DRAM

One Liner: One hit rapper/singer who Does.Real.Ass.Music (burp, vomit)
Wikipedia Genre: Hip hop, R&B, soul, trap  
Spotify Says Similar To: Madeintyo and PnB Rock
Home: Hampton, Virginia

Poster Position: 6
Slot: ?

Thoughts:  In a strange indication of just how fickle the world of streaming music can be, this guy's only hit isn't even listed in his top ten Spotify most Popular tunes.  I've just run through those top ten, which include two versions of a pretty bad MAGIC! song warning dudes about those foxy girls at Coachella, and some other generically bad songs, but none of them have nearly the plays as the hit, the juggernaut, the 354 million streaming "Broccoli."

If this song makes you think of SuperDuperKyle's iSpy (another artist on the 6th line of this poster), its because they do sound remarkably similar and both feature this idiot Lil Yachty guy.  But whatever, this is a fun song.  I reviewed this album a few months ago, and my opinion hasn't changed much since then.  When the guy is rapping, he's pretty enjoyable. When he's just singing, I could do without it.  Here is my favorite track from the album, "Cash Machine," with 40.6 million streams.

"I used to get the coldest shoulder, now I get the hottest ass, how I feel 'bout you is lukewarm, it burns you up 'cause I got all this cash."  Just a happy ass song, and that video is even happier, spreading his tie-dye cash all over the block and taking care of his momma. Oooh, but here is the true test, how does he look at the Tiny Desk?  TINY DESK!!!

That damn smile is magnetic.  How can you not feel good when you are watching that dude do his thing?  And his voice is damn pretty, I mean, those middle songs of him just doing some old school soul sounding shit were really nice.  Oh, shit, and beef!  Look at what the NPR reporting for that video explains: 

Making a hit record in the music industry is extremely difficult, and in 2015, D.R.A.M.'s debut single "Cha Cha" was on the brink of exploding. It was getting played in clubs across the country and bubbling on the charts; the Beyhive even got a hold of it. Then Drake's "Hotline Bling" happened. The reports are conflicting as to the inspiration for the record, but there are glaring similarities in the sound of each. "Hotline Bling" was even originally billed as the "Cha Cha" remix by Beats 1, where the song made its debut. Needless to say, "Hotline Bling" practically swallowed "Cha Cha," but D.R.A.M. didn't whine about it. He addressed it and went back to the drawing board, crafting another smash. "Broccoli" became one of 2016's biggest hits while setting up the release of his debut album, Big Baby D.R.A.M.

Man, screw you, stupid Drake.  Oh, shit, and it really does have a similar thing going on! With that jenky Casio beat and bass and, oooh, I like the Super Mario effects in here too. Check it.

Man, and Drake came out with comments that were like - yeah, I stole your shit, so what? Other people have rapped over similar beats before - Jerkface.  That's it.  DRAM is mow my favorite artist of all time and I'm going to ride or die for him just because it will totally hurt Drake's feelings.  Right?  No?  Oh, wait, it just dawned on me that at the top of this, I had just said that his most popular track sounds like "iSpy" from Kyle!  Someone tried to bite his style again!  DRAM is the man and no one can ever keep him down!  Everyone get off his TIP!

Will I Go See Him in the Fall?  Probably not, even though he is the greatest artist ever of all time, especially better than Drake, but maybe just because he is the best.