Steve 'Flash' JuonDrojo is well connected for somebody on the come-up. The Rio Grande Valley rapper has Happy Perez in his corner as a producer – musical maestro for Baby Bash, Flo Rida, and SPM among others. He’s even put in work for Mariah Carey and Miguel. Since Perez’ services are clearly in demand, it stands to reason that he would not be working with Drojo without either (A.) a fat check in his hand or (B.) investing in his career to get a return when he goes national. He’s slowly creeping up that radar thanks to his willingness to rap about sensitive topics like the Mexican drug wars, something he’s intimately familiar with given his proximity to the border. In an interview with Borderland Beat, Drojo cleared up concerns he’s glorifying the violence: “My concept is more like a movie. [It’s] something that is happening, but I’m trying to see it as a movie.”
It’s clear on the song “100 Mill” he’s trying to draw a larger picture with that movie, as he opens the bouncy/catchy track with a recurring refrain: “Drojo tryin to get another hundred mill/Bush tryin to get another hundred mill/Obama tryin to get another hundred mill/it’s some niggaz in the hood that need a hundred mill.” There’s a hint of that throughout the rest of the “Last American Migo” EP, but I say “a hint” like a cook would say you’d add “a dash” of paprika to a recipe. It may add to the flavor, but it’s not a major ingredient. Happy Perez is the dominant flavor here, and his work seasons songs like “Model Bitches” on topics that are already well known to rap fans.
“Shawty bad as fuck, shawty do the splits
Get money, get money, get money, get money, get money, get rich
You owe me that money, you owe me that money, you’re found in a ditch
She droppin it down, she makin me flinch
She pickin it up – she poppin a pimp
Uhh, play the game like I want to play
In the kitchen whippin dope mayne
All my niggaz smokin propane, model bitches snortin cocaine”
I accept Drojo’s explanation that he’s a just narrating a movie from his point of view verbatim. Given that it’s a movie I’ve already seen from Gucci Mane and Rick Ross, the key difference is Drojo’s accent and personality. He has some catchy songs thanks to Happy Perez, particularly “Like This,” and he does drop the occasional witticism: “My white girls twerkin like they Miley Cyrus.” It’s not cutting edge, but it’s par for the course. “Through the Fire” is as close as we get to something totally unique – he picks up the speed on his flow and gets a little more personal and asks “God why you trippin” and talks about how he “beat the cancer with some chemo and a knife nigga/couldn’t walk it in my Jordans or my Nikes nigga.” Now THAT is a movie I want to watch. There aren’t a whole lot of rappers talking about how they beat the big C. With more content like this and more production from Happy Perez, I’ll keep checking for Drojo, but I hope he doesn’t rely on “it’s a movie” to justify songs about trapping and lavish spending. He’s got the ability to say and do much more.