The 'Ipod King' is back at it again.  The man behind the infamous Gangster Grillz mixtapes, DJ Drama, is gearing up for the release of Gangsta Grillz The Album.

From the Midwest, the South to the East Coast, Gangster Grillz mixtapes get plenty of burn in trucks, gyms, barbershops, you name it. So to carter to everyones taste, Drama went out and picked some of the dopest emcess across the nation to create Gangsta Grillz The Album.

The Philly born and currently Atlanta’s go-to DJ, remains completely humble regardless of all the accolades and praise he receives.  During a hectic press day for Gangster Grillz The Album, I caught up with DJ Drama and chopped it up about the mixtape game, new artists we should look out for,  and of course the status on T.I. 

How do you feel about mixtapes doing better than albums?

I can’t really say if that’s true or not.  At the end of the day albums are selling a lot more units than mixtapes but I think over the last couple of years mixtapes, DJs and artists have been really making good quality material for the streets.  And that’s being appreciated by a lot of people.

So mixtapes have really come up to make it a good name for it’s self.  I think they go hand and hand with each other and I don’t think mixtapes would be where they are without the albums, and albums wouldn’t be where they are if it wasn’t for the mixtapes.

What made you decide to create Gangsta Grillz the album now instead of a year ago

Because it wasn’t my time before, I always knew that my opportunity would come to do an album if I kept on my grind, if I kept doing what I was doing.  I couldn’t do it 6 years ago nobody was really familiar with Gangster Grillz when I first started so I had to build my brand up to get to this point.  For anybody in my position or anybody coming up, DJ or artist, one of those goals is to be able to do an official album.  So the time came and I ran with it. 

Do you feel you’ve reached your expectations for your brand?

Most definitely, Gangster Grillz is highly respected in the streets.  I think everyone knows the power of the Gangster Grillz mixtape and the Gangster Grillz brand that’s what got in me in this position to do this opportunity.  I stood by quality and I stood by consistency for quite some years.  I definitely think that I’m meeting my expectiations.

Do you have any advice for DJs on the come up that’s trying to be in your position?

Keep your passion about the game.  Stay hungry, stay working.  It’s a 24-7 thing, there’s no clock to punch, just stay on the grind.  Stay about the music.  If I could do it then you can do it.

Being in the game for a long time you created great relationships with the heavy weights in the game.  Did it make it easy for you to create the official Gangsta Grillz album with artists like Jeezy, Nelly and other artists?

It was a lot of work, nothing is really easy even if people look at the end product but it’s a lot of hard work that goes into everything.  A lot of people worry about the projects and a lot of people were dedicated to what I was doing.  My relationships definitely helped, that was the door opener.  You have to, at the end of the day make good music for the artists to want to be part of the project and you also have to deal with the business aspect of it so it’s definitely hard work, nothing is easy. 

Do you think there’s a difference between mixtapes in the south compared to up north?

There used to be, but I think I filled in that void and did what I did.  As a whole I just think music is music.

Are there any Northern East Coast rappers on the album?

Yup, Jadakiss is on the album.  Pharrell, the Clipse, Freeway is on there.  I got everybody on there.  I got the Midwest, Twista is on there, Nelly is on there.  Of course I got the South on there.  Basically just representing all the people that I’ve been working with and I don’t want to make a region thing but about quality street music.

So the album is diverse and anybody will like it?

Yeah I wanted to do something for everybody on the album.  Something for the gangsters, something for the ladies and something laid back.  I wanted to make a complete album.  Even though it’s Gangster Grillz, I wanted to make something that the new fans will like too.

Will you be creating a mini tour with some of the artists on the album?

Yeah, I’m on my promo tour now so I’m in a different city everyday.  I’m just out seeing the people and shaking hands. 

Doing my Gangster Grillz/ DJ Drama thing.  Every club I go to I want to represent the streets.  That’s what really got me here.  The streets is my core fan base, the niggas in the hood bangin Gangster Grillz rolling their window down so everybody can hear it. I do it for them.

I feel proud when I represent them.  Gangster Grillz is quality street music.

Are you gonna have any videos to any of the songs on the album?

We just shot the video for “5000 Ones” and it’s going to premiere this week on 106 & Park and Rap City.  That’s the first single.  It’s going to be all over your TV screen, it’s gonna be Number 1.  It’s going to be BIG.

When can we expect the Lil Wayne Dedication 3 mixtape?

Probably sometime this year, me and Wayne both been busy.  He’s been working on his album and I’ve been doing my thing.  We definitely spoke about it and I look forward to doing it. 

Lastly, before I let you go.  How is T.I. doing since being released from jail?

TIP is good, I talked to him the other day.  He was at the crib cooking dinner and playing with the kids.  He started writing the new album called Paper Trail.  So his spirits are up and everything.  We had some jokes.  The King doing, what the King doing. 

I’m here in the fourth quarter, repping him.  He knew at this time that I was going to come with a banger so he’s hyped up that the album is coming out.  He’s has my back.

What’s next for DJ Drama?

Willie the Kid’s album is coming out in 08.  The set up is crazy.  He’s all over my album then we’re going to drop his album.  Then get right back to work and do my next Gangster Grillz album.

Any last comments for the fans?

December 4th Gangster Grillz album and I appreciate all the support.