Does. Real. Ass. Music. D.R.A.M. might be the happiest dude EVER, and that good energy is all over his debut album, Big Baby D.R.A.M.. After "Cha Cha" lit the internet on fire (Beyonce's a fan, Drake jacked it for "Hotline Bling), traditional outlets jumped on the wave and quickly put the Hampton, Virginia native's happy-go-lucky persona on the mainstream map, and his "trappy-go-lucky" sound triumphed once again w/ the Lil Yachy-assisted smash, "Broccoli." And now, this full-length blows away any doubts regarding the dog-loving (s/o to the dope album cover) artist; D.R.A.M. is serious about spreading positivity through good music, and he has much more than viral novelty songs in his arsenal (not that there is anything wrong with those songs). What's obvious from the first track on big Baby D.R.A.M. is D's love for soul & funk, which he marries with trap cadences and big 808 basslines. He croons and raps in almost equal parts, and his stories, regardless of how goofy or serious, are earnest and true to heart, which brings us back to what his name stands for: Does. Real. Ass. Music. Songs to check out: "Cash Machine," "Broccoli," "Cute," "Password," "Get It Myself," "WiFi," and "Misunderstood." Features Young Thug, Erykah Badu, and Lil Yachty, pressed on yellow vinyl.

• yellow vinyl pressing
• music label: Empire 2016

reviewed by marble cake floors 05/2017