artistpick up his first Grammy Nomination for his feature on Gorillaz’ ‘Andromeda’.With the world at his feet and a host of high-profile collaborations under hisbelt, there’s no telling where this visionary artist will venture next.
