Drumma Boy Praises Game's Work Ethic

Though he's mostly known for his production with Southern artists like T.I., Young Jeezy and Gucci Mane, Drumma Boy isn't a region hater. He's also been in the studio with Game, laying tracks for the Compton rapper's upcoming The R.E.D. Album, due Feb. 16.

"I did a record for Game called 'Pussy Fight," Drumma Boy tells VIBE. "A lot of people been talking highly of that joint." According to the Memphis-born producer, Game's studio ethic is unparalleled. "I had a beat CD of 30 [tracks]. I pushed play on the first beat and he went straight in the booth and recorded the whole song before I could even go to number two," he recalls. "I go to number two and he go back in the booth do another song. I went back to number three, same thing. We went all the way to number eight.

"Dude is an incredible rapper. That's a rapping ass nigga," Drumma continues. "I ain't seen nobody do that. Most people they listen to the beats, like, 'Okay, I like number one, number two nah, number three nah,' keep going."

When he's not laying tracks for other MCs, Drumma Boy is also an artist himself. He recently released the mixtape Welcome to my City, a compilation of songs by up-and-comers from his hometown. "I just wanted to take it back home and give back to the city that made me who I am," he says. "I was really rapping before I was making beats but I had a mission to take over the game with my production before I came back to my rap."

While producers like Timbaland, Swizz Beatz and Ron Browz have ventured into artist lane, the reception hasn't always been warm. But Drumma Boy isn't worried about potential hate. "When you hear my music and the way I rap, a lot of people are like, 'Man you don't sound like you from Memphis,'" he explains. "And that's because I've traveled to so many different places so I know how to tie in the lingo with New York and Phoenix and California, so I'm just trying to diversify and bring something new to the table."

Drumma Boy isn't taking rapping too seriously, though he definitely has album aspirations. "I'm just really having fun with it. I don't want to say [it's] like Drake but Drake kind of gave away the mixtape and he just blew up off it and it's the same here," he says. "When I got things to talk about that's when I'll [rap]." --Clover Hope