(Check the stats below…taken from the Rob Wonder Myspace Page).
“Southeast sector of the USA. Atlanta, GA to be exact. There’s a DJ that has been running things under the radar for the last 12 years. And for the later half of that 12 years, Rob Wonder, aka Dick McWhoady has played a key role in solidifying Atlanta as an institution – as a DJ, club owner, promoter, radio and television personality, record store proprietor, innovator, accelerator, king maker, and room shaker. Rob Wonder has left no musical stones unturned. Able to bend musical genres in a single bound, move butts at a switch of a pitch, this Dirty South vet has rocked clubs and crowds with the upper echelon of musical impresarios. Artists such as Jazzy Jeff, Prince Paul, DJs Craze and A Trak, Maceo of De La Soul, DJ Premier, 9th Wonder, ?uestlove, 45 King, Mstrkrft, Slick Rick, Brand Nubian, Bonde Do Role and Pete Rock have all heard and seen the living proof that Atlanta is not all about white tees and cryptic crunk music.
Those who think southerners move at a slower pace should try keeping up with this Georgia boy. His resume goes far beyond his accomplishments as a DJ. His entrepreneurial adventures include the legendary record store, More Dusty Than Digital and most recently, Atlanta’s best kept secret, EL Bar. His work as a promoter was undeniably essential to independent Hip Hop and club music in the city. His events gave local DJs a place to hone their craft, as well as exposed Atlanta to ground breaking national acts. Rob Wonder also brought the DMC and ITF battles to the city for the first and only time.
His eclectic high-energy relentlessness brought him to the attention of Scion and he became a traveling resident DJ for Scion Metro parties across the US at their inception. His 2003 mix, The Adventures of Dick McWhoady, was featured by Complex Magazine as one of the best indie/underground releases. That same year, he was named regional winner in the Scion “Free Up Your Mix” contest. In 2005, he released The Adventures of Dick McWhoady 2. His scratching can be heard on tracks featuring Cee-Lo, Big Gipp, and Bubba Sparxxx. Recently, he dropped is mind-warping new mix cd, Back it Up, and is currently fine-tuning a project with Outkast hook man Sleepy Brown.
In his hometown, hes has been a resident of the infamous MJQ since 2000, and you can find him there every Saturday night leading the SneakAttack. That is, unless he’s on tour with Raekwon or busy conquering the universe with Frank 151…”
And for the record, this guy is one of the funniest, coolest, and honest characters I have ever met. As a former DJ for Live On Arrival (Presentation era), I had the honor of working side by side with him, and not only is he incredibly talented, but his ear for music is rivaled by very few. He is the guy in the club playing the obscure gems that you always have to ask what they were as soon as he’s done (or while he’s spinnin’ so you don’t forget). Thanks to him, I have been put on to quite a few classic albums that I might not have ever been blessed to hear otherwise. Anyway, much props to Rob Wonder, always doing his thing.
Also checkout www.RobWonderRadio.com
Yeah, the More Dusty Than Digital era was huge for Atlanta Hip Hop. Some of these young cats weren’t around to see it. It was a hub for anyone that came in town. I remember I walked in there one day just to shoot the shit and low and behold… Madlib digging through the record bins. I bought a copy of the Jaylib record that he and Dilla just released and he signed it for me.
Actually, that’s how the CE/STS9 thing came about. Hunter went in there to buy some new shit, and they suggested the first CE album, Visions of Things to Come. When Hunter got it home he was like, “Is this the same Ben Hameen from LOA?” Sure enough it was.
It’s a super shame that it didn’t keep running. Atlanta is in desperate need of a homebase like that.
Here’s a link to download something he did with Big Gipp and Klever.
http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Big_Gipp/track/Hot_Rob_Wonder_Remix
Here’s a Rob Wonder interview from Vapors magazine:
Hello my name is…
Rob Wonder.
AKA…
Dick McWhoady.
I was raised in…
Southeast sector of the USA. Atlanta, GA to be exact.
The reason that you’re reading about me is…
I’ve been running things under the radar in Atlanta for the last 12 years. I’ve played a key role in solidifying ATL as an institution—as a DJ, club owner, promoter, radio and television personality, record store proprietor, innovator, accelerator, king maker, and room shaker. I’ve left no musical stones unturned. And I also stay up late as fuck, which is why no one knows who I am. I sleep most of the day so people don’t know what I really look like. I’ve deejayed with Raekwon in Paris and I’ve cut on Bubba Sparxxx’s album. I am one of the founders of the late great record store More Dusty Than Digital, and the party in the basement known as El Bar. From DMC to ITF, Bonde Do Role to MSTRKRFT…I’ve dunn dunn it all, at all times of the day.
Right now I’m working on…
Opening a new bar because the one I revamped got shut down for no good reason other than it was too successful. For the next 12 months I’m working on an album with a local band called Noot D’ Noot and Sleepy Brown which will be featured on my radio show on scion.com/broadband called No Static At All. I am finishing my new CD—look for it. And you can find me every Saturday making asses shake at MJQ.
But I’d rather be…
Doing a photo shoot with Ricky Powell or starring in a Coen Brothers film.
My most prized possessions are…
Relationsips I’ve built over the years, my radio show, my record collection, my brass knuckles, and my Rane TTM57 mixer which gets the job done every fucking time.
But I’d give it all away for…
My four-month-old daughter Amalee.
The first thing I do in the morning is…
Go to sleep. When I wake up in the afternoon I take a piss, shower, cook some eggs and bacon and drink a glass of O.J.
The last thing I do at night is…
Get ready to go to work.
My mama always said…
Never judge a book by its cover. Color is only skin deep, an asshole is gonna be an asshole no matter what race, creed or color.
I love it when people…
Leave me the fuck alone when I’m not bothering them. Mind your own fucking business, people.
I can’t stand when people…
Judge me. I also can’t stand fucking requests. You want to control the music? Learn how to DJ. Then you’ll hate fucking requests, too.
I am what I drive, which is…
I am not what I drive, I drive what I can afford and what makes sense to me and my family: a Toyota 4Runner.
If you ever see me walking down the street…
Ask me if I need a ride because we don’t walk in Atlanta.
I lose control when…
Never. I’m a control freak—creative control is something I never give up.
The last time I swore I’d never drink was after a night of…
Way too many when the Falcons won the NFC Championships. I don’t remember it, but my wife got it all on tape.
Future projects and plans…
Learning how to entertain people in interviews and become more media friendly, being on the cover of Vapors, kissing my wife’s ass, opening a new club, No Static At All album project with Sleepy Brown and Noot d’ Noot, new Dick McWhoady mix CD, conquering the world through music one city at a time.