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Mr. DJ

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This article is about the American musician. For the 1978 song by Sharon Cuneta, see Mr. DJ (Sharon Cuneta song). For the 1997 song by Dr. Alban, see Mr. DJ (Dr. Alban song).
Mr. DJ
Birth nameDavid Sheats
OriginAtlanta, Georgia, U.S.
GenresHip hop, R&B, alternative hip hop
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • disc jockey
  • music executive
  • rapper
  • singer
Years active1994−present
Labels
Formerly ofEarthtone III

David Sheats, known professionally as Mr. DJ, is an American record producer and disc jockey (DJ) from Atlanta, Georgia. He and Outkast members Big Boi and André 3000 make up the record production trio Earthtone III.

Biography

[edit]

Raised on the southside of College Park, Georgia, Mr. DJ attended Banneker High School.[1] He entered the music industry as a DJ for Atlanta-based hip-hop group Outkast. According to Sheats,

Rico Wade, from Organized Noize, is my first cousin. We talked about Outkast. I knew at some point they were going to need a DJ. I was like, "Man, you know I DJ. You should let me DJ for the group, I'm telling you."[2]

After touring with the group for a year, he began to focus more on production rather than deejaying. By sharpening his beat making skills, Mr. DJ got the opportunity to help produce Outkast's 1996 second album ATLiens.[3] Following his work on OutKast's "Elevators (Me & You)" and several songs from their album Aquemini, Mr. DJ formed Earthtone III production group with Andre 3000 & Big Boi. Collectively, the trio produced roughly 80% of tracks from Stankonia to their latest album, Idlewild.[4] In addition, Mr. DJ continued to DJ on every OutKast album, except Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, which he mostly produced. To date, his most notable hits include "Da Art of Storytellin'", "B.O.B.", "Ms. Jackson", and "The Whole World". He is also a part of the Atlanta-based hip hop/R&B/soul musical collective The Dungeon Family.

Mr. DJ has won two Grammy Awards, one in 2002 for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Ms. Jackson", and another in 2004 for Rap Album of the Year for his work on Outkast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. In 2008, he started his own record label, Camp David Records, with several new artists including Jeff B., Chinkie Brown, and Shawty Redd. Public Relations Associate Keith Kemp was quoted as saying:

Camp David will be recognized as the premiere record label in music, as Mr. DJ and his artists produce cutting edge material that will cross cultural boundaries and send music to an unchartered level.[5]

Mr. DJ recently worked with Mos Def on his album The Ecstatic, producing four tracks on Common's 2008 album, Universal Mind Control.[6] In addition to Outkast, Mr. DJ has worked with Lenny Kravitz, Bubba Sparxxx, Goodie Mob, Killer Mike, Field Mob, Rich Boy, and 8Ball & MJG.

Production (with OutKast as Earthtone III)

[edit]
Song Year Artist Album
Neck Uv da Woods 1999 OutKast, Mystikal The Wood (soundtrack) / Let's Get Ready
Ain't Gonna See Tomorrow; The Braids 2000 Mystikal Let's Get Ready
Funkanella OutKast, Slimm Calhoun, Killer Mike Backstage: Music Inspired by the Film
Tough Guy OutKast, UGK Shaft (2000 soundtrack)[7]
Again (Stankonia Remix) 2001 Lenny Kravitz, OutKast "Again"
The Call (Remix) Backstreet Boys "The Call"[8]
Nectarine Cherokee, Andre 3000 "Nectarine"
Speedballin' OutKast, Joi, Cee-Lo Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (soundtrack)[9]
Intro; Red Clay; This Young G {co-produced by Slimm Jim}; Time Lock; It Ain't Easy {co-produced by Nsilo Reddick}; Dirt Work {co-produced by Butte}; It's Ok; The Skinny {co-produced by The Beat Bullies}; All da Hustlers {co-produced by Swift C}; Lil' Buddy (Til Death Do Us Part; Characters; Worldly Ways; On the Grind {co-produced by Chronic Chris}; How Much Can I {co-produced by Ruben James} Slimm Calhoun The Skinny
Believe That Backbone Concrete Law
Fresh and Clean (Remix) OutKast, Snoop Dogg Bones (soundtrack)[10]
Intro; Crooked Booty; ON & ON & ON; They Comin'... Dungeon Family Even in Darkness[11]
Funkin' Around; The Whole World; Movin' Cool (The After Party) OutKast Big Boi and Dre Present... Outkast
Hey Baby (Stank Remix) 2002 No Doubt, OutKast, Killer Mike "Hey Baby"
Nothing 2 Lose; Where R U Going? Field Mob From tha Roota to tha Toota
Land of a Million Drums OutKast, Killer Mike Scooby-Doo (soundtrack)[12]

