March 5th, 2015 
James Shotwell 
Every once in a while a song comes along that truly sounds like nothing else on the market. It’s a rare moment of discovery that is becoming increasingly hard to stumble upon in the digital age, but for those willing to sift through the seemingly endless number of artists hoping to be heard, there is gold to be found.
I’m not the first to hop on this hype train, but the last several weeks the only artist I have discovered who seems to have found their own lane in music is Virginia native D.R.A.M. His infectious, genre-bending single “Cha Cha” has all the makings of a future radio smash, only without any of the star power or marketing budget most top 40 singles boast. Instead, the song succeeds on the inherent sense of fun and carefree living that oozes from every beat of the Gabe Niles-produced track. You might not ‘get it’ at first, but if you give the music an honest chance to impress I think you will find yourself dancing before the final refrain comes to a close.
You might be thinking, “But there are a lot of songs out right now that make me want to dance.” That may be true, but I can promise you none of them sound anything like “Cha Cha.” The production blends the bass-and-drum elements of rap with a lighthearted mix of Latin music samples and, if you listen closely, one or two snippets from Super Mario Bros to create a whole new urban sub-genre that currently defies definition. It is the kind of sound you imagine pouring out of taco-themed food trucks all summer long, or perhaps at the end of a late, booze-filled party after everyone has shaken off their insecurities and begun sloppily dancing in the middle of your friend’s criminally small living room. Either way, it’s destined to be the soundtrack to good times around the globe. You can view the song’s official video below:
This song just makes you feel good inside, doesn’t it? I wish I could pinpoint exactly when the song comes together and why its many elements jell so well, but there is a beauty in the mystery I deeply respect. D.R.A.M. has rapped (whisper-sung?) his way into my heart, and though he only has a handful of songs on the street right now I am already prepared to make him a top 3 contender for the up-and-coming artists most likely to become a household name in 2015. There are better rappers out there, and truth be told there always will be, but the most successful artists are rarely the most skilled. The people who find success in this industry are those who possess the ability to make consumers feel something when their music plays. It can be anything from happiness, to hope, sadness, regret, anger, and a million emotions in between. As long as you can make an impact on the way people feel, you can have a lasting career. It appears that D.R.A.M. has cracked the code, so to speak, and right now the sky is the limit for him and his career.
I’m not the only one hopping on the D.R.A.M. bandwagon right now. Chance The Rapper and super producer Rick Rubin have both talked about the “Cha Cha” hitmaker in recent weeks. Additionally, our friends at Stereogum, Billboard, Global Grind, Noisey, and Jezebel have all caught themselves dancing alone a time or twenty while jamming to the the song’s addicting hook. With the release of D.R.A.M.’s #1EpicEP this week, I imagine even more editorials and celebrity endorsements will soon follow.
Written by: James Shotwell Follow @utgjames
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