![Happy Birthday DJ Drama!](http://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2015/04/dj-drama-bday.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Happy Birthday DJ Drama!
Today, April 22, is the 40th birthday of famed hip-hop record spinner, DJ Drama. Born and bred in Philadelphia, Pa., DJ Drama revolutionized the mixtape circuit with his highly successful Gangsta Grillz series. Drama first found fame with his 2007 single, "Takin' Pictures" featured Young Jeezy, Willie the Kid, Jim Jones, Rick Ross, Young Buck and T.I.
Drama has worked with just about every high profile rap artist and was the first official DJ for Grand Hustle recording artist T.I. In January 2014, it was announced that DJ Drama was the new A&R for Atlantic Records. At Atlantic, DJ Drama has helped steer the careers of rappers like 2016 XXL Freshman Lil Uzi Vert.
At the tail end of 2017, Drama continued feeding the streets when Lil Wayne unleashed Dedication 6 and Dedication 6: Reloaded. The DJ hosted both projects, and in yet another year where there was no sign of Tha Carter V, the two mixtapes acted as extremely high-level substitutes. DJ Drama is a big part of that, just like he's a big part of a whole lot of other things.
Happy Birthday, DJ Drama!
See 60 Hip-Hop Albums Turning 20 in 2018
More From XXL
![Ice Spice, Mustard, Rakim and More – New Hip-Hop Projects](http://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2024/07/attachment-mustard-ice-spice-rakim.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![July 2024 New Music Releases](http://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2024/06/attachment-Mustard-Ice-Spice-Denzel-Curry.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![27 Hip-Hop-Related Police Raids](http://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2017/05/attachment-diddy-polo-g-j-cole.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The 13 Best New Hip-Hop Songs This Week](http://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2024/02/attachment-lil-durk-quavo-kodak-black.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![French Montana, Earthgang, Kashdami and More – New Hip-Hop Projects](http://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2024/02/attachment-french-montana-earthgang-kashdami.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![February 2024 New Music Releases](http://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2024/02/attachment-Soulja-Boy-Kanye-Fivio-Foreign.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Here Are 22 of the Most Anticipated Hip-Hop Projects of 2024](http://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2024/01/attachment-21-savage-latto-metro-boomin-future-playboi-carti-b-g.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Here Are 15 of the Best Events Celebrating Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary](http://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2023/12/attachment-gramms-tribute-hip-hop-moments.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Here Are the Best Hip-Hop Projects of 2023](http://townsquare.media/site/812/files/2023/11/attachment-best-hip-hop-2023-cover.jpg?w=980&q=75)