B/R Q&A: DRAM Talks Kendrick's Athleticism, Pete Carroll's Double Cross

Big Baby DRAM's music might not strike fans as the stuff of jock jams or pregame pump-ups—after all, he just released a three-song Christmas EP (#1HappyHoliday) during which he shows off his flair for balladry over "The Christmas Song," among other festive classics. But fans of DRAM, like Kyrie Irving and the Seattle Seahawks—whom he spoke about with Bleacher Report earlier this month—dig the eclectic sound that's made songs like "Broccoli" and "Cha Cha" hits. 

Gearing up for his next album after spending the summer opening for Kendrick Lamar in arenas around the country (the European leg kicks off early next year), DRAM stopped by the B/R office in New York to talk about his sports playing days, the shoes he can't live without and what it's like to be coached by Pete Carroll.

Bleacher Report: Did you play sports much growing up?

DRAM: Nope. I did one season of football, and I didn't do s--t; I only played during the kick returns. I played basketball for one season on the Hampton Cavaliers, and in the whole season, I scored four points. But they loved me—I was like, the garbage n---a that was just smiling and s--t. So the crowd would be trying to rev me up and s--t. Class clown of the basketball team.

B/R: What were the teams you loved as a kid?

DRAM: I grew up being a fan of the stars: Michael Jordan, Deion Sanders...LaDainian Tomlinson! When he was running for the Chargers, he was going off. T.O. (Terrell Owens), [Randy] Moss—your ass got Moss'd, you feel me? Latrell Sprewell! He was one of the first to really mogulize, I feel. With the spinning rims thing, he definitely transcended sports. And Allen Iverson, what the f--k! And Mike Vick, what the f--k! 

B/R: Yeah, I was going to bring up athletes from Virginia. Do you feel particularly loyal to them because you are from there?

DRAM: Of course. You know Tyrod [Taylor] and me actually grew up together. At one time, his mother was working at my cousin Kim's shop. We know each other. That's why it was just hella dope seeing his progress. It's been a few years, but he was lit even back then. Kam [Chancellor]'s the homie, too.

Nick Watkin

B/R: Right, you went to a Seahawks practice earlier this year.

DRAM: That was my first time ever at an NFL practice. That s--t was cool as hell. I didn't know what to expect. 

We wound up playing seven-on-seven or some bulls--t...Kendrick, Bobby [Wagner], Pete, some of our guys, some of their guys. Pete was like, "OK, I want you to go straight down and cross over," and then he threw it right to the other team! Pete Carroll was supposed to be playing for us, for our f--king team—why is he going to throw the f--king ball to the other team?! Who's that dude with the teeth? Wagner! He threw that s--t to Bobby Wagner, bro, who's obviously going to run like a professional and s--t. Like, why are you taking it serious, running all hard? Did you break a sweat? 

I'm like, "Yo, nobody on this team is playing for the Seahawks—why did you throw the ball directly to the opposition?" I cussed him out; I don't think he was expecting that. Like, damn, Pete. S--t still got me hot. 

B/R: So how would you sum up your experience being coached by Pete Carroll?

DRAM: It was terrible because he told me to do one thing, and he did the absolute other thing [laughs]. But as far as him being the coach for the Seahawks franchise, he's amazing. I really f--k with the Seahawks. They were big supporters of "Cha Cha" [DRAM's 2014 breakout hit], like that was their song. Then they went to the Super Bowl, and it was just, like...lit. I'll never forget that s--t.

B/R: What's Kendrick like as a football player?

DRAM: Kendrick's athletic! He goes out and runs [mimes running]—he's gonna put the effort in. I f--k with it though; it's dedication. That n---a fast—I can't catch him.

B/R: Do you ever play basketball or football on the road?

DRAM: That happened once or twice—I'm just, like, all right. I'll give the ball a couple heaves, then I'm ready to smoke again. 

B/R: I mean, there's a certain amount of athleticism required just to do an arena tour.

