With over two full decades of experience in the rap industry it's a wonder DJ Toomp is still hungry. An Atlanta-born Hip Hop pioneer who got his production chops long before the influx of the city's modern-day producers, DJ Toomp's roots are unmistakably deep.

Toomp's father, the lead singer for the group The MVP's, taught him how to harmonize at the age of six. “I always knew about music, but I never thought I'd be creating it,” he says. “I thought I was gonna be a singer or a musician.” Upon hearing a looped version of “Rapper's Delight,” Toomp began to broaden his options. “I started playing around on the tape decks,” he remembers. “I learned how to loop beats with a pause button and I started selling tapes in '82. But I still didn't know that it required two turntables and a mixer.”

With a shell of a mixer and an EMU Drumulator, Toomp cut his first record/hit song with Raheem the Dream in 1985, and the success was surprisingly lucrative for the 16 year old. In addition to owning the flyest gear and selling the hottest mixtapes on the streets, he was spinning on college campuses and at full scale auditoriums. His life was set. “I went through all that groupie mess at the age of 14,” Toomp says. “I had the only record out.”

No sooner than he could graduate from high school, Miami rapper MC Shy D offered Toomp the chance to deejay on a nationwide tour. The two went on to create the infectious smash hit, “Shake It,” (which recently found its way back to the forefront via the infamous Laker Girls' dance team a mind boggling decade later.) Toomp continued his tour of Miami, ultimately landing a spot with Luke and the 2 Live Crew.

In the early ‘90s Toomp did the ATL a favor by returning home after a five -year hiatus. While he was recruited by various independent labels and entertainment upstarts, Toomp chose to build his own house of talent. Alongside Brother Marquis of the 2 Live Crew, the two released 2 Nasty – a moderately successful joint effort of an album, but Toomp envisioned a bigger, better picture.

In true visionary fashion, he found what he was looking for in a local rap act by the name of Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz. The two agreed to do three songs for Jon's upcoming Get Crunk, Who U Wit!: Da Album , with “Shawty Freak a lil Something” leading the way, becoming a regional smash almost immediately. More hits followed as work began to find Toomp. He scored movie soundtrack credits with “Dick In the Dust,” ( New Jack City ) and “Push ‘Em Up” ( Dr. Doolittle ), while still engineering seamless up tempo ditties for DJ Taz – (“That's Right”) and Jim Crow ( “Bandits”).

The year 1997 proved heaven sent when Toomp was brought to the attention of yet another young, hungry artist, destined to make waves in the industry. His name was TIP. In the front seat of his sports car, Toomp listened to an unpolished demo maligned with too many different voices other than the young prodigy that sat in his presence. Without hesitating, Toomp declared that the young talent would perform solo and he would produce him. Within a matter of months the two were making beautiful music together.

The result was TI's debut album, I'm Serious , which was released in 2001 on Arista Records. As Associate Producer, Toomp was responsible for a good majority of the album including “Dope Boyz,” “Do It” and “Heavy Chevys.” As Executive Producer for TI's sophomore effort – Trap Muzik – Toomp strung together a succession of hits that catapulted the young star into the limelight and deemed him worthy of the “King of the South” proclamation that he so often likes to claim. Among Toomp's own were “Trap Muzik,” “Be Easy” and “24's.” Once again in 2004, Toomp sprinkled his magic on two of TI's most successful tracks from the platinum Urban Legend disc, “Motivation,” and “U Don't Know Me,” the ladder of which is nominated for music's highest honor, a Grammy.

“I like producing artists,” Toomp says. “I like for [them] to come to [my studio] and just vibe, more than just take a track and put something to it… I'd rather work with an artist so that things don't go wrong along the way.”

Through Zone Boy Productions, Toomp Stone Publishing and his independent record label, NZone Entertainment, DJ Toomp is currently grooming a stable of artists that includes Jack Bona, SS (Southern Soldier) and Ole E. On the production side, he is as sought after as ever, having attracted talents such as: Pastor Troy (“Ridin' Big”), DSGB, Killer Mike, Young Jeezy, Jody Breeze and Big Gee (Boyz N Da Hood), Slimm Thug, Stat Quo, Ludacris (“2 Miles An Hour”), Mack 10, 112, Boyz N Da Hood (“Don't Put Your Hands On Me”). Unsurprisingly with his plate practically full, including being nominated for a Grammy, producing tracks on TI's new album, King , including the lead single, “What U Know,” having his Ludacris-produced song (“2 Miles An Hour”) on the multi-platinum CD Red Light District, being featured in a national TV ad campaign for Pontiac and executive producing the project of Russell Simmon's new artist Short Dawg, Toomp still wants more.

“I've [done] good in the industry, but I still don't think I've won,” says an optimistic yet humble DJ Toomp, who was recently named Producer of the Year at the 2006 Southern Entertainment Awards. “I have these eyes and ears, and I know what it takes to be successful in this business. I want to discover a star… I want to win.” If his track record has anything to do with it, he will.