In 1994, at Andrew's in building in Rochester,NY, DeVante of Jodeci formed a collective called Da Bassment . The collective consisted of artists: Sista, Timbaland & Magoo, Accion, Ginuwine, Sugah, Playa, Nikki Bonz, Traedonya, Renee Anderson,Reboc, Pretty Boy, Mr Brendal, Da Boogieman,Dante Hawkins, Sarah Jo Martin, Stevie J, Derek DeGrate,Virginia Williams, Darryl Pearson, Reggi Moore, Lamar Mitchell, and of course Jodeci. Timbaland surely mentioned Pharrell & Larry Live who were in a group together with Magoo called SBI. I also heard Malice & Pusha T were hanging around them in Da Bassment days. Da Bassment recorded several songs for soundtracks such as Dangerous Minds & Nutty Professor. Unfortunately the collective split and went on to record music as solo artists or groups. 20 years later they are still putting out music. In this blog post we are celebrating Da Bassment's 20 Year Anniversary.
Da Bassment Interview:
1. Who Influenced you musically?
Static/Major: Project Pat, Lil Flip, UGK, Lil Wayne. I listen to street music. The streets influence me.
Smoke E Digglera: I'd have to say one of major influences would be DeVante Swing of Joedci. Also Take 6 & John P Kee
Digital Black: My influences first would be my father and brother. Others would be Donny Hathaway, Al Green, Bobby Womack (RIP),Ron Isley, and Jodeci
2. How did you meet DeVante of Jodeci?
Bazaar Royale (aka Da Boogieman): I just ran into the dude, he was with Timbaland and all them cats. Walked right up to De and said "WSUP" . I did my freestyle type thing, he liked, and he gave me his contact info.
Playa: Singing for DeVante, backstage at the Jodeci concert
3. How were Da Bassment days?
Bazaar Royale (aka Da Boogieman): For me it was dope. It was like a college for artists
Trevor Banks: Stevie J said the same thing
Static/Major: Oh maaan .. It was like music school. We all lived in the same apartment building. The studio was like within walking distance of the apartments. We were over there all day everyday.
Trevor Banks: That was in Andrew's Building in Rochester,NY?
Static/Major: That's right
Smoke E Digglera: Maan , it was just like any first phase of trying to get in where you fit in, it was raw. It was definitely a situation you could look back on and say "That was beautiful". You begin to appreciate the fact that certain things don't happen overnight. Seeing it first hand from a genius like DeVante was, as well as a multi platinum writer/producer/artist. De gave us the opportunity to work on our craft , and to get in where we fit in.
Digital Black: Yeah! it was definitely like a college. It was where me, Static, and Smoke honed in on our skills. DeVante was the type of cat that he let you learn by doing, not just watching. All of us had our own studio room, and it was just a blessing. It was like living a dream. Where one of your idols sign you, ya know. That is where we met Timbo, Missy, and Ginuwine. We all lived together for about 4 or 5 years. I have no hard feelings from that experience. Don't believe the VH1 Driven story..
4. How did the group get its name Playa?
Smoke E Digglera: Hmmm ( as he sips from Hennessy & Pepsi ) That would be DeVante, just from us kickin it, sitting around listening to music, and getting to know one another. So De said " You know what, ya'll some lil playas maan, for real". So he goes " That is the name of the group...PLAYA"
Trevor Banks: What was the name of the group before Playa?
