J. Cole has had quite a busy month. Most notably, headlining his Dreamville Fest this past weekend, which has become a staple among Hip-Hop festivals. Besides blessing fans with a star-studded lineup, J. Cole and the Dreamville camp decided to deliver another gift, a mixtape.
The talented music conglomerates have come together to release D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape. Cole continues his tradition of paying homage to Hip-Hop legends by linking up with the head of the Gangsta Grillz movement, DJ Drama. Hearing Cole also go back to his mixtape roots is always refreshing, especially since projects like The Warm Up and Friday Night Lights made him a force in the game.
The project is filled with dope tracks and rhymes from all of Dreamville. It also has tracks with singer-songwriter Ari Lennox displaying her vocal abilities, even paying tribute to Mary J. Blige’s classic track, “I’m Goin’ Down”, on the track, “Coming Down.” There is a healthy mixture of new and used beats, including “Big Trouble Freestyle,” in which Cozz raps over The Notorious B.I.G.’s iconic “Who Shot Ya” instrumental. Cole also raps over Drake’s “Pipe Down” on “Heaven’s EP,” which was released several months ago.
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The tape includes a slew of featured artists as well. Features include A$AP Ferg, 2 Chainz, Young Nudy, Kenny Mason, Sheck Wes, G. Perico, and REASON. Dreamville projects have always featured a wide variety of artists and this is no exception.
As we enter the week following Dreamville Fest, it is clear that Dreamville continues to do their part in contributing to the spirit of Hip-Hop and keeping the essence of rhyming alive. DJ Drama’s iconic voice shouting over the tracks and dope rhymes combined embodies everything that is great about Hip-Hop. This release certainly amplifies the experience of this year’s festival — and anticipation for next year’s — and is a one of a kind rollout.
Check out the full project and watch some recap footage of Dreamville Fest right here.. Also be sure to follow Dreamville at their official Instagram and Twitter pages for updates on their latest moves.