Zaytoven vs. Drumma Boy Interview with Dj Greg Street

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7 years ago

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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/

Zaytoven

Super-producer Xavier “Zaytoven” Dotson was nicknamed after the German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven because of the many similarities the two musicians share. Both were born in Germany, both mastered the organ and piano at a young age, both boast a genuine interest in music and most notably both possessed the same good foresight to align themselves with key people who could help further their careers. For Beethoven it was the dignitaries of Vienna, for Zaytoven it was Gucci Mane, king of the streets of east Atlanta. Zaytoven is the epitome of a multi-layered musical genius. He has been on his grind behind closed doors for over a decade. Not only has he mastered playing the guitar, drums, organ and piano by ear, but he is also a gifted producer, songwriter and performer. The man behind the magic can even be considered an instrument himself, expressing his passion and poetry through keys, strings and drumheads. While he wears many hats, he wears them all well by constantly re-inventing himself and his sound to become a crucial force in the entertainment industry. The budding producer was raised in a military household, living all over the world before the family settled down in California. Zaytoven got his start playing the church organ, as well as learning to play whatever instrument he could get his hands on, something he still continues to do today. He spent his formative years in San Francisco and upon graduating from high school, decided to stay in the Bay area and pursue a career in music while his parents and siblings headed to southern California, eventually making Georgia their permanent residence. It was during Zaytoven’s time on the west coast that he met rap legend JT the Bigga Figga, who took the young protégé under his wing giving him access to his studio and wisdom. Although he didn’t have much experience with recording equipment, like most talented students, Zaytoven assimilated the information quickly and eventually struck out on his own where he began to look for artists who fit his sound. By the dawn of the new millennium, the young entrepreneur moved to Atlanta and had amassed enough experience to establish himself as a viable producer on the music scene, although he first wanted to create a workable space for his prospective clients. While having a studio built in the basement of his parents home, Zaytoven decided to put his hands to another use- cutting hair. Like most great legacies are, by design, the barber school he enrolled in was laced with destiny. It was there that a fellow student introduced Zaytoven to Gucci Mane, who at that time was more interested in launching his nephew’s rap career than his own. However Zaytoven took a special interest in Gucci Mane, the “diamond in the rough” lyricist, and the two had an immediate connection and undeniable work chemistry. The duo scored big in 2005 with Gucci Mane’s hit single “So Icy” featuring Young Jeezy, which peaked at 23 on Billboards Hot Rap Tracks chart. Much like the clay in the hands of a skilled sculptor, Zaytoven has crafted and shaped the careers of many popular southern artists, such as OJ Da Juiceman (“Make the Trap Say Ay”), Yung LA (“Do It”), Yung Ralph (“About A Chick”) and Gorilla Zoe (“What It Is”). He has a flair for cultivating raw talent, a skill that speaks volumes on his ability to recognize and support new artists and develop them to reach a broader audience. Zaytoven is on a quest to expand his boundaries while simultaneously taking the traditional elements of his church heritage to create a distinct sound that continuously provides him with inspiration. With placements on R&B Grammy winner Usher’s upcoming album, as well as on Brandon and Brian Casey of Jagged Edge’s debut, Zaytoven counterbalances his marriage to Hip-Hop with his love affair for R&B and Soul music. And unlike the many trends in music that are ushered in just as quickly as they leave, Zaytoven’s artistry and creativity are timeless, which in addition to longevity, is what he consistently strives for. http://www.zaytovenbeatz.com/ http://twitter.com/zaytovenbeatz http://www.facebook.com/zaytovenbeatz/