[Rumori] high-profile mixtape djs arrested

[stAllio!the original wanksta]

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1550066/20070117/dj_drama.jhtml

January 16 might go down as a day of infamy on the mixtape circuit. In
a major development in the Recording Industry Association of America's
quest to stop what they believe to be the bootlegging of music, the
Atlanta office of mixtape king DJ Drama's Aphilliate Music Group was
raided Tuesday by police.

Drama (real name Tyree Simmons) and Aphilliate partner Donald "Don"
Cannon were taken into custody along with 17 other individuals Tuesday.
Police seized over 50,000 mixtapes in the raid, according to reports
from Atlanta's Fox affiliate, WAGA.

In addition to housing the day-to-day operations of the Aphilliate
Music Group — the collective, which also includes DJ Sense, recently
inked a distribution deal through Asylum Records, while Drama also has
a solo record deal through Grand Hustle/ Atlantic — the downtown
Atlanta offices also served as a studio.

Arrests and raids due to the distribution of what authorities consider
bootleg CDs is nothing new. A sprinkling of mom-and-pop stores
throughout the country have been shut down in recent years, but this is
the first time that the crackdown has hit a name as big as Drama,
arguably the current top mixtape DJ. His Gangsta Grillz series has
become a street staple and a promotional tool for emerging artists.

And while authorities have come down on Drama — who is also T.I.'s main
DJ — the Philadelphia-born industry hustler does not generally put out
mixtapes with just a smattering of exclusive songs from different
artists on each disc. Drama actually works closely with several artists
and will put a Gangsta Grillz CD with music specifically recorded by
one artist for the particular disc. His releases may be best described
as street albums, rather than mixtapes.

Some mixtape DJs do get complaints from labels and artists about their
material hitting the streets, but Drama has not previously encountered
that problem. When music from T.I.'s King album leaked online last
year, Tip and Drama collected the tracks to release as a mixtape, which
featured early versions of songs including "Live in the Sky." And
artists such as Young Jeezy — who launched his career with the help of
Gangsta Grillz: Trap or Die — Styles P, Lil Jon, Busta Rhymes, Lil
Wayne and Nelly have all made music specifically for Drama to put on
Gangsta Grillz.

Although he is best known for his mixtapes, Don Cannon has been getting
props lately for his production. He was the mastermind behind one of
the biggest club bangers of 2005, Young Jeezy's "Go Crazy." Last year,
he popped up again on Jeezy's The Inspiration LP with the track "Mr.
17.5."

An officer at Atlanta's Fulton County Jail confirmed that DJ Drama and
Don Cannon are in custody, with charges still pending. Representatives
for the DJs could not be reached for comment at press time.

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