Young Dro Is No 1 At Urban Radio With Smash Single 'Shoulder Lean'; Debut 'BEST THANG SMOKIN' Set for Release Aug. 29, 2006

NEW YORK, NY (Atlantic Records) - Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist Young Dro has conquered urban radio this week as "Shoulder Lean," his hit single featuring rapper and labelmate T.I., earns the No 1 spot on both the Billboard Urban Monitor chart and the R&R Urban Mainstream chart. The Atlanta-based rapper's major label debut, "BEST THANG SMOKIN'," will be released August 29th.

"Shoulder Lean" landed the No 1 spot on last week's "106 & Park" countdown on BET and was No 1 on MTV2, where the video is in ELITE 8 rotation. Young Dro will appear on "Sucker Free" on MTV the week of August 21st and will perform on BET's "106 & Park" on August 29th. Currently, "Shoulder Lean" is Blazin' at MTV Jams and Cum Laude at mtvU.

Young Dro has also exploded in the wireless world. His ringtone for "Shoulder Lean" has already sold more than 500,000 units and is currently Warner Music Group's No 1 selling mastertone. The ringtone can be purchased directly by texting DRO to 73804. (Works on most carriers with participating handsets. Standard text message rates apply.)

"BEST THANG SMOKIN'" features production by some of today's hip-hop heavyweights, including Jazze Pha, Chad West, Keith Mack, and Grand Hustle's own Khao and Lil C. The album not only features collaborations with labelmate T.I. but also Slim Thug and Xtaci.

Born and bred in Atlanta's Bankhead Court, Young Dro, born Djuan Hart, first got into hip-hop as a teen, when close friend Chris "Daddy Mack" Smith scored platinum success with his group, Kris Kross. It was around this time he also befriended the now multi-platinum rapper T.I. After setting Atlanta ablaze with his independent hit single, "Yes Sir," from his 2002 regional hit album, "I GOT THAT DRO," Young Dro reunited with T.I., which led to him signing with T.I.'s label, Grand Hustle, in 2004. "BEST THANG SMOKIN'" is Young Dro's Grand Hustle/Atlantic debut.