What Is 1st of the Month Vol. 5

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: 1st of the Month Vol. 5 is a compilation album released on June 1, 2021, by rapper and producer DJ Drama, part of his long-running 'Gangsta Grillz' series. It features 12 tracks with guest appearances from artists like Lil Durk, Polo G, and Moneybagg Yo.

Key Facts

Released on June 1, 2021, as part of DJ Drama's Gangsta Grillz series
Features 12 tracks with collaborations from Lil Durk, Polo G, and Moneybagg Yo
Peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart
Produced by DJ Drama and includes production from Hit-Boy and Tay Keith
Part of a series that began in 2007 with the original 'Gangsta Grillz' mixtape

Overview

1st of the Month Vol. 5 is a 2021 hip-hop compilation album curated and hosted by DJ Drama, continuing his influential Gangsta Grillz series that began in the mid-2000s. Released on June 1, 2021, this installment blends trap and melodic rap styles, showcasing emerging and established Southern and Midwest artists.

The album is the fifth in a monthly-themed series that DJ Drama revived after a hiatus, maintaining the tradition of high-profile features and hard-hitting production. It serves as both a commercial project and a cultural snapshot of mainstream rap trends in the early 2020s.

Release Date: The album dropped on June 1, 2021, continuing the '1st of the Month' branding that emphasizes timely, curated content drops.
Track Count: It includes 12 tracks with a total runtime of approximately 38 minutes, balancing brevity with musical depth.
Featured Artists: The project includes appearances from Lil Durk, Polo G, Moneybagg Yo, EST Gee, and 42 Dugg, highlighting current Southern and Midwest rap stars.
Chart Performance: It reached No. 23 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, marking moderate commercial success.
Series Legacy: This volume continues a series that started in 2014 with '1st of the Month' EPs, originally designed to release new music at the start of each month.

How It Works

1st of the Month Vol. 5 operates as a curated mixtape-style album, blending DJ Drama’s signature hosting with contemporary trap production and lyrical content. Each track is structured to highlight featured artists while maintaining a cohesive sonic theme.

Curatorial Role: DJ Drama acts as executive curator and host, selecting artists and sequencing tracks to reflect current trends in hip-hop, especially from the South and Midwest.
Production Style: The beats are primarily trap-influenced, with contributions from producers like Hit-Boy, Tay Keith, and London on da Track, known for chart-topping hits.
Artist Selection: Features are drawn from rising stars and established names, with Lil Durk appearing on the lead single 'Dead Opps'.
Release Strategy: The June 1 release date aligns with the '1st of the Month' branding, aiming to create anticipation for regular content drops.
Marketing Approach: Promoted through DJ Drama’s social media, mixtape legacy, and partnerships with labels like Generation Now and Atlantic Records.
Distribution: Released digitally across platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal, with no initial physical release, targeting streaming audiences.

Comparison at a Glance

A comparison of 1st of the Month Vol. 5 with previous volumes and similar projects reveals its place in the mixtape landscape.

Album	Release Date	Track Count	Chart Position	Key Features
1st of the Month Vol. 1	August 2014	7	Not charted	Early revival of Gangsta Grillz, mixtape format
1st of the Month Vol. 5	June 2021	12	No. 23 (R&B/Hip-Hop)	Lil Durk, Moneybagg Yo, EST Gee
Gangsta Grillz: The Album	2007	16	No. 2 (Rap)	Young Jeezy, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne
1st of the Month Vol. 3	October 2014	8	Not charted	Meek Mill, French Montana
Control the Streets Vol. 2 (DJ Drama)	2018	24	No. 10 (R&B/Hip-Hop)	Travis Scott, Future, Cardi B

This table shows how Vol. 5 achieved greater chart visibility than earlier volumes but didn’t match the commercial heights of DJ Drama’s 2007 debut or 2018’s Control the Streets series. The increase in track count and star power reflects evolving industry standards for compilation projects.

Why It Matters

1st of the Month Vol. 5 is significant as a modern extension of DJ Drama’s influential mixtape legacy, bridging the gap between underground mixtape culture and mainstream hip-hop.

Cultural Continuity: It maintains the Gangsta Grillz brand, which has been pivotal in launching careers since the 2000s.
Artist Exposure: Provides a national platform for EST Gee and 42 Dugg, helping elevate their profiles in the rap scene.
Industry Influence: Demonstrates how mixtapes remain relevant in the streaming era, even as official albums dominate charts.
Regional Representation: Highlights Southern and Midwest rap, countering the East and West Coast dominance in mainstream narratives.
Production Quality: Features work from top-tier producers like Tay Keith, ensuring radio-ready sound quality.
Commercial Model: Proves that curated compilations can succeed without traditional album campaigns, relying on brand and features.

Ultimately, 1st of the Month Vol. 5 reinforces DJ Drama’s role as a gatekeeper and tastemaker in hip-hop, adapting mixtape traditions to modern distribution and consumption patterns.