Drumma Boy
Drumma Boy | |
|---|---|
| Born | Christopher James Gholson August 11, 1983 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Music producer, rapper, entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Known for | Hip hop production, founding Drum Squad |
Christopher James Gholson (born August 11, 1983), professionally recognized as Drumma Boy or Drummer Boy, is an American music producer and rapper.
Early life
Gholson was born in Memphis, Tennessee and grew up in Cordova, Tennessee, where his exposure to music began at a young age. His mother, Billie Baker Gholson, combined careers as an accountant and a part-time opera vocalist; she was notably the first African-American to graduate from the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis. His father, G. James Gholson, a retired clarinetist and former music professor at the same institution, made history as the first African-American male to secure first chair in the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, he performed with the Memphis Woodwind Quintet and the United States Navy Band. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in music and education, Drumma Boy began playing the recorder at age three and took up clarinet by five. His mother introduced him to 1970s rhythm and blues, while his father instructed him in classical music principles. Early on, he undertook piano lessons alongside clarinet studies, laying a solid musical groundwork.
In school, mathematics stood out as his preferred subject; notably, during ninth grade, he composed a song about the quadratic formula to earn extra credit. By age twelve, he had started crafting hip hop beats, securing his first placement with Memphis rapper Tela's track "Double Dose." At fourteen, he had already produced a full album. During high school, Gholson balanced basketball—earning athletic scholarship offers—with music scholarships. As an emerging producer, he initially charged $200 per beat, increasing to $500 by the time he graduated.
In 2001, Gholson enrolled at the University of Memphis pursuing a Music Business degree. Motivated by his parents to obtain formal education for career security and financial literacy, he managed both his studies and burgeoning production career. By his junior year, he had become one of Tennessee’s most in-demand producers, collaborating with local artists such as Gangsta Boo and traveling to Texas for projects with Scarface and Bun B of UGK. Despite maintaining good academic standing, he was dismissed in 2004 due to attendance issues. His production work was generating significant revenue—up to $20,000 per month—leading him to leave college. Challenged by his father to earn $100,000 within one year as proof of independence, Drumma Boy accomplished this milestone in ten months. Although he never returned to complete his studies, he partnered with his father to create the James and Christopher Gholson Scholarship Fund aimed at supporting music students at the University of Memphis.
Within two years after departing Memphis, Drumma Boy established connections with prominent hip hop artists including Outkast, Trick Daddy, Slim Thug, DJ Cash Money, Pastor Troy, and Killer Mike. In October 2013, he performed during halftime at the opening game for his hometown NBA franchise, the Memphis Grizzlies.
Career
Gholson’s portfolio spans collaborations with numerous hip hop, R&B, and reggae performers. After moving to Atlanta in 2004, he committed himself to building a career as a professional music producer and entrepreneur. Leveraging business insights inherited from his mother’s accounting background, he founded Drum Squad—an independent entertainment company comprising Drum Squad Productions (music production), Drum Squad Records (record label), and Drum Squad Films (film production and distribution).
By 2008, Gholson had risen to become one of hip hop’s most sought-after producers. That year, Vibe Magazine included him among the Top 5 Producers "making noise." In December 2009, The New York Times identified him as one of four leading producers shaping Atlanta’s music scene, highlighting his signature style that fuses Memphis and Atlanta influences. He also appeared in the January 2010 issue of Rolling Stone for his production work on Gucci Mane’s chart-topping rap album The State vs. Radric Davis.
In January 2009, Gholson featured alongside Jazze Pha and Vawn on BET’s reality series Welcome to Dreamland. He made appearances on Bravo's The Real Housewives of Atlanta, producing beats for cast member Kandi Burruss; additionally, he was seen on Monica’s BET reality show Still Standing. November 2009 saw the release of his music video "Dis Girl," serving as the lead single from his mixtape Welcome II My City, which amassed millions of views on Worldstarhiphop. His media engagements have included appearances on Good Day Atlanta, Good Morning Memphis, CBS News Channel 9, BET, and MTV.
Expanding into scoring for television and film projects, Gholson notably contributed to FOX’s successful series Empire, working with Bryshere Gray (Yazz). In December 2013, he composed scores for the independent film Blood First produced by NaRa Films and O.Y.'s Spotlite Entertainment. His film scoring credits also include titles such as Chapters and Holla 2.
