D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape

D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape is the fourth compilation album by American record label Dreamville. It was released on March 31, 2022, by Dreamville and Interscope as a Gangsta Grillz mixtape hosted by DJ Drama.[1]

D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape
Compilation album by
ReleasedMarch 31, 2022
Length47:18
Label
Producer
Dreamville chronology
Revenge of the Dreamers III
(2019)
D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape
(2022)
Creed III: The Soundtrack
(2023)
Singles from D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape
  1. "Heaven's EP"
    Released: September 21, 2021

D-Day includes contributions from Dreamville artists, J. Cole, Bas, Cozz, Omen, Lute, Ari Lennox, JID, and EarthGang. The mixtape features guest appearances from 2 Chainz, ASAP Ferg, Kenny Mason, Sheck Wes, G Perico, Reason, and Young Nudy.

Background

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The mixtape is the fourth compilation by Dreamville, following Revenge of the Dreamers III (2019). It is also the second Dreamville release to be hosted by DJ Drama, following JID's album DiCaprio 2 (2018).[2][3]

Recording and production

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Ibrahim Hamad revealed that the idea of this compilation album came from Barry Hefner in nine days, and was turned in and cleared by Interscope the day before it released.[4] "Jozi Flows" was first recorded in 2019 during the Revenge of the Dreamers III sessions in Atlanta, and was finished in 2022 in Johannesburg and named after the city.[5]

Singles and promotion

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On September 21, 2021, J. Cole released a freestyle titled "Heaven's EP", remixing the beat of "Pipe Down" from Drake's Certified Lover Boy.[6][7]

On September 27, the label announced the second annual Dreamville Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina.[8] The festival took place from April 2-3, including performances from all of Dreamville's artists as well as DJ Drama, Lil Wayne, Jeezy, T.I., Lil Baby, T-Pain, WizKid, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Kehlani, Moneybagg Yo, Wiz Khalifa, Wale, Morray, Fivio Foreign, Blxst, among others.[9][10]

On March 30, 2022, the mixtape was announced via social media, to be released ahead of the Dreamville Festival.[11]

Critical reception

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Writing for Vibe, Preezy Brown said the mixtape "captures Dreamville in the midst of their free-wheeling flow of creativity, which has accounted for some of the best compilations from a label or collective in recent memory. While not as explosive as previous offerings like Revenge of the Dreamers III, D-Day is a quality mix of selections that may not place Cole and company on the Gangsta Grillz Mt. Rushmore but is indicative of their stature as one of the most formidable, self-contained crews in music today."[12]

Track listing

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D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Stick" (with JID and J. Cole featuring Kenny Mason and Sheck Wes)5:09
2."Ghetto Gods Freestyle" (with EarthGang featuring 2 Chainz)
  • Natra Average
  • Tane Runo
2:53
3."Lifestyle" (with Bas featuring ASAP Ferg)J. Cole2:46
4."Starting 5" (with Lute, Cozz, and Omen)Wyldfyer4:30
5."Coming Down" (with Ari Lennox)
  • DZL
  • J. Cole
  • Wu10
2:36
6."Hair Salon" (with Cozz featuring G Perico and Reason)Chuck Inglish3:13
7."Freedom of Speech" (with J. Cole)2:11
8."Blackberry Sap" (with Ari Lennox)
J. White Did It2:29
9."Like Wine" (with Lute)
  • Nicholson
  • Cedric Brown
Ced Breeze2:35
10."Jozi Flows" (with Bas and EarthGang)
  • Hamad
  • Fann
  • Holmes
  • DZL
2:55
11."Barry From Simpson" (with JID featuring 2 Chainz and Young Nudy)
3:17
12."Everybody Ain't Shit" (with EarthGang)
  • Fann
  • Parker
  • Gibbs
Natra Average3:23
13."Ballin in Newport" (with Omen)
  • D. Coleman
  • W. Coleman
3:32
14."Big Trouble Freestyle" (with Cozz) 2:43
15."Heaven's EP" (with J. Cole)
  • Thomas
  • FaxOnly
  • Jean Bleu
  • Walters
2:58
Total length:47:18

Sample credits

  • "Coming Down" contains a sample of "I'm Going Down" as performed by Rose Royce.
  • "Blackberry Sap" contains a sample of "Love Over and Over Again" as performed by Switch.
  • "Big Trouble Freestyle" contains a sample of "Who Shot Ya?" as performed by The Notorious B.I.G.
  • "Heaven's EP" contains a sample of "Pipe Down" as performed by Drake.

Charts

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Chart performance for D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[13] 182
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[14] 27
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[15] 36
UK Albums (OCC)[16] 94
US Billboard 200[17] 11

References

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  1. ^ "Dreamville Announces Their 'D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape' With DJ Drama And Shares Its Release Date". Uproxx.
  2. ^ "Dreamville Announces "D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape" With DJ Drama". HotNewHipHop.
  3. ^ "J. Cole & Dreamville Announce 'Gangsta Grillz' Mixtape With DJ Drama". HipHopDX.
  4. ^ "Dreamville, J. Cole Enlist DJ Drama for 'D-Day' Mixtape". Boardroom.
  5. ^ "Bas Talks 'Spilled Milk' EP Series & Explains Why Dreamville Is Like Netflix". Billboard.
  6. ^ Legaspi, Althea (September 22, 2021). "J. Cole Hits Vegas Strip in Video for 'Heaven's EP'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  7. ^ "J. Cole Returns With New Track "Heaven's EP" That Builds on Drake's "Pipe Down"". Hypebeast. September 22, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  8. ^ "J. Cole Announces Expanded Two-Day Dreamville Festival 2022". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Lil Baby, Kehlani, More to Perform at J. Cole's Dreamville Fest". Rolling Stone.
  10. ^ "J. Cole Reveals Dreamville Festival 2022 Lineup: Lil Baby, J.I.D, Rico Nasty, and More". Pitchfork.
  11. ^ "J. Cole's Dreamville Announces New Mixtape With DJ Drama". Hypebeast.
  12. ^ Brown, Preezy. "J. Cole And Dreamville's 'D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape' Review". Vibe.
  13. ^ "Ultratop.be – Dreamville & J. Cole – D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  14. ^ "Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of April 16, 2022". FYIMusicNews. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  15. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  16. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  17. ^ @billboardcharts (April 11, 2022). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200:..." (Tweet). Retrieved April 12, 2022 – via Twitter.