Production (solo)

[edit]
Song Year Artist Album
Uptown Slang (Remix) 1996 Masters of Funk II[13]
Gangsta Partner {co-produced by Organized Noize} 1997 Big Boi, Cool Breeze Hoodlum (soundtrack)[14]
Heaven Comin' 1998 Witchdoctor, Heroine A S.W.A.T. Healin' Ritual
Black Ice (Sky High) (feat. Outkast); They Don't Dance No More (feat. Lil Mo) {co-produced by Organized Noise}; Still Standing Goodie Mob Still Standing
All A's 1999 World Party
E.P.G.H.; Doin' It in the South {co-produced by Slimm Jim} Cool Breeze East Point's Greatest Hit
Flaw Boyz; Big Dreams Jim Crow Crow's Nest[15]
Paid Dues; We Don't Give a Fuck; Throw Your Hands Up (feat. Outkast) 8Ball & MJG In Our Lifetime
Sole Sunday 2000 OutKast, Goodie Mob Any Given Sunday (soundtrack)
Monster; A.D.I.D.A.S. {co-produced by & feat. Big Boi} 2003 Killer Mike Monster
Down Chick Gangsta Boo Enquiring Minds II: The Soap Opera[16]
Roll Again {co-produced by Sol Messiah} Nappy Roots. Aura J Wooden Leather
My Chrome {co-produced by Slim Jim} 2005 Killer Mike & Big Boi Got Purp? Vol. 2
That Man {co-produced by Slim Jim} 2006 Bubba Sparxxx The Charm
Fantastic Da BackWudz Wood Work
And I Love You 2007 Rich Boy Rich Boy
Make My Day (feat. CeeLo Green); Changes; Everyday (feat. Martina Topley-Bird) 2008 Common Universal Mind Control
Daddy Fat Sax 2010 Big Boi Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
Apple of My Eye 2012 Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors
Benz Friends {co-produced by Organized Noize} 2014 Future, Andre 3000 Honest[17]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2002 Stankonia Grammy Award for Album of the Year Nominated [18]
Grammy Award for Best Rap Album Won

References

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  1. ^ Carmichael, Rodney (24 June 2010). "The Making of OutKast's Aquemini". Creative Loafing Atlanta. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  2. ^ "You Don't Know Me: Mr. DJ (Producer's Special)". Vibe. 2008-12-16. Archived from the original on 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  3. ^ "Mr. DJ: Mostly Heard, Rarely Seen...from Lenny Kravitz to Outkast". beatdynasty.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-07. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  4. ^ "Hitmen For Hire". OD Atlanta Magazine. Archived from the original on 2008-12-04. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  5. ^ "Mr. DJ Bio". PMP Worldwide. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  6. ^ "Mos Def Hits The Studio With Mr. DJ". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2008-05-03. Archived from the original on 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  7. ^ "discogs".
  8. ^ "discogs".
  9. ^ "discogs".
  10. ^ "discogs".
  11. ^ "discogs".
  12. ^ "discogs".
  13. ^ "discogs".
  14. ^ "discogs".
  15. ^ "discogs".
  16. ^ "discogs".
  17. ^ "discogs".
  18. ^ "David Sheats | Artist | GRAMMY.com". www.grammy.com. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
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