Meet Raj Smoove: The Man Who Lil Wayne Called “The Greatest DJ in the World”

#NOLAZINE - Long before DJs became social-media personalities and laptops replaced crates of records, Raj Smoove was building his reputation the old-fashioned way—one party, one record and one crowd at a time.

The New Orleans DJ, producer, engineer and entrepreneur has spent more than three decades behind the turntables. Along the way, he became closely connected to the rise of Lil Wayne, worked around the legendary Cash Money Records movement and performed everywhere from local New Orleans clubs to major festivals and professional sporting events.

But perhaps the biggest endorsement of his career came from one of hip-hop's biggest superstars.

Lil Wayne dubbed Raj Smoove “The Greatest DJ in the World.” Rajsmoove

And behind that nickname is a New Orleans music story that goes much deeper than DJing.

It Started in New Orleans East

Raj Smoove, whose real name is Roger Dickerson II, became interested in DJing while he was still young.

He has recalled being an eighth grader at Livingston Middle School in New Orleans East when he and his friends would spend their free time making beats, rapping and experimenting with music. Movies such as Beat Street and DJs like DJ Jazzy Jeff helped inspire him to take the craft seriously. Biz New Orleans

His first paid DJ job came at only 14 years old, when a classmate hired him to provide music for a birthday party. GNO, Inc.

What started as a teenager spinning records eventually became his career.

Smoove has said one of his proudest accomplishments is simply being able to make a living from DJing—something many people pursue on the side while working another job. For him, music became the job. WSP Music Festival

Enter Cash Money Records

As New Orleans hip-hop exploded nationally during the late 1990s and early 2000s, Raj Smoove found himself close to the action.

He DJed on the Cash Money/Ruff Ryders Tour in 2000 and worked around the Cash Money camp during a pivotal period in the label's history. Where Y'at New Orleans

That relationship would eventually connect him with a young Lil Wayne.

Wayne was already famous as a member of the Hot Boys, but he was entering a period where he wanted to demonstrate that he was much more than a teenage rapper from a successful group.

Smoove would play an important behind-the-scenes role in that transition.

Raj Smoove and Lil Wayne's Mixtape Transformation

Following the Cash Money/Ruff Ryders tour, Wayne learned that Raj had his own studio.

That became important.

Wayne wanted instrumentals so he could simply rap, and Raj had access to stacks of records and instrumentals through his work in radio. Smoove began helping create an environment where Wayne could experiment outside of the traditional Cash Money sound. REVOLT

From 2001 through 2004, Smoove served as an in-house producer for Wayne's Young Money operation and became involved with the Sqad Up mixtapes that helped establish Wayne as an increasingly dangerous lyricist. Rajsmoove

Those mixtapes are now considered an important part of Wayne's evolution.

At a time when Cash Money was known for its distinctive Mannie Fresh production and larger-than-life sound, Wayne was beginning to rap over other artists' beats and focus heavily on lyricism.

Raj was there.

He Witnessed Lil Wayne's Legendary “10,000 Bars”

One of the most fascinating moments in Wayne's development also happened inside Raj Smoove's studio.

Wayne arrived with a notebook filled with previously written lyrics and began rapping through them over a collection of instrumentals Raj had assembled.

The marathon recording became known as “10,000 Bars.”

Smoove recalled Wayne going through the remaining lyrics in his notebook for more than 30 minutes. The session has become legendary partly because it represented Wayne leaving his written rhymes behind as he moved toward the memorization and recording process that would later become central to his creative mythology. REVOLT

Smoove later discussed the session during an interview with Nolazine, describing how Wayne came to his personal New Orleans studio and recorded the material. Lil Wayne HQ

That makes Raj more than somebody who happened to know Lil Wayne.

He witnessed a crucial period in the development of one of hip-hop's most celebrated rappers.

From Mixtapes to Tha Carter

Raj's contribution didn't stop with mixtapes.

He received production credits connected to Lil Wayne's breakthrough 2004 album Tha Carter. His production résumé also includes work associated with artists such as Mac, Mannie Fresh and others from Louisiana's hip-hop scene. AllMusic

Tha Carter became the beginning of an album series that would eventually help transform Wayne from a successful Southern rapper into an international superstar.

Smoove was present during that transition.

And somewhere along the journey, Wayne gave him the nickname that followed him for years:

“The Greatest DJ in the World.”

His Résumé Goes Far Beyond Lil Wayne

While the Wayne connection is an important part of Raj Smoove's history, it doesn't define his entire career.

Smoove has worked or collaborated with artists including Mannie Fresh, Juvenile, Big Tymers, PJ Morton, Mia X, NBA YoungBoy, 5th Ward Weebie and Tarriona “Tank” Ball of Tank and the Bangas. Rajsmoove

In 2012, he even participated in an impromptu live collaboration with Stevie Wonder, footage of which later circulated online. Rajsmoove

His television résumé includes appearances on BET's Rap City: Tha Bassment and a Super Bowl edition of 106 & Park. Rajsmoove

He has also performed at some of New Orleans' biggest events, including the ESSENCE Festival of Culture and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, as well as NBA All-Star Weekend and other national events. Rajsmoove

From Clubs to the Saints and Pelicans

One reason Raj Smoove has remained relevant for decades is his ability to operate in different environments.

He's played clubs.

He's worked radio.

He's toured.

He's produced records.

He's made mixtapes.

He's performed festivals.

And he's brought his DJ skills into professional sports.

Smoove has worked as a DJ for the New Orleans Pelicans and serves as the game-day DJ for the New Orleans Saints, bringing the same crowd-reading skills developed in clubs to thousands of sports fans. Rajsmoove

That versatility has helped turn what started as a teenage passion into a career lasting more than 30 years.

Building Something Bigger Than Himself

Raj's evolution has also taken him beyond performing.

He is the founder and CEO of The Gentilly Agency, a New Orleans creative strategy company involved in areas such as artist management, booking and event production. The Gentilly Agency

He's also been involved with efforts focused on strengthening New Orleans' music economy, including education surrounding intellectual property, publishing and the business side of music. WWOZ New Orleans 90.7 FM

It's a natural progression for someone who has experienced multiple sides of the industry.

The teenage DJ became a producer.

The producer became part of important New Orleans hip-hop history.

The touring DJ became an entrepreneur.

And the entrepreneur is now able to use decades of relationships and experience to create opportunities beyond the turntables.

A Living Piece of New Orleans Hip-Hop History

Raj Smoove's story deserves recognition because so much of music history is usually told through the artists standing in front of the microphone.

But behind major artists are DJs, engineers, producers and creative people who help build the environment where greatness develops.

Raj was there during a critical period in Lil Wayne's evolution.

He witnessed “10,000 Bars.”

He helped with the Sqad Up era.

He contributed production to Tha Carter.

He worked alongside Cash Money during an era when New Orleans hip-hop was changing popular music.

And decades later, he's still working.

Lil Wayne may have given Raj Smoove the title “The Greatest DJ in the World,” but more than 30 years of longevity gave the nickname something even more important—credibility.

From New Orleans East to Cash Money, Young Money, major festivals and Saints game days, Raj Smoove isn't simply a DJ. He's part of the history of New Orleans hip-hop.