Born Christopher Gholson in Memphis, TN, he grew up in a musical household where his mother was a professional opera singer and his father was a professional clarinetist in the Memphis Symphony Orchestra in addition to being a music professor at the University of Memphis. From his parents he learned a lot about music, not only classical music but soul music as well. He began making beats at age 14 and was making money as a rap producer while he was still in high school. Drumma Boy initially established himself on the Memphis rap scene, working with local rappers such as Gangsta Boo, Yo Gotti, and Tela. Some of his early work can be heard on the albums Double Dose (2000) by Tela ("Tennessee Titans"), Enquiring Minds, Vol. 2: The Soap Opera (2003) by Gangsta Boo ("Sippin & Spinnin"), and Life (2003) by Yo Gotti ("Life"). In 2004 he moved from Memphis to Atlanta to pursue a career in Southern rap production. He had already worked with Pastor Troy, producing beats for the Down South Georgia Boyz album 'Til Death Do Us Part (2003), and he began working with Young Jeezy and his Boyz N da Hood collective, most notably producing "Standing Ovation" on Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 (2005). Drumma Boy's first big hit came in 2007 with "Shawty," a Plies song featuring T-Pain that reached the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100. The following year he was credited with producing a few tracks each on T.I.'s Paper Trail and Young Jeezy's The Recession, two of the most popular rap albums of 2008. ~ Jason Birchmeier