With these projects, Drakeo had made his name in the L.A.

By the time he released that tape’s sequel in 2016, he’d established the rap collective Stinc Team with Devante-who assumed the stage name Ralfy the Plug-along with their cousin Rassy Bugatti, as well as other rappers from their area. A few months after those features, Drakeo released his official debut mixtape under 10 Summers, titled I Am Mr. Get Dough” to widespread attention, signed the young upstart to his 10 Summers label, and featured Drakeo on that label’s first compilation mixtape. In his 20s, Campbell began releasing mixtapes under the stage name Drakeo the Ruler, taken from the ancient Greek legislator Draco, and was discovered in 2015 by DJ Mustard, the party-favorite producer who’d come to fame working with fellow West Coast artists YG and Ty Dolla Sign. As so many from his hometown had done before, Campbell and his brother Devante turned to rapping as a way to escape the punitive cycle of the streets, inspired by artists like Boosie and Webbie, the Hot Boyz, and the battle rapper Cocky. He was caught up in petty crime in the troubled neighborhood from a young age, landing in jail before he’d even turned 13. Send me updates about Slate special offers.ĭrakeo the Ruler, born Darrell Wayne Campbell, was raised by a single mother in the gang-heavy Hundreds section of South Central L.A.

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