INBOX MAGAZINE: Drumma Boy Interview (2010)

Drumma Boy

There's something about the way he composes a song, arranges a melody, works with instruments, showcases an artist's vocal talent and adds that final detail that even those who share his profession are forced to admire his innate gift. Christopher "Drumma Boy" Gholson is a musician's producer- a skill that was designed by destiny. Born and bred in Memphis, Tennessee, Drumma Boy discovered his passion for music before he could barely walk. The byproduct of a mother who was an opera singer and a father who was a professional clarinetist and music professor at the University of Memphis, the first African-American man to hold the 1st chair position in the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Drumma Boy was a child prodigy. "My dad taught me everything I know about traditional music and had me playing the clarinet at age 5 but it was my mom that introduced me to Curtis Mayfied and 70s oldie, so my style now is a reflection of all of that- classical, soul and street music." Now in his mid-twenties, Drumma Boy merges his unique musical influences ranging from German composers Ludwig van Beethoven and Johann Sebastian Bach to Jazz icons Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis, all the way to Academy Award winning Three 6 Mafia and Scarface, combining classical chords with urban street sounds to create an ingenuity worthy enough of receiving a nomination for "Producer of the Year" at the 2008 Ozone Awards. After becoming one of the most sought after beat bangers in Tennessee, he followed in the footsteps of Memphis native and super-producer Jazze Pha (Ciara, Nelly, Ludacris, T.I) by relocating to Atlanta in 2003. The musical mastermind who sites producers Quincy Jones, Raphael Saadiq and The Funk Brothers as his inspirations, skillfully adds crispy, hard-hitting 808 bass lines with gentle touches of rhythmic change and chord progression to each crafted beat. He composes thick and textured sounds that take some producers years to perfect. It takes a special kind of artist to rock with him, which explains his impressive roster of Hip-Hop acts that include Young Jeezy, T.I, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Nelly, Gorilla Zoe, Ludacris, Plies, Young Joc, Rick Ross, E-40, Rocko, Paul Wall and Lil Jon. Drumma Boy is fresh, as in innovative and expressive but more importantly, he's admirably great at pushing boundaries; taking the art form into new realms of abstraction. Drumma Boy's discography reads like a Who's Who list in music. He has been at the helm of the most buzzed-about songs from the most buzzed about artists within the past two years including Young Jeezy ("Put On" f/Kanye West), Rocko ("Umma Do Me", "Tomorrow"), Plies ("Shawty", "Plenty Money"), T.I. ("What Up"), Rick Ross ("Here I Am") and Gorilla Zoe ("Lost" f/Lil Wayne), to name just a few. With his name attached to the current radio mainstay "Money To Blow" (Birdman f/Drake and Lil Wayne) and more in the pipeline from artists such as Gucci Mane, Kandi Burruss, Sean Garrett, Usher, Plies, Lupe Fiasco, Young Jeezy, Juelz Santana and DJ Khaled, Drumma Boy has built his brand on anticipating trends while staying true to the bare bones of quality music. Drumma Boy's venture into new territory is an important theme in his life, as he's stepped out of his comfort zone of being a producer to a CEO. His first foray into unfamiliar business, such as founding Drum Squad, an umbrella company that encompasses Drum Squad Records and Entertainment, whet his appetite for television. The astute musician-turned-businessman-turned-media personality starred in the highly-rated CW reality show Welcome to Dreamland, which lead to guest stints on The Real Housewives of Atlanta (Bravo) and Monica (BET), as well as being a celebrity judge on BET's 106 & Park. His musicianship is incredible, having the ability to pour passion and conviction into whatever he does. And part of that passion is giving back to his community. Drumma Boy provided the team uniforms for the basketball players at Cordova High, his former high school in Memphis. Additionally, he participated in Atlanta Stand Up, a celebrity bowling tournament hosted by Jermaine Dupri and Nelly that helped to aid victims affected by the September 2009 Atlanta flood. His combination of multi-talent is one of many factors that separate him from the mainstream. His soul is soaked in the eccentricity of vintage Rhythm & Blues and P-Funk. He plays with this dichotomy of yesteryear classics and current trends to concoct sophisticated arrangements that fuse the arrogance of Hip-Hop with the slickness of R&B. Drumma Boy is well-known for making diverse beats that range from Rap, Rock, Classical and Pop to soulful R&B ballads and Gospel-inspired jams. The talented musician and businessman on the rise has not only fostered relationships with top notch artists but understands the importance of connecting with equally gifted writers, instrumentalists and producers like Johnta Austin, Bryan Michael-Cox and Jazze Pha. He is as authentic as a creative artist can be, reading music with an educated ear while possessing the ability to instantly recognize the correct key. In addition to a learned knowledge, there is that burning desire he inherently possesses to win and maintain respect. http://twitter.com/DrummaBoyFRESH http://www.itsbeenofficial.com/ http://www.myspace.com/drummaboyfresh http://www.ustream.tv/user/dboyfresh http://drum-squad.com/go/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Drumma-Boy/