Other ventures
In 2013, Gholson introduced Moreno BHLV, a premium wine label. He also launched "G Factory," a 20,000-square-foot creative space in Memphis designed for film and television production, which encompasses future plans for a woodworking shop and automobile detailing services, catering to artists and creative professionals. Additionally, Gholson founded Drum Squad Films, a production and distribution branch within Drum Squad that has released independent projects including "Chapters" (2012), which he also composed the score for, as well as "Know Your History," a documentary highlighting Memphis' heritage.
He holds a position on Tracklib's Creators Advisory Board and has appeared at The Heart of God Foundation's "City of Atlanta Neighborhood Revitalization Ball," supporting efforts to aid homeless populations. Together with his father, Gholson annually grants a scholarship at the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, aimed at students specializing in clarinet or music business.
Production equipment and style
Gholson’s primary production tools include the Akai MPC 4000, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Roland TR-808 drum machine, and electronic keyboards from Roland, Korg, and Yamaha to craft hip hop drum patterns. His distinctive audio signatures feature a vocal tag stating "listen to this track, bitch," extended sound effects concluding verses, rising effects preceding verses and choruses, along with ad-libs such as "Yeah Boy" and a reverberated female voice saying "Drumma Boy."
His musical influences span hip hop and R&B legends like Dr. Dre, Quincy Jones, Raphael Saadiq, and The Funk Brothers; classical composers including Beethoven, Sibelius, Mozart, and Bach; jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis; as well as hip hop groups Three 6 Mafia and Scarface. Gholson is recognized for fusing classical chord structures with urban hip hop elements within the Atlanta trap genre. His production approach incorporates components from hip hop, rock, pop, classical music, soul, and R&B to develop a unique sonic identity.
Awards
Drumma Boy received the title of "Best Indie Producer of the Year" at the Southern Entertainment Awards consecutively in 2009, 2010, and 2011. He was nominated for "Producer of the Year" at both the 2008 Ozone Awards and the 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards. His work contributed to two Grammy nominations in 2009: T.I.'s Paper Trail for Best Rap Album and Young Jeezy & Kanye West's "Put On" for Best Rap Performance by a Duo. He produced the track "Stranger" on Usher's 2010 Versus (EP), part of the Grammy-winning album Raymond v. Raymond. In 2011, his collaboration "No Hands" featuring Waka Flocka Flame, Roscoe Dash, and Wale was nominated for "Best Collaboration" at the BET Awards and won "Best Club Banger" at the BET Hip Hop Awards.
Discography
Studio albums
- 2009: Welcome II My City (Drum Squad Records)
- 2011: The Birth of D-Boy Fresh (Drum Squad Records)
- 2012: Welcome to My City 2 (Drum Squad Records)
- 2014: Welcome to My City 3 (Drum Squad Records)
- 2019: My Brother's Keeper (Drum Squad Records)
- 2022: Welcome to My City 4 (Drum Squad Records)
Collaborative albums
- 2021: Certified Youngin' (with Bighomie Kdogg) (Drum Squad Records)
Extended plays
- 2023: Christmas Spit It Instrumentals (Instrumental album) (Drum Squad Records)
Mixtapes
- 2013: Clash of the Titans (with DJ Paul) (Hosted by DJ Scream) (Drum Squad Records)
- 2017: Who Shot Cupid (with Scotty ATL) (Hosted by DJ Scream) (Cool Club, Drum Squad Records)
Hosted mixtapes
- 2010: Young Buck - Back on My Buck Shit Vol. 2: Change of Plans
- 2012: Young Buck - Live Loyal Die Rich (Hosted with DJ Crisis)
- 2012: 8 Ball - Premro
- 2014: Drumma Boy's 2k14 All-Star Weekend Playlist
- 2021: Young Buck - Back on My Buck Shit, Vol. 3
Filmography
| Motion Picture | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Character | Remarks |
| 2013 | Buck Mentality | Himself | Documentary Video |
External links
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1983 births
- 21st-century American businesspeople
- 21st-century American composers
- 21st-century American keyboardists
- 21st-century American rappers
- 21st-century African-American businesspeople
- African-American film producers
- African-American film score composers
- 21st-century African-American male rappers
- American hip-hop record producers
- American music industry executives
- American philanthropists
- Businesspeople from Atlanta
- Businesspeople from Tennessee
- Film producers from Tennessee
- Living people
- People from Cordova, Tennessee
- Rappers from Atlanta
- Rappers from Memphis, Tennessee
- Songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)
- Songwriters from Tennessee
- Southern hip-hop musicians
- American trap musicians
- University of Memphis alumni
- African-American songwriters
- American drink industry businesspeople