His flow is sick and he’s a nerd. A proud nerd.
Meet Jiggy Drama, an artist known in his native Colombia for his urban sound and intricate word play. The 28-year-old singer’s music is already a club staple among Colombian youth and his music’s popularity has grown exponentially. Just peep his videos on YouTube; Jiggy Drama’s dancehall song, “La Fuga,” boasts more than 16 million views. The track has also been one of the most requested songs in MTV Tr3s. Other popular singles by the urban artist include “La Flaka” and “Que es lo que Quieres.”
With so many ears listening to his music, it’s no surprise that Jiggy Drama is ready for the next step. The artist’s debut album, Nerdside, is out on iTunes now. Executive produced by DJ Sheky and Andres Franco, Nerdside explores both Caribbean and urban elements and includes titles, such as “Nintendo” and “Cupido.”
nocheLatina got the chance to chat with Jiggy Drama and the artist dished to us about the response his new album has received in the U.S., his musical inspirations, and his nerdy style. Check out our interview below:
nocheLatina: Congrats on your debut album, Nerdside! What has the response been like so far since its release?
Jiggy Drama: It’s been great. I had a lot of fans on hold waiting for this album to drop and finally its here.
nocheLatina: Your music – and you – are adored in Colombia. What has the response been like here in the U.S.?
Jiggy Drama: Its been a great experience for me, this is my first album in the U.S. I’m starting to get new fans, even fans that don't speak Spanish at all.
nocheLatina: What was the inspiration behind your first single, 'La Flaka?'
Jiggy Drama: Most urban artist focus on voluptuous women, I wanted to make the difference. Flakas need love too.
nocheLatina: In 'La Flaka,' you mention that you get compared to Calle 13 a lot. Does that bother you?
Jiggy Drama: Not at all, I’m a huge Calle 13 fan…but they're doing their thing and I’m doing mine. The only thing we have in common is that we are not afraid to say what's on our minds.
nocheLatina: You’re an attractive guy! How do you deal with your female fans?
Jiggy Drama: Thanks for the compliment. I’m a cool person. I spend time with my female fans, but that's where it stops. I don't take advantage of my popularity.
nocheLatina: What do you think draws people to your music?
Jiggy Drama: Because its funny, different, and you can dance to it.
nocheLatina: We’re digging your fashion style. Is 'nerd' the new cool?
Jiggy Drama: Hell yeah! Who decides what's cool and what's not? I've been wearing these glasses since high school and it took a decade for people find out that it was cool. I’m pretty proud of my nerd look.
nocheLatina: Who are your musical inspirations?
Jiggy Drama: I have to give props to the music of '90s artists like Biggie Smalls, 2pac, Jay-Z, Diddy, Nas, Shaggy, Supercat, R. Kelly, Proyecto Uno, Sandy & Papo, and DLG...but the group that set it off for me were The Fugees.
nocheLatina: What do you hope to accomplish through your music?
Jiggy Drama: Make a better world by putting smiles on people's faces. There’s a lot of music out there giving a violent message to the youth.
nocheLatina: What’s next for you?
Jiggy Drama: Going all over the world with my music, there are more albums on the way, more lyrics on the way...'hay Jiggy para un buen rato.'
