Drumma Boy

Christopher James Gholson, known professionally as Drumma Boy, was born on August 11, 1983, in Memphis, Tennessee. Exposed to music early in life, his mother was an opera singer and his father a clarinetist and music professor. Gholson began playing the recorder at age three and the clarinet at age five, later adding piano lessons. He developed an interest in hip-hop beats by age 12, achieving his first production placement with Memphis rapper Tela’s “Double Dose.” During high school, he produced an entire album at 14 and began charging for his beats, earning $500 per track by graduation. He attended the University of Memphis as a Music Business major in 2001, balancing his studies with producing for local rappers like Gangsta Boo and traveling to work with artists such as Scarface and Bun B of UGK. Despite being expelled in 2004 due to attendance issues, his music production business was generating significant income, reaching $20,000 per month.

Following his departure from college, Gholson’s father challenged him to earn $100,000 in a year to prove his independence; Drumma Boy achieved this within ten months. He then relocated to Atlanta in 2004 to pursue a professional music career. He established Drum Squad, an entertainment company comprising Drum Squad Productions, Drum Squad Records, and Drum Squad Films. By 2008, Vibe Magazine recognized him as one of the Top 5 Producers. In 2009, The New York Times described his sound as “a busy bee swarm of synths overlaid with brash bass injections that’s equal parts Memphis and Atlanta.” His production work on Gucci Mane’s album “The State vs. Radric Davis” was highlighted in Rolling Stone in 2010. He also appeared in BET’s reality series “Welcome to Dreamland” in 2009 alongside Jazze Pha and Vawn, and on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”

Drumma Boy earned two Grammy nominations in 2009 for his work on T.I.’s “Paper Trail” and Young Jeezy & Kanye West’s “Put On.” His production on Usher’s 2010 EP “Versus” contributed to the album winning two Grammy Awards. His hit single “No Hands” for Waka Flocka, Roscoe Dash, and Wale received a BET Hip Hop Award for “Best Club Banger” in 2011. In 2013, he conducted a halftime show for the Memphis Grizzlies. Gholson has also ventured into scoring for television and film, including FOX’s “Empire” and independent films like “Blood First,” “Chapters,” and “Holla 2.” In 2013, he launched his luxury wine brand, Moreno BHLV, and opened “G Factory,” a creative studio in Memphis. He is also a member of Tracklib’s Creators Advisory Board and actively supports the James and Christopher Gholson Scholarship Fund at the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music.