Static/Major: It was still the same guys, but locally we were called Touch Of Class
To be continued..... (We will try to add more from Da Bassment members down the road.. SO STAY TUNED)
Inet 6 The Star Show of Da Bassment mixed by DJ Trevor Banks
(for promotional use only)
Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Lust (Unreleased Extended Version)- Playa
3. Nation Is One- Dante Hawkins
4. Extra Raps- Static & Mr Dalvin
5. Brand New (Remix)- Sista
6. Boardmeeting- Timbaland & Magoo
7. Untitled- Reboc
8. Don't Think They Know- Black (of Playa) & Aaliyah
9. Get Mine (Remix)- Mr Dalvin & A+
10. She Say- Playa/ Lil Flip
11. Sugah Thing- Sugah/Playa/Mr Brendal
12. Beep Me 911 (remix)- Missy Elliot & Magoo
13. What About Us (remix)- Jodeci / Magoo
14. Hit U Up- Sista
15. Dangerous- Mr Dalvin & DeVante
16. Outro
Unreleased Albums (that have never surfaced from Da Bassment members)
DJ Timmy Tim (aka Timbaland)
Word Up, Check It (Unreleased)
- Word Up, Check It (Intro)
- Here We Go
- Gettin' Bigger
- Funky Man
- Follow The Lead
- One For All
- Here They Come
- Go With This
- Work It Out
- On Your Mind
- Brick Record
- Gone
- Playin' Tricks On Me
- Feel The Vibe
- Freshman
- Word Up, Check It (Outro)
DJ Timmy Tim's Studio Session (Unreleased)
- Gingerbread Man
- K Quick
- Oooh
- Runnin' Away
- Take A Bath
- Where Could U Be Goin
Ginuwine- Untitled CD
1996 Da Bassment/ EMI Publishing
Executive Producer: DeVante Swing
1. Lady-( prod. Darryl Pearson)
2. Pony (original)
3. Yeah Come On- (prod. Darryl Pearson)
4. I Want You- (prod. DeVante)
5. Rock ( prod. Darryl Pearson)
6. Feel It- (prod. Darryl Pearson)
7. Love U Down- (prod. DeVante) feat. Playa/DeVante/Suga/Misdemeanor/ Da Boogieman
8. Come On Baby- (prod. Darryl Pearson)
9. Soaking Wet- (prod. Darryl Pearson)
10. Straight Like That -( prod. Darryl Pearson)
11. One Reason Why- (prod. Darryl Pearson)
12.Come Inside- (prod. Darryl Pearson)
13. I'm Going To Fall In Love- (prod. Darryl Pearson)
"Renee Anderson's unreleased Bassment album tracklist:"
Renee Anderson (MCA): Untitled
Executive Producer: DeVante Swing
1997 Da Bassment/EMI Publishing.
01. Maybe (prod. Darryl Pearson)
02. Aw Yeah (prod. Regi Moore)
03. Don't Be Afraid (prod. Regi Moore)
04. Everytime (feat. Static)
05. Gonna Be Your Night (feat. Devante Swing)
06. Makin Love (prod. Darryl Pearson)
07. Bad By Myself (prod. Regi Moore
08. Do It Up (prod. Regi Moore)
09. Me 4 U (feat. Timbaland)
10. Wind (prod. E-Bass & Rome)
11. One Of A Kind (feat. Static)
12. Its Alright (prod. Regi Moore)
13. Don't Be Gone (feat. Static)
14. Throw Ya Hands Up (feat. Timbaland)
15. My Guy (prod. Regi Moore)
16. Greater Love (prod. Regi Moore)
17. Have Your Way (prod. Regi Moore)
18. Romeo (prod. Regi Moore)
19. Time Or Chance (prod. Regi Moore)
20. Crying (prod. Regi Moore)
DA BASSMENT DEMO TAPE
tracklist:
01. Timbaland – Da Funk (1:32)
02. Sista – Sweat You Down (Alternate Version) (feat. Crack Mack) (1:19)
03. Virginia – Slow Drag (3:41)
04. Sista – U Better Be Ready (2:02)
05. Ginuwine – Come Inside (2:03)
06. Ginuwine – I’m Going To Fall In Love (2:23)
07. Sugah – Fly Guy (1:18)
08. Timbaland & Magoo – Plenty Of Styles (feat. Missy Elliott) (3:34)
09. Dante Hawkins РMy Parents Are Gone (prod. DeVant̩ Swing & E-Bass) (3:50)
10. Da Boogie Man – Interlude (1:00)
11. Sugah – Sugah Thang (feat. Playa, Accion, Mr. Brendal, Timbaland & Reboc) (1:42)
12. Da Bassment – Ain’t Nuthin’ But A B-Party (4:07)
13. Jodeci – Get Back (6:03)
14. Ginuwine – Let’s Stop Effin’ Around (1:48)
15. Sugah – Expired (2:41)
16. Sista – Find My Love (Alternate Version) (0:58)
17. Playa – Come On, Girl (2:15)
18. Sista – Brand New (Mr. Dalvin’s Ferrari Mix) (Extra Raps) (feat. Mr. Dalvin & Static) (1:11)
19. Timbaland – Makes You Say (1:26)
20. Timbaland – We Can Do This (1:08)
21. Da Bassment – Ain’t Nuthin’ But A B-Party (Alternate Mix) (1:02)
22. Timbaland – Get Down (feat. Playa) (1:07)
23. Static – S-T-A-T-I-C (1:34)
24. Reboc – Untitled (feat. Timbaland) (0:56)
25. Timbaland – Peepin’ My Style (feat. Static & Missy Elliott) (2:37)
26. Timbaland – Do You Wanna (feat. Accion) (3:09)
27. Sugah – Sugah Sensation (feat. Timbaland) (1:44)
28. Sugah – Goin’ Down (feat. Timbaland) (2:11)
29. Virginia – Get Down (feat. Timbaland & Missy Elliott) (3:23)
30. Virginia – Let Me In Your Life (feat. Missy Elliott) (3:28)
31. Unknown – Baby I Know (0:54)
32. Missy Elliott – Red Lights (feat. Timbