In a situation that had to be unpleasant for everyone concerned, T.I. had to correct an Atlanta-area DJ who had misunderstood his artistic background.
The King of the South can be seen in a video that was uploaded to Instagram on Friday (May 26) chanting DJ Toomp’s praises to the raucous crowd in Atlanta, Georgia’s Bankhead neighborhood.
You understand what I’m saying? We had a hit record, he continued. “Play one of those muthafuckas,” you say. Then the DJ played “Soldier,” a song by Destiny’s Child that also contains Tip and Lil Wayne but wasn’t made by DJ Toomp.
T.I. was not pleased with this, and when the song ended, he shook his head and said, “That ain’t one of ’em!”
The Atlanta native then performed “Dope Boyz” from the 2001 album I’m Serious, which was definitely produced by Toomp, from the top of the dome while the crowd sang along, reminding the audience why he was one of the greatest to have come out of the south.
Tip’s (real name Clifford Harris) first four albums were largely produced by DJ Toomp (real name Aldrin Davis), who is regarded as one of the leading producers who popularized Southern trap music.
T.I.’s first and only Grammy was awarded to him in 2006 for the song “What You Know,” which he also produced, along with the aforementioned “Dope Boyz” and the songs “Trap Muzik,” “24s,” and “Motivation.”
Additionally, Toomp oversaw the production of songs by musicians like Kanye West, Pastor Troy, Rick Ross, and Ludacris.
At a concert in honor of the late Clay Evans, the former vice president of Grand Hustle who passed away in March, T.I. and Toomp were present.
Evans, who was one of the original employees of T.I.’s imprint and managed Lil Duval for about ten years, died roughly two weeks after having a severe stroke from which he never fully recovered.