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.
Mr. DJ | |
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Birth name | David Sheats |
Origin | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop, R&B, alternative hip hop |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1994−present |
Labels |
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Formerly of | Earthtone III |
Biography
editRaised 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)
editSong | 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 | "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)
editSong | 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); They Don't Dance No More {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 | 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 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 | 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; Changes; Everyday | 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 | Honest[17] |
Awards and nominations
editYear | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Stankonia | Grammy Award for Album of the Year | Nominated | [18] |
Grammy Award for Best Rap Album | Won |
References
edit- ^ Carmichael, Rodney (24 June 2010). "The Making of OutKast's Aquemini". Creative Loafing Atlanta. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Hitmen For Hire". OD Atlanta Magazine. Archived from the original on 2008-12-04. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
- ^ "Mr. DJ Bio". PMP Worldwide. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "discogs".
- ^ "discogs".
- ^ "discogs".
- ^ "discogs".
- ^ "discogs".
- ^ "discogs".
- ^ "discogs".
- ^ "discogs".
- ^ "discogs".
- ^ "discogs".
- ^ "discogs".
- ^ "David Sheats | Artist | GRAMMY.com". www.grammy.com. Retrieved October 24, 2023.