DRAM (musician)

Shelley Marshaun Massenburg-Smith (born August 3, 1988), known professionally as DRAM (/ˈdrɑːm/; an acronym for "does real-ass music", briefly Shelley FKA DRAM),^[a][4][5] is an American musician, singer, rapper, and record producer from Hampton, Virginia. He is best known for his 2016 single, "Broccoli" (featuring Lil Yachty), which peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100.^[6][7] The song preceded his debut studio album Big Baby DRAM (2016), which was released in October of that year by Atlantic Records.

DRAM
DRAM performing in 2016
Background information
Birth name	Shelley Marshaun Massenburg-Smith[1]
Also known as	D.R.A.M. Big Baby D.R.A.M. Only 1 D.R.A.M. Shelley FKA DRAM
Born	(1988-08-03) August 3, 1988 (age 36) Landstuhl, West Germany
Origin	Hampton, Virginia, U.S.
Genres	R&B hip-hop[2]
Occupations	Musician singer rapper songwriter record producer
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Waver[3] Atlantic Empire Love Renaissance
Website	shelleyfkadram.com

Early life

Massenburg-Smith was born in Landstuhl, West Germany. Before the age of one, he moved to the United States and was raised in Hampton, Virginia. His mother was in the military.^[4] As a teenager, Massenburg-Smith was an ardent fan of the singer Bilal and recalls discovering his unreleased second album Love for Sale when it leaked online in 2006, later citing the song "White Turns to Grey" as his favorite "hidden gem" in music.^[8]

Career

In March 2015, DRAM released his debut EP, #1Epic through Atlantic Records and Empire Distribution.^[9] The EP included the single "Cha Cha", which peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.^[10] In October 2015, his debut mixtape, Gahdamn! was released.^[11]

In April 2016, DRAM released his hit single "Broccoli" (featuring Lil Yachty). The song gained international success and peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his first top five song in the country. In October 2016, he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, performing "Blessings (Reprise)" with Chance the Rapper, Ty Dolla Sign, Anthony Hamilton, and Raury.^[12] His debut studio album, Big Baby DRAM, was released on October 21, 2016.^[13] The album received many positive reviews.

DRAM was featured on the single "Andromeda" from British virtual band Gorillaz for their fifth album, Humanz. He also provided uncredited guest vocals on the track "We Got the Power" from the same album.

Other ventures

He voiced Wallace in the Adult Swim animated series, Lazor Wulf (2019–2021).

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions				Certifications
		US [14]	US R&B/HH [15]	US Rap [16]	CAN [17]
Big Baby DRAM	Released: October 21, 2016 Label: Atlantic, Empire Format: LP, digital download	19	12	10	55	RIAA: Gold[18]
Shelley FKA DRAM[19]	Released: April 30, 2021 Label: Atlantic, Empire Format: LP, digital download	—	—	—	—
What Had Happened Was...[20]	Released: November 10, 2022 Label: Waver Format: LP, digital download	—	—	—	—

Extended plays

List of EPs, showing selected details

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		US [14]
#1Epic[9]	Released: March 3, 2015 Label: Atlantic, Empire Format: Digital download	—
Google Play: Live at the Milk Jam Room[21]	Released: July 15, 2016 Label: Atlantic, Empire Format: Digital download	37
#1HappyHoliday[22]	Released: November 24, 2017 Label: Atlantic, Empire Format: Digital download	—
That's a Girls Name	Released: July 18, 2018 Label: Atlantic, Empire Format: Digital download	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, showing selected details

Title	Details
Gahdamn![11]	Released: October 23, 2015 Label: Atlantic, Empire Format: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles, with showing year released, peak chart positions and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions								Certifications	Album
		US [23]	US R&B/ HH [24]	US Rap [25]	CAN [26]	NL [27]	SWE [28]	UK [29]	UK R&B [30]
"Cha Cha"	2015	—	—[A]	—	—	—	—	—	—		#1Epic
"Broccoli" (featuring Lil Yachty)	2016	5	1	1	23	87	60	93	13	RIAA: 8× Platinum[18] BPI: Gold[32] MC: 3× Platinum[33]	Big Baby DRAM
"Cute"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Cash Machine"		—	—[B]	—	—	—	—	—	—	RIAA: Gold[18]
"Gilligan" (featuring Juicy J and ASAP Rocky)	2017	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"The Uber Song"[34]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album singles
"Group Thang (Demo)"[35]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Ill Nana" (featuring Trippie Redd)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Big Baby DRAM
"Crumbs" (featuring Playboi Carti)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"The Lay Down" (with H.E.R. and Watt)[36]	2019	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Shelley FKA DRAM
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

