Published: Wednesday - July 26, 2006
Words by Jay Casteel
Young Dro (Photo: Atlantic Records)
Young Dro's got everybody down South, bouncing right to left and letting their "Shoulder Lean." But, the ATL native is more than just a dance anthem. He's been through a lot growing up, from bouncing from project to project with his mom, pops and 21 siblings, to a botched record deal as he came up in the game. Luckily, on his way up, Young Dro made friends that would later become major players in the game.
With his indie single "Yes Sir" buzzing in Atlanta in 2001, Young Dro reunited with childhood friend T.I., who was just beginning to create his own lane in hip-hop. But, believing in his own ability to make it, Young Dro declined a offer to sign with Grand Hustle from T.I., and opted to sign with another label. Little did he know, he'd end up with Grand Hustle years later.
Today, being the first solo artist being release through T.I.'s Grand Hustle Records, Young Dro is poised to make some major noise with his major label debut, Best Thang Smokin'. With the album only a month away, the rapper chopped it up with BallerStatus about how the "Shoulder Lean" came about, why ATL ghettos respect him and what's in store for fans on his album.
BallerStatus.com: The first single, "Shoulder Lean," is getting play across the board. Why was it that you chose that as the first single?
Young Dro: One day, we was down in Florida -- me and T.I.P. was touring. We were playing [the song] on the tour bus, but we had invited a lot of people on the bus with us. When we seen how them folks had rocked out man, we was like, "Oh yea. Oh, hell yea." They was leanin' they shoulders, so that's what we [had to go with].
BallerStatus.com: And why is it that tracks based around a dance become so popular?
Young Dro: I mean, really, it's just that sound. I hear a lot of that, that it's just the sound that is making everybody party, you feel me?
BallerStatus.com: Now, you're from Atlanta right?
Young Dro: Yea, I'm from Bankhead Courts outta Atlanta.
BallerStatus.com: You said you were down in Florida and they were shoulder leanin', but are they doing it in Atlanta?
Young Dro: What!?? Yea, man. What I'm on right now, that Day One, Gangsta Grillz, [everyone's] on that right now. They lovin' it, they feelin' it.
BallerStatus.com: Let's talk about you growing up. I read that you bounced from housing project to housing project, and between your mom and pops there was 21 children. What was it like growing up with so many siblings, and so poor as well?
Young Dro: Out of all my daddy's kids, we weren't all like close. I mean, I was closer to my sisters, but all of the kids were all spread out far. Some of them, I don't be in touch with. That's just how that is, and I didn't really get a chance to know 'em or whatever.
But, we came up, hitting these different projects. I felt like that was the best thing in itself. It was crazy back then. I ended up knowing everybody.
BallerStatus.com: What do you mean by that?
Young Dro: Well, I was in so many different places, I knew everybody. So, when I came up, everybody was feelin' me. And now, everyone's like, "I know him, I know him," and they be like, "We do too."
BallerStatus.com: Now, as you grew up where did rapping come in? Was rapping always just natural for you, or did you kind of work at it?
Young Dro: Oh, one of my homies used to rap -- Lil' Kris from Kris Kross. He kinda like showed me that you can have this too. So, I took that and ran with it.
BallerStatus.com: So, he was really the first to inspire you to really take on rapping seriously?
Young Dro: Yea, exactly.
BallerStatus.com: Besides seeing Kris Kross blow when you were coming up, who were some of the artists you listened to growing up?
Young Dro: Ghostface, Raekwon, Nas, Biggie, N.W.A., Kilo, Hot Boys...Baby and them. We was on a lot of different things. 8-Ball and MJG, UGK...
BallerStatus.com: You also were friends with T.I. before he blew up too. Talk about how you guys hooked up and how you signed with his label, Grand Hustle.
Young Dro: We hooked a long time ago. We was just friends before any of this rapping came about. After then, we was hanging everyday, just kicking it. We moved from the neighborhood we was in, and that's we just started rapping on our own. We both knew each other could rap...I knew T.I.P. could make beats and everything. He went on to do his thing and he came out with "I'm Serious," and at that time I had "Yes Sir."
He was on the radio one day and I called up the radio station... 'cause I was always calling Greg Street 'cause he was pushing my songs real hard for me. So, I called and asked Greg, "Hey man, that ain't T.I.P., is it?" And T.I.P. got on the phone and told me to meet up with him. We met up that night and was like, "Man, you went ahead and did it." Next thing you know, he's trying to get me into a contract right then and there.
BallerStatus.com: So, you didn't sign with him right there did you?
Young Dro: No, I went through another record label. That was just a quick decision I made because I believed in myself, you know what I'm saying?
After that little conflict at that record label, I went over to T.I.P. He didn't have to even call me, I called him. That was 2, 3 years ago.
BallerStatus.com: That was some time ago, so was it hard sitting and waiting to drop your debut?
Young Dro: Yea, I sacrificed a lot. I didn't do a lot of things that I wanted to do. But now, it's no looking back. I wouldn't of done it no different.
BallerStatus.com: So, was it worth the wait for you?
Young Dro: Yea man. I've seen a lot, done a lot, seen a lot of people and I'm doing a lot. I couldn't ask for more.
BallerStatus.com: You're the first solo artist through Grand Hustle I believe. How does it feel to be co-signed by an artist of T.I.'s stature?
Young Dro: He feel good to me. It ain't no pressure. I got this 'cause I know how to do it. I'm good at what I do, so there really ain't no pressure. We have fun; I have fun at what I do.
BallerStatus.com: Although you've had indie success with "Yes Sir" and "I Got That Dro," this is your major label debut. What do you wanna be known for, with this being your first intro to rest of the country?
Young Dro: I wanna be known for a person who just loves music, understands music and knows what music is. I wanna be able to let folks know that I can do any kind of music I want to. I just wanna be known as a guy that really knows and loves music as an art.
BallerStatus.com: The album is called Best Thang Smokin', explain that title...
Young Dro: It's just like the potency of the lyrics makes me the Best Thang Smokin'. Once you put this in there and fire this CD up, you gonna get what you paid for.
BallerStatus.com: Is "Shoulder Lean" the kind of stuff people can expect from the rest of the album?
Young Dro: Yes. They can expect even better stuff. We doing our thing on "Shoulder Lean," but it gets better than that. Trust me.
BallerStatus.com: Tell me a little more about it. Is it more party tracks...
Young Dro: The album balances itself out. With what's out now, you can't really say, this is what the album is about or that is what the album is about. It's got struggling going on, on the album. It's got shining, going to church, everything. Any way you're feeling during the day, you got a song on my album you can play.
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