Rapper, singer, and producer D.R.A.M. (which stands for "Does. Real. Ass. Music.") is best known for his 2016 summer hit "Broccoli." Born Shelley Marshaun Massenburg-Smith in Germany, the Virginia-based artist released his debut mixtape, #1 Epic Summer, in 2014. It featured the single "Cha Cha," a club-worthy cut that was a regional hit. In 2015, he broke on a national scale when Cleveland R&B radio station Z 107.9 FM began playing the cut as their "weekend warmer," a campaign that eventually reached Beyoncé, who shared a video of her own version of the track. With Queen B's co-sign, "Cha Cha" was re-released that year while #1Epic reappeared as an EP. Following the increased exposure brought on by "Cha Cha"'s success, D.R.A.M. released another mixtape, the aptly titled Gahdamn! in October 2015. Months later, he scored a hit with the Lil' Yachty-assisted "Broccoli." The track went gold and had risen into the Billboard Top 40 by the time summer rolled around in 2016.
David Jeffries
AllMusic.com
