Spin city: a story by Dave Lindquist

DJ World

Clifton “DJ World” McCary is adding producer to a resume that already features the titles nightclub DJ, mixtape DJ and battle DJ.

World says hip-hop star Nelly was happy when he heard the news.

“His eyes got big like, ‘Are you making beats?’” World says. “I think he understands if a DJ starts doing beats, he already understands what makes people move in clubs.”

World has known Nelly for years, dating back to the rapper’s search for an unsigned R&B singer from Nashville, Tenn. World — then the owner of a local record store that promoted the singer — arranged a meeting. The singer didn’t become part of Nelly’s musical family, but World did.

He signed a deal this year to be part of Nelly’s “Derrty DJ” coalition that features members in St. Louis, Chicago and other cities.

“I was skeptical at first, because I’ve been on my own for so long,” World says. “But it wasn’t hard for me to say yes, because Nelly has always looked out for me.”

World plans to present a Derrty party in Indianapolis next year, and he also hopes to sell one of his instrumental tracks to a high-profile hip-hop act in the near future. So far, he’s sold beats to underground Hoosier musicians for a modest $100 to $300 per song.

A graduate of Washington High School, World, 36, started his DJ career by working house parties as a student at Vincennes University.

“I used to fly out of town and go get records in L.A. just to come back and say, ‘I got this song that y’all don’t have out here,’” he says.

Now a convert to the non-vinyl ways of Serato software, World mixes exclusively on computer at some parties.

“It sometimes makes people mad, but I’ve been through it all,” he says. “If they try to question me or test me, I can bring out the turntables.”

Favorite albums
1. LL Cool J, “Radio.”
2. 2Pac Shakur, “All Eyez on Me.”
3. Outkast, “Stankonia.”

Not so good
1. Young MC, “Stone Cold Rhymin’.”
2. Vanilla Ice, “To the Extreme.”
3. Afroman, “Because I Got High.”

The scoop
Upcoming appearance: Dec. 18 at Cloud 9, 5150 W. 38th St.
Name check: After a friend suggested “DJ World Turntable” as a nickname, a shortened “DJ World” stuck.
More info: www.my!space.com/djworld!naptown.