Aldrin Davis might be the world’s happiest producer. Better known as the legendary DJ Toomp to fans and industry cohorts, the Atlanta native and Grammy winner is looking to capitalize on last year’s success by grabbing more little gold statues at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards next month.
A veteran in the game since the early ‘80s, Toomp reached a plateau in mainstream success with last year’s Grammy win for the anthemic rap classic, “What You Know,” from T.I.’s King. This time around, Toomp will be honored for his work on Kanye West’s Graduation, which is nominated for both Album of the Year and Rap Album of the Year, not to mention, the Toomp-produced tracks “Good Life” and “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” are up for Best Rap Song. With a chance to take home five pieces of hardware, Toomp finds himself truly content. “As long as I can wake up and breathe every morning,” says Toomp. “I’m going to continue to just keep putting out great records.”
And the hits just keep coming for Toomp, whose sure to be honored at next year’s Grammy show for his work on Jay-Z’s, American Gangster. Add Toomp’s distinct, thematic sound, which will be featured on Mariah Carey’s new project tentatively set for an April release date, and you have the makings of a musician primed for megastar status.
Regardless of the fame, whether he’s on the boards or brokering deals for his NZone Entertainment imprint, Toomp knows that music will always be a part of his life. “I started creating music and I definitely realized it was a gift,” he says. “I never went to school or anything for it; I just found it was something I was born with.”
