DeVante Swing

Donald Earle DeGrate, Jr., 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. 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. He also produced three songs on Danny Boy's It's About Time album. In addition, Swing has produced and written for numerous other artists such as Mary J. Blige, Al Green, Montell Jordan, Ray J, Kurupt, Sisqo, Mariah Carey, and unreleased material for Michael Jackson's 2001 album Invincible. Swing also mentored Flo Rida in the early stages of his career, even allowing the rapper to live with him during his search for a record deal.