Young Dro
Young Dro | |
|---|---|
| Born | D'Juan Montrel Hart January 15, 1979 Southwest Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Hip-hop artist |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Known for | "Shoulder Lean", "FDB" |
D'Juan Montrel Hart (born January 15, 1979), professionally recognized as Young Dro, is an American hip-hop artist. He rose to fame through his connection with Atlanta rapper T.I., joining T.I.'s label, Grand Hustle Entertainment, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records, in 2004. His debut album on a major label, Best Thang Smokin' (2006), reached number three on the Billboard 200 chart and included the Top 10 hit "Shoulder Lean" featuring T.I. Following the release of several mixtapes, he unveiled his sophomore album High Times (2013) under Grand Hustle and independent distributor MNRK Music Group. The album's lead single, "FDB", climbed to number 30 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Young Dro has also appeared on notable tracks such as "Ain't I" by Yung L.A., "Nasty" by Bandit Gang Marco, and "Pricey" by J. Cole and Ari Lennox.
Biography
1980–2006: Early years and Best Thang Smokin'
Originating from Southwest Atlanta, Georgia, Young Dro embarked on his music journey around 1999 using the stage name Dro, initially signing with the local label Tight 4 Life. He achieved regional success with the single "Yes Sir" and independently released the album I Got That Dro. Although he had known T.I. since the early 1990s, their professional partnership began in 2004 when Dro joined Grand Hustle Records. His mainstream breakthrough occurred in 2006 with the track "Shoulder Lean", which gained significant rotation on BET and MTV2 and sold over half a million ringtone copies. This momentum helped propel his major-label debut Best Thang Smokin' to debut at number three on the US Billboard 200.
2007–2013: Mixtape releases and High Times
In 2007, Young Dro was highlighted on the cover of XXL magazine’s Top 10 Freshmen list. Between 2011 and 2013, he issued several mixtapes including Equestrian Dro, I Co-Sign Myself, Drocabulary, We Outchea, R.I.P. 2 (I Killed That Shit), and Ralph Lauren Reefa. The 2009 single "Take Off", featuring his protégé Yung L.A., was originally intended for an upcoming album titled P.O.L.O. His second studio album's lead single "FDB" was released in March 2013, accompanied by the mixtape Day Two. The full album, High Times, arrived in October 2013 and included guest appearances from artists such as T.I., Doe B, and Problem. It peaked at number 57 on the Billboard 200 and secured the ninth spot on the Top Rap Albums chart.
2015–present: Da Reality Show
In February 2015, Young Dro dropped "We in da City" as the lead single for his third studio project. The album Da Reality Show, initially slated for a summer release, ultimately launched on September 18, 2015. In May 2016, he partnered with producer Zaytoven to release the collaborative mixtape Boot Me Up. Later that year in August, Young Dro encountered legal challenges involving gun and drug possession charges. By May 2019, he was working on new material alongside emerging gangsta/trap artist Romo 11 under Just 11 Records. In 2024, he was featured on "Favorite Trapper" by 1K Phew.
Discography
Studio albums
- I Got That Dro (2001)
- Best Thang Smokin' (2006)
- High Times (2013)
- Da Reality Show (2015)
Awards and nominations
| Award | Category | Year | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| BET Hip Hop Awards | Element Award: Outstanding Hip Hop Dance of the Year (Shoulder Lean) | 2006 | Template:Nom |
| BET Hip Hop Awards | Best Collaboration (Shoulder Lean featuring T.I.) | 2006 | Template:Nom |
| BET Hip Hop Awards | BET Mobile Hot Ring Award (Shoulder Lean featuring T.I.) | 2006 | Template:Won |
| The Dirty Awards | Best New Dirty Artist | 2006 | Template:Nom |
| The Ozone Awards | Top Rapper (Georgia) | 2006 | Template:Won |