DeVante Swing

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DeVante Swing
Birth name Donald Earle DeGrate, Jr.
Born September 29, 1969 (age 46) Hampton, Virginia, United States
Origin Charlotte, North Carolina, US
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Record producer
  • singer
  • rapper
  • songwriter
  • video director
Instruments
Years active 1987–present
Associated acts

Donald Earle DeGrate, Jr. (born September 29, 1969 in Hampton, Virginia), best known by his professional name DeVante Swing, is an American record producer, singer, rapper and songwriter. Swing rose to fame in the 1990s as the founding member of the trendsetting R&B group Jodeci, one of the more popular R&B acts of its time. Swing served as the main songwriter, producer, and leader of Jodeci which also featured his younger brother Dalvin DeGrate. He also acted as a video director for the group, co-directing the videos for "Feenin'" with Hype Williams and "Freek'n You" with Brett Ratner.

Swing went on to form his own record label, Swing Mob, which signed artists and producers such as Ginuwine, Missy Elliott, Playa, Stevie J and Timbaland at the beginning of their careers. Swing produced 2Pac's "No More Pain" on the 1996 album All Eyez on Me which saw somewhat of a departure from what he normally produced for Jodeci. In addition, Swing has produced and written for numerous other artists such as Mary J. Blige, Al Green, Montell Jordan, Ray J, Kurupt, Usher and unreleased material for Michael Jackson's 2001 album Invincible.

Swing also mentored Flo Rida and Keyshia Cole in the early stages of their careers, even allowing them to live with him during their search for a record deal.[1]

Production discography[edit]

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

  • Imajin - Imajin - "Fresh", "I Don't Wanna Play Basketball"

2000

2001

  • Le-Jit - What's The Worst That Could Happen (Soundtrack) - "My Love, Your Love"
  • Terrell - Uptown International - "Who Got", "Loyalty"
  • Ray J - This Ain't a Game - "Wet Me"

2002

2005

  • DJ Quik - Trauma- "Quikstrumental (Quik's Groove 7)" (featuring Jodeci) (Co -produced w/ David Blake and Dalvin Degrate)

2007

  • Mýa - Liberation-"Smilin" (Co - produced w/ Dalvin Degrate) (Unreleased)

2010

2014

  • Anthony Lewis - "Candy Rain" feat. Billy Bang (Co - produced w/ Bradd Young)


2015

References[edit]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference billboard was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

1. http://www.dubcnn.com/interviews/sterlenroberts/

2. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1047198/flo-rida