dai+drm

Romel Murphy is a St. Louis, Missouri, native and entrepreneur, philanthropist, and visionary leader who stands at the intersection of culture, technology, and social transformation. As the founder and CEO of dai+drm, Murphy has built a national music label that doesn't just follow trends, it creates them, pioneering the integration of AI technology with authentic artistry to redefine what's possible in modern music. His vision is clear: to build a future where innovation amplifies human creativity rather than replacing it, where technology serves the culture rather than diluting it.

Murphy's journey into music and entrepreneurship is rooted in his deep commitment to community and social justice. As the founder of Equality Should Be Normal (ESBN), he has spearheaded transformative initiatives in violence prevention, educational equity, and community empowerment across the nation. Chicago, his second home and a city he deeply loves, has been a focal point of his work, but ESBN's reach extends far beyond, working to make equality a lived reality rather than an abstract ideal. Through mentorship programs, strategic partnerships, and grassroots organizing, Murphy has built frameworks that uplift marginalized communities while creating pathways for the next generation of leaders, artists, and entrepreneurs.

In the music and entertainment industry, Murphy has made his mark through strategic brand development, marketing, and artist management, working with high profile talent such as Rick Ross, K. Michelle, Cheneta Jones, and others. His ability to blend creativity with business acumen has positioned him as a respected connector in both grassroots and corporate spaces, someone who understands the streets and the boardroom, the culture and the commerce. This unique perspective allows him to navigate complex deals while staying true to the authenticity and integrity that define his work.

Murphy's most groundbreaking achievement came in September 2025, when he helped negotiate one of the first multimillion dollar record deals for an AI recording artist, Xania Monet, with Hallwood Media. This historic deal marked a turning point in the music industry, proving that AI generated artists could achieve mainstream success while maintaining artistic credibility. Under Murphy's management, Xania Monet charted on Billboard, became the first AI artist to reach Apple Music's Top 10, and amassed over 25 million streams, a testament to Murphy's ability to see potential where others see limitations and to turn vision into reality.

At dai+drm, Murphy has assembled a team of innovators, ensuring that the label honors hip hop's authentic roots while pushing the boundaries of what's next. His leadership philosophy is simple but powerful: bring the best people together, give them the resources and freedom to create, and build something that matters. Murphy's vision for dai+drm extends beyond music, it's about creating a national cultural ecosystem that blends art, technology, philanthropy, and community impact into a unified force for change.

Romel Murphy is more than a CEO he is a builder, a connector, and a visionary who understands that the future belongs to those who are bold enough to create it. Through dai+drm, ESBN, and his work across the music industry, Murphy is proving that success doesn't have to come at the expense of integrity, that innovation can coexist with authenticity, and that the most powerful way to change the world is to build something that reflects your values. His story is still being written, but one thing is certain: Romel Murphy is shaping the future of music, culture, and community, one groundbreaking move at a time.

Londen "DJ L" Buckner is a Chicago born producer, cultural designer, and Creative Director who changed the sound of modern music from a bedroom in Grand Crossing on Chicago's East Side. A sonic architect who discovered and developed G Herbo and Lil Bibby, Buckner fused his marching band percussion background with the rhythms of Chicago house and juke parties to create drill music's foundational sound. At just 18 years old, he pioneered the genre's signature percussion driven production style, introducing the 3-3-2 tresillo hi hat and snare patterns that would define drill globally. His innovative approach created what fans describe as "dark, bleak soundscapes" with "church bell and siren textures," "machine gun hats," and "gloomy pianos," a sonic palette Pitchfork called "the sputtering drill beats of DJ L." What began as beats made in solitude became a template that traveled from Chicago alleys to London streets to Brooklyn basements, fundamentally reshaping hip hop worldwide.

Buckner's 2012 to 2015 run became the blueprint for modern drill. His production introduced the rhythm and drum programming that UK and NY drill would build upon, with UK drill communities acknowledging that "most of the UK drill producers were actually doing their best interpolation of DJ L's style, rooted in marching band percussion and Chicago footwork." UK producers titled their beats "Lil Herb / G Herbo style UK drill beat" in direct homage to his sound. Pitchfork's drill retrospective lists Buckner alongside Young Chop as establishing the genre's sound palette of rapid drums, sirens, and eerie bells. Vice's "Secret History of Drill" documented how his spacious 808 basslines and precise percussion became the foundation upon which an entire global movement was built. His influence spans continents, with producers and artists from London to New York citing his work as the template for their own sonic evolution.

Buckner's production is stamped across G Herbo's catalog from the Welcome to Fazoland era through records like "Back On Tour" and "Gang" with Lil Bibby, alongside work with King Louie and Tink. His production on "Kill Shit," the Lil Bibby and G Herbo duet that communities routinely slot in top 5 Chicago drill songs of all time, became the viral breakout that launched both artists' careers. His work on Lil Bibby's Free Crack and G Herbo's The Pistol P Project and Ballin Like I'm Kobe became street classics that anchored Herbo's legendary mixtape run. In 2019, The Triibe named Buckner one of the Top 10 Most Influential Artists in Chicago Rap This Decade. His influence extends to major tracks like Nicki Minaj's "Chiraq," Drake, Jay Z, and Kanye's "Pop Style," JuiceWRLD's "Maze," and Lil Uzi Vert's viral hit "Free Uzi." Where others saw competition, he saw community. Where others guarded secrets, he built a movement that changed music forever.

Beyond his sonic innovations, Buckner played foundational roles in developing multiple generations of Chicago artists before they reached the next level. Like a coach who shapes talent before it reaches the spotlight, he worked early with Dreezy, Juice WRLD, Tink, Lud Foe, Queen Key, and was instrumental in King Louie's mid 2010s resurgence. His influence extends to Polo G, Lil Zay Osama, Calboy, and many more artists who built their careers on the foundation he helped establish. This track record of artist development positions Buckner as not just a producer, but a talent architect who recognized potential and provided the sonic framework for Chicago's next wave of stars to emerge.

As Creative Director of dai+drm, Buckner curates the label's entire creative language, from visual identity and campaign design to sound architecture and cultural strategy. Through his creative platform [bknr+urbn], he explores the intersection of music, visual design, product innovation, and digital culture, developing what he calls cultural design: the art of shaping the future through aesthetics, systems, and storytelling. His approach merges high fashion precision with street born authenticity, creating a cohesive design language that feels both avant garde and accessible.

Today, Buckner expands that legacy as a cultural designer steering AI era music and brand storytelling, including work around virtual AI artist Xania Monet, while championing the Chicago lineage that made him. At dai+drm, he integrates AI generated art direction, immersive media, and architecture inspired branding into the music ecosystem, building frameworks that preserve Chicago's musical legacy while advancing new creative possibilities. His work under [bknr+urbn], A House of Futures, connects art, community, and innovation, establishing pipelines for youth mentorship and creative entrepreneurship. Buckner's vision ensures that every sonic decision, visual element, and strategic move reflects a unified philosophy: that the future of music lies in the seamless integration of technology and artistry into something authentic, necessary, and culturally grounded.