1. "Cha Cha" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.^[31]
2. "Cash Machine" did not enter the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number six on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.^[31]

As featured artist

Title	Year	Album
"For the Love Of"[37] (DP featuring D.R.A.M.)	2015	Non-album single
"I Feel Your Pain"[38] (Sbtrkt featuring D.R.A.M. and Mabel)	2016	Save Yourself
"Slappin"[39] (E-40 featuring Nef the Pharaoh and D.R.A.M.)		The D-Boy Diary (Deluxe Edition)
"Smokin' What I'm Smokin' On"[40] (Mod Sun featuring D.R.A.M. and Rich the Kid)		Non-album single
"1999"[41] (Max Fullard featuring D.R.A.M.)		Nights of the Fourth
"Andromeda" (Gorillaz featuring D.R.A.M.)	2017	Humanz
"I'm On 3.0"[42] (Trae tha Truth featuring T.I., Dave East, Tee Grizzley, Royce da 5'9", Currensy, D.R.A.M., Snoop Dogg, Fabolous, Rick Ross, Chamillionaire, G-Eazy, Styles P, E-40, Mark Morrison, and Gary Clark Jr.)		Tha Truth, Pt. 3
"Count Up" (Smokepurpp featuring D.R.A.M.)		Deadstar
"All of Mine" (Young Dolph featuring D.R.A.M.)		Thinking Out Loud
"Must've Been" (Chromeo featuring D.R.A.M.)	2018	Head over Heels
"Suavecito" (Yung Gravy featuring D.R.A.M.)		Snow Cougar
"It Gets Better" (GRiZ featuring D.R.A.M.)		Non-album single
"New Hawaii" (Injury Reserve featuring DRAM, Tony Velour and Dylan Brady)	2019	Injury Reserve

Other charted songs

List of songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions				Album
		US Dance/ Elec. [43]	CAN [44]	IRE [45]	NZ Heat. [46]
"Cash Out" (Calvin Harris featuring Schoolboy Q, PartyNextDoor, and D.R.A.M.)	2017	20	94	67	1	Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Other artist(s)	Album
"Caretaker"	2015	Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment	Surf
"the function."		Remy Banks, World's Fair	higher.
"D.R.A.M. Sings Special"	2016	Chance the Rapper, Elle Varner	Coloring Book
"Chill Bill (Remix)"		Rob Stone, Denzel Curry, Cousin Stizz	I'm Almost Ready
"People Want to Hear About Love"		Neil Young, Promise of the Real	Earth
"The Come Up"	2018	Smoke DZA	Not for Sale
"Gucci Plug"		Nick Grant	Dreaming Out Loud
"Communication"		Arin Ray	Platinum Fire
"I Like You"		Childish Major, 6lack	WOO$AH

Awards and nominations

Year	Awards	Category	Nominated work	Result
2017	Grammy Awards[47]	Best Rap/Sung Performance	"Broccoli" (with Lil Yachty)	Nominated
	iHeartRadio Music Awards[48]	Best New Hip-Hop Artist	D.R.A.M.	Nominated
	Billboard Music Awards[49]	Top Streaming Song (Audio)	"Broccoli" (with Lil Yachty)	Nominated
		Top Rap Song		Nominated
		Top Rap Collaboration		Nominated
	MTV Video Music Awards	Best Collaboration		Nominated
		Best Hip Hop Video		Nominated
2018	Grammy Awards	Best Dance Recording	"Andromeda" (with Gorillaz)	Nominated

Notes

1. Formerly stylized as D.R.A.M.; previously DRAMA J