DRAM: Yeah, you get tired as a bitch! Drenched in sweat, out of breath. It is sort of a workout, and you have to be there giving 110 percent even if your body doesn't permit that. You have to go out there and do what you do, just like any athlete. It's an art form, entertainment...just a way of life. That's why [music and sports] go hand in hand, to me.

B/R: Have you been following the NFL much this season?

DRAM: I watch the highlights! I would love to actually go to an NFL game and check it out. I've been to a Clippers game, in a skybox. They absolutely slaughtered the opposition. It was like watching six lions getting thrown one person who must atone for his sins. It was, like, a 47-point lead, like what the f--k?

B/R: I heard you've been following the Timberwolves a bit, too.

DRAM: They're going in! That's a good team. They've got a squad this year. Every team has a squad, but it's all about how the chemistry is, how they work with each other. Sometimes it comes crashing down, but in this case I think they're doing very well. I've been checking in. Whenever I play [NBA] 2K, I'm only playing with them. 

B/R: Who's your favorite NBA player right now?

DRAM: [LeBron James kid voice] LeBron James. My guy who I've been f--king with for a minute who just, out of nowhere, is going the f--k off is E.G.—Eric Gordon. He's been nice on 2K for years. Courtney Lee is also nice on 2K. Jamal Crawford—goddamn he nice, son. On God he be killin' n----s on 2K. A. Wiggins, for the Wolves. Jimmy Butler. 

Chris Kennedy

B/R: Which athlete do you identify with most?

DRAM: What's his name that did Grandmama...Larry Johnson! He's big and jolly. Loves to have fun, but when it's time to put it down, he puts it down. Grandmama was lit as a bitch—Grandmama was on Family Matters! That s--t was hard.

B/R: A musical aside: I know you cite funk as one of your primary influences. What's the George Clinton record that you think everyone needs to listen to?

DRAM: Motor Booty Affair, 1978. Parliament. The soundscape goes from woozy to up—it feels like Percocet and Molly, or dope other s--t. It's just good gas, the whole ride. My favorite song on that one is Track 3: "(You're A Fish and I'm A) Water Sign." And then "Aquaboogie." 

B/R: What are your go-to touring shoes?

DRAM: White Reebok Classics with the gum bottom. Keep it simple. I'll wear an $8,000 coat with them motherf--kers. 

B/R: What pair of shoes are you never going to wear?

DRAM: Kendrick got me and everyone on the tour the all-white [Nike] Cortez. I wore them one time and f--ked them up—I'm getting them s--ts right, and then I'm not going to wear them anymore, because you can't get them!

B/R: Are there any athlete's shoes that you like?

DRAM: I like the Pippens. If somebody can get me the Pippens, those are lit.

Chris Kennedy

B/R: No LeBrons?

DRAM: They just have a lot going on! I'm just saying, new sneakers nowadays have a lot going on. 

B/R: Have you met many athletes who are fans of your music?

DRAM: During All-Star week, The Roots were playing and they wanted me to come out during their set. But it wasn't tightly arranged, so it didn't quite work out. At the end of their set, Kyrie Irving comes backstage and is like, "Hey DRAM, what's up? I thought you were going to get up onstage—I like 'Cha Cha,' I would have grabbed a mic but I can't sing."

Then Dave Chappelle walked in...that s--t was just mad awkward—there was so much star power in that bitch. Then The Roots walked in. Shout-out to Black Thought, shout-out to Questlove—he tweeted me a few days ago when the Christmas joint dropped, saying he really enjoyed "The Christmas Song" to the point where he says I'm his favorite singer now! It's immaculate.

B/R: How do you feel about Kyrie saying the Earth is flat?

DRAM: Wait, I thought it was a joke! So listen: We flew from L.A. to London. It's faster flying west to east than it is east to west, and I'm still trying to figure it out. It's some global, some circle-y s--t. So I don't think it's flat; I think it's round.