Dreamville & J. Cole “D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape” Review

D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape

Dreamville & J. Cole

• Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
• Release Date: 2022-03-31
• Explicitness: explicit
• Track Count: 15
• ℗ 2022 Dreamville/Interscope Records

Cole looks to etch his name alongside the likes of Lil Wayne, T.I., Jeezy, and Gucci Mane with “D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz mixtape”, which showcases his Dreamville crew while doling out sporadic doses of his lyrical exploits.

D-Day is primarily comprised of rap. However, the mixtape’s finest moments come courtesy of Dreamville’s resident songstress, Ari Lennox, who’s also become Cole’s most popular and acclaimed recruit thus far.

A collective born out of its founders’ affinity for collaboration, Dreamville’s stable of artists is the main draw on D-Day, but space is made for additional talent to get in on the fun.

Dreamville’s evolution is evidenced throughout D-Day, with each artist on the roster offering noteworthy contributions to the project. Yet, as the head of the ship, J. Cole is looked upon to set the tone and deliver in his own right, a task he seemingly pulls off with ease.

Mixtape Cover Artwork

It looks like the end of the world as we know it, and the last survivors or rather, the heroes, were gathered together for a group photograph. J. Cole is flanked by a host of other people that also happen to be the featured acts on the project.

They are all dressed in black and grey villain-esque outfits, looking serious and dangerous for the group picture. They look like the kind of people to call on for any herculean mission, even if it involves blowing up a mountain or rolling back freshly-erupted molten magma with their bare hands.

It also looks like they all have to work together on any given mission, which is what was heard on this project. Everyone, including DJ Drama himself came through for this hip-hop mission called “D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape”.

Tracks and Features

The mixtape is a 15-track project featuring everyone on Dreamville and other guest features that include 2 Chainz, Young Nudy, G Perico, Reason, A$AP Ferg, Kenny Mason, and Shek Wes.

Tracks

NO	Title	Artist	Time
1	Stick (feat. Kenny Mason & Sheck Wes)	Dreamville, JID & J. Cole	5:09
2	Ghetto Gods Freestyle (feat. 2 Chainz)	Dreamville & EARTHGANG	2:53
3	Lifestyle (feat. A$AP Ferg)	Dreamville & Bas	2:46
4	Starting 5	Dreamville, Lute, Cozz & Omen	4:30
5	Coming Down	Dreamville & Ari Lennox	2:36
6	Hair Salon (feat. G Perico & REASON)	Dreamville & Cozz	3:13
7	Freedom of Speech	Dreamville & J. Cole	2:11
8	Blackberry Sap	Dreamville & Ari Lennox	2:29
9	Like Wine	Dreamville & Lute	2:35
10	Jozi Flows	Dreamville, Bas & EARTHGANG	2:55
11	Barry From Simpson (feat. 2 Chainz & Young Nudy)	Dreamville & JID	3:17
12	Everybody Ain’t Shit	Dreamville & EARTHGANG	3:23
13	Ballin in Newport	Dreamville & Omen	3:32
14	Big Trouble Freestyle	Dreamville & Cozz	2:43
15	Heavens EP	Dreamville & J. Cole	2:58

“Oh, I know you n****s didn’t see this coming,” DJ Drama acknowledges on “Stick,” a boisterous opener pairing J.I.D. and J. Cole with Sheck Wes and Kenny Mason atop production by AraabMuzik, Beat Butcha, and Christo. With J.I.D. and Cole’s more lyrical stanzas contrasting with Sheck and Kenny’s penchant for pandemonium, the track makes for an epic introductory cut that takes Cole out of his comfort zone with positive results.

Dreamville’s northern ambassador, Bas, connects with fellow New Yorker A$AP Ferg on “Lifestyle.” Elsewhere, lute, Cozz, and Omen form a triangle offense on the WYLDFYRE-produced cut “Starting 5,” which may have benefited from additional guest spots to align with the title and theme of the song.

G Perico and Reason contribute riveting performances alongside Cozz on the ghastly groove “Hair Salon,” while 2 Chainz joins EARTHGANG on “Ghetto Gods Freestyle” before reappearing. Alongside Young Nudy and J.I.D. on the brooding thumper “Barry From Simpson.”

Reworking the soul classic “I’m Going Down” into “Coming Down,” an infectious, modernized take on the original, and purring her sensuous desires on the bedroom romper “Blackberry Sap,” Lennox’s contributions are sure to ramp up the buzz surrounding her anticipated sophomore effort to a deafening crescendo.

Kicking stream of consciousness flows on “Freedom of Speech,” and demolishing Drake’s “Pipe Down” instrumental for the mixtape closer “Heavens EP,” Jermaine equips himself well, matching efficiency with excellence in his triumvirate of appearances.

Album Theme

D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape captures Dreamville in their free-wheeling flow of creativity. It’s the mingling of rap and creativity to sell their reality in a most relatable manner.

Production Credits

The production of this mixtape was handled by AraabMuzik, Beat Butcha, Christo, and WYLDFYRE.

Stream

Listeners Review

Listen for yourself
By BlackRaven012345678901
This album is definitely better than a 4/5 stars. Not sure if people expected this to be like the typical J. Cole type album, but if you don’t enjoy Gangsta Grillz mixtapes, then it might not be your thing. But this is fire!

Garbage 🗑
By Heavy Hitter562
💯 💯 💯 💯

D-Day
By Hyujgf
Dreamville keep doing y’all thang fr fr all 🔥🔥🔥

JCole need to leave dreamville alone
By ShatterstarPX
Period

Stick?
By Kizra
One of the worst songs I have ever heard. Will definitely not be playing this.

Classic
By Scrabblest
I don’t see why other labels don’t do what Dreamville does

Dreamville don’t miss 👀🔥
By dreamvillain30
Dreamville filled with 🐐’s for real !!!

Great listen all the way through
By robberooni18181
Everyone killed there parts, great album altogether. 🔥 Dreamville STACKED 💰

5
By wddayy7723_}
XS1 are 313wxxxxw dn and the threw

J. Cole officially fell off
By AlexC9333
Little did we know the Fall Off J. Cole kept teasing about was his own.