Aldrin Davis (born August 2, 1969), professionally known as DJ Toomp, is an American record producer, songwriter, and DJ. Davis received his start in 1985, with Atlanta MCRaheem the Dream, producing Raheem's self-titled record when he was only 16 years old.[1] In the late 1980s, he was MC Shy-D's DJ and toured with him and the 2 Live Crew, as they performed at various venues across the country with other hip hop acts such as N.W.A. and Ice-T. After MC Shy-D left Luke Records, Toomp went on to DJ for JT Money and the Poison Clan.
In the early 1990s, when the 2 Live Crew broke up Davis teamed up with former group member Mark Ross (Brother Marquis), to form the duo 2 Nasty.[2] In 1993, 2 Nazty and released the album Indecent Exposure.[3] When discussing the album, Ross explained his intention to showcase diversity while staying true to the style that had made him famous. Greg Baker of Miami New Times praised the album, acknowledging that while some of the content might be offensive, he appreciated its diversity. About the production and rap, Baker commented, "clever story lines and double-dope rhyme schemes are laid over skirt-flipping, ass-bumping beats as strong as any on the hip-hop market today."[2]
In 2006, Davis partnered with hip hop veteran Bernard Parks, Jr., to launch NZone Entertainment, their very own record label.[4]
Davis began to gain greater recognition by working with southern rapperT.I., who also hails from Atlanta, Georgia. They first worked together on T.I.'s 2001 debut I'm Serious, since then the two built a friendship and a work relationship, with him becoming T.I.'s main producer. Davis was heavily involved in T.I.'s first four albums; together they brought trap music into the mainstream. Davis then received critical acclaim in 2006, for producing T.I.'s hit single "What You Know", which peaked at number 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100,[5] The song earned both Davis and T.I. their first Grammy Award.[6]
In 2007, Davis was recruited by American rapper and fellow record producer Kanye West, to contribute production on his third album Graduation. Davis, alongside West, co-produced the singles "Can't Tell Me Nothing" and "Good Life", as well as the album's outro "Big Brother", an ode to West's brotherly friendship with fellow American rapper Jay-Z.
