DaVille is Back | D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape Unleashed

J Cole has become notorious for being a rap antihero, as well as one of the greatest wordsmiths in the music industry. Known for his unique style and smooth flow with words, it was only right for his Dreamville crew to release another mixtape following the success of their last joint project in 2019.
On March 31, 2022, the D-Day mixtape was released, and of course the fans went insane. Being that the last album dropped almost three years ago.
The mixtape features the famed DJ Drama Gangsta Grillz handling production. DJ Drama is known for his infamous Gangsta Grillz mixtapes. The mixtape includes a very dynamic roster of artists in the industry with 2 Chainz, Young Nudy, A$AP Ferg, and G Perico.
A total of fifteen tracks makes up the 47 minute project, highlighting the concise nature of the project that isn’t interested in a slow build up at all. It is filled with some of the most talented artists including J.I.D., Ari Lennox, EarthGang, Bas, Cozz, Lute and Omen, all of whom didn’t waste any time in turning on their A-game.
DJ Drama starts a song with, “Keep playing with Dreamville’s name. Don’t get Chris Rock’d out [of] your socks,” he says on “Starting 5.”
“Anything can and will happen. Then watch me walk back to my seat. Keep our names out your f*mouth,” making note of the situation that happened recently at the Oscars.
The mixtape started with the most popular song “Stick” with DJ Drama, J.I.D., J Cole, Kenny Mason, and Sheck Wes. This song set the tone for what the group would do throughout the project’s entirety, with the main goal seemingly to boost the energy. With the chorus by JID, Mason, and Wes Stick, “stick (B*), stick (B*), stick, I got a new stick (B*),” illustrating their habit of keeping a gun on them to protect themselves.
D-Day is composed primarily of rap, but the queen herself Ari Lennox mixed the classic “I’m Going Down” into “Coming Down”, with a rebuild of the masterly hit by auntie Mary J. Blige. This was followed by Blackberry Sap which is a sensual love song for lovers.
Freedom of Speech is rated as a fan favorite. J Cole raps about his greatness and his life experiences. “Black boy fly, stupid racks, oysters on my plate, so much bread I think I got white privilege,” said J Cole.
“I enjoyed the entire album. My favorite song was Heaven’s EP. J Cole really ran the entire song,” stated Kaylee Williams a junior Biology major from Hammond, LA.
The mixtape cover exhibited a deception of the artist at a D-day. The entire background was an explosion that represented D-Day. To show how lethal and deadly the crew really is, Dreamville is back with new music.
The mixtape ended with “Heaven EP” with Drake’s “Pipe Down” instrumental, except J Cole made it his own with his insane flow.
And of course, we can’t forget the “Ghetto Gods Freestyle” featuring 2 Chainz and Earthgang, where Chainz said, “Been a real n* turned a millionaire, why you sittin’ there, I’ll make a million dollars by the time you been got up and did your hair.” The freestyle was overpowering with chemistry from all artists.
According to Discover Music, “Dreamville is continuing to shape the sound of music.” Dreamville has become the epitome of what a label could do, if the team is truly dedicated to making music that will influence the people.
The mixtape serves as the follow-up to Dreamville’s 2019 Revenge of the Dreamers III, which debuted #1 on billboard 200. The album arrived just in time for the Dreamville Festival 2022, which fans have been waiting on since the dawn of the new year.