GA’s Most Wanted – Rd. 3, The DJS That Run The Town

No matter how hot the rapper on the mic or how dope of a beat the producer laid out, it wouldn’t mean a thing if there wasn’t someone to actually play the record. That’s where hip-hop’s original element comes in with the art of DJing. In day three of XXL’s weeklong GA’s Most Wanted series, we reveal our top 10 list of Georgia jocks that keep the party rockin’ and the streets satisfied with bangin’ mixtapes. —Adam Fleischer

DJ DRAMA
The architect behind the successful Gangsta Grillz mansion is still at it. From the start of June alone DJ Drama has worked on projects with the likes of dead prez (Revolutionary But Gangsta Grillz), Gucci Mane (Mr. Zone 6), and Pill (1140: The Overdose), proving he’s still the hottest name in the mixtape game—regardless of city. Not to mention his recent work with Lil Wayne, T.I., Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Soulja Boy, and… Well, you get the picture. That’s one lengthy and enviable resume. Oh, and did we mention he has two successful full-length albums? If the feds are takin’ pictures, they’re bound to catch Drama smiling.

DON CANNON
Don Cannon is one of the handful of DJs that doesn’t have that two-letter acronym at the front of his name. Maybe it’s because he wants to make sure people realize he does a lot more than spin records. As one of the founders of the Aphilliates, Cannon has also become on the most respected names on the boards, boasting production credits for Young Jeezy (“Go Crazy,” “Mr. 17.5”), Fabolous (“Joke’s On You”), 50 Cent (“Don’t Mess With 50”), Ludacris (“Undisputed,” “Everybody Hates Chris”) and many more. Plus, since 2009, he’s been at the helm for Curren$y’s Smokee Robinson, The Cool Kids’ Gone Fishing, and most recently Young Jeezy’s Trap or Die 2.

DJ INFAMOUS
Probably best known for his work with Lil Wayne, DJ Infamous has proven his versatility since first arriving on the scene. With seven production credits on Weezy’s Tha Carter III Leaks, Inf started to break ground in the mainstream in 2007. By ’08, he was riding the wave created by his Tha Carter III hit, the Jay-Z and Wayne collabo, “Mr. Carter.” Soon, Infamous was putting out mixtapes with Rick Ross (Still the Trillest), Young Jeezy (The Prime Minister), Bow Wow (Half Man Half Dog, Pt. 2), and Jim Jones (Risky Business). Most recently, Inf hosted Donnis’ The Invitation and provides a few production credits for Fat Joe’s upcoming The Darkside, Vol. 1.

DJ HOLIDAY
It’s only fitting that one of Atlanta’s hottest young rappers linked up with a DJ of the same ilk for an anticipated mixtape release. That’s what made DJ Holiday’s recent project with Gucci Mane, The Burrrprint 2 HD, make so much sense. It wasn’t the first time the two worked together, though. Holiday has been associated with So Icey for a minute, and 2009’s The Cold War (Brrrusia) was a solid example of what the two are capable of together. Holiday was also one of the first to get up with the most sought after young female in the game today, Nicki Minaj, when he hosted the Young Money queen’s well-received tape, Beam Me Up Scotty. Whether it’s a holiday or not, there’s no days off for this cat.

DJ SENSE
It’s crucial to have more than one hustle. This is something DJ Sense seems to clearly understand. In addition to being a major part of the Aphilliates Music Group, he also DJs on multiple radio stations and puts out mixtapes. Sense has DJed and opened up for rap heavyweights ranging from Jay-Z, Diddy, and 50 Cent, to R&B juggernauts like Usher and 112. In addition to spinning for Shade45/XM66, the standout spins on Mondays for the 5 O’clock traffic jam on Atlanta’s Hot 107.9 and is the CEO of the Atlanta Entertainment Basketball League. That’s a sensible grind right there.

DJ SCREAM
They say you learn more in college than what they teach you inside of the classroom. DJ Scream seems to embody this philosophy. The Tuskegee University graduate, who earned his degree in engineering, began building his name in the local clubs while he was in school, and parlayed that into gigs on radio at Georgia State and Auburn. Now, he’s the engineer behind multiple successful mixtape series, including the popular Heavy In The Streets. The co-founder of Hoodrich Entertainment also has his sound heard regularly on his own Sirius XM Hip Hop Nation show and Hot 107.9.

DJ MLK
When you get your first set of turntables in the fifth grade, there’s plenty of time to perfect your craft. DJ MLK was able to do just that, and he’s come a long way since grade school. Now the official road DJ for Grand Hustle, MLK has spent the last few years solidifying himself as a mainstay on the 1’s and 2’s in ATL. You can find him spinning regularly at any of a handful of the city’s hottest spots, from Luckie Food Lounge to Club Taboo2, to Crucial and Club Miami. Having worked with B.o.B., Young Dro, Yung LA and more in the past, MLK, along with DJ Drama, recently linked up with old friend T.I. for Fuck A Mixtape. He had a dream, and now he’s living it.

DJ TRAUMA
Originally from New York, DJ Trauma relocated to Atlanta to attend college at Clark Atlanta University and has been killing the party scene in the A ever since. Moving from one hip-hop Mecca to another served to open doors for Trauma, who has built quite an impressive resume, highlighted by a decade-long tenure at Hot 107.9. Whether it’s playing at local clubs like Velvet Room, the Compound, Luckie Food Lounge, and Club Esso’s, or holding it down anywhere from London to Lagos, Trauma has found a way to show his skills to the masses. The co-founder of World Famous Super Friends DJ crew was also named the official DJ for the Channel-O Awards in South Africa in 2009. Beware, or you may get inner ear trauma.

DJ JELLY
After almost two decades in the game, some quietly bow out. Others, though, continue to build. Consider DJ Jelly a member of the latter category. The 2003 Justo Award winner for “Dirty South DJ of the Year” is still making his mark years later, even as the landscape of the south has evolved. Part of the respected Southern Style DJs crew, Jelly prides himself on helping to break up-and-coming artists. With Atlanta now being used as a springboard for the musical careers of even those not native to the Peach State, it’s no wonder that many young artists hope to catch the eye of this Big Oomp Records co-founder ’cause Jelly’s on a roll.

GREG STREET
Greg Street has been carving out his lane in the game long before OutKast dropped their first album and really began to put ATL on the map. In the years since, he has established himself as a heavyweight of radio DJs, having been side-by-side with everyone from Lil Wayne to 50 Cent. Street held down the airwaves for stations in Mississippi (WORV-WJMG), Alabama (WBLX 93), Houston (KMJQ) and Dallas (K-104/KKDA) before coming over to Atlanta (V-103/WVEE), where he currently resides. Also involved in the Sneaker Friends Party, Car & Bike Show, Talent Showcase and The Greg Street Scholarship Fund Program, there’s no doubt that he’s a man of the people and the streets.

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