DJ Drama to host album release party at JPJ

Media General News Service
Published: March 27, 2008

DJ Drama will host an album release party for “The O’Drama Coalition: Tha PuppetMaster,’’ the latest CD by H.I.M., the King of Kings, on April 12 at the John Paul Jones Arena.

H.I.M., the King of Kings, performs in a style that blends hip-hop, rhythm and blues, reggae and rock. The Virginia native is known for his skills as a lyricist and producer.

“Tha PuppetMaster’’ is the follow-up album to “Asphalt Talk,’’ the debut that caused a stir on the Internet in 2007. H.I.M. collaborated with Marc Middleton of the group Blackstreet to produce “Hustlaz Love,’’ a track that appealed to a broad range of music fans.

DJ Drama is from Philadelphia, but he relocated to Atlanta. That’s where he began to get attention in the hip-hop scene for his mixtape skills. He and DJ Don Cannon are well known for their “Gangsta Grillz’’ series, which soon will be a DVD release.

DJ Drama has toured with Jay-Z and Nelly and has collaborated with Diddy, OutKast, Lil’ Wayne, Katt Williams, Lil’ John, Young Jeezy and Paul Wall, among other stars.

Television fans have seen DJ Drama on BET’s “106 and Park’’ and “Rap City,’’ Fox’s “The O.C.,’’ MTV’s “Spring Bling’’ and “Wildin’ Out’’ and MTV.com’s “Mixtape Mondays.’’

Doors will open at 10 p.m. Guests must be at least 18, and proper identification will be required at the door.

Tickets are $35 before midnight the day of the show and are $25 in advance before the day of the show. They are available at the arena’s box office and Plan 9 locations, http://www.johnpauljonesarena.com and (888) JPJ-TIXS (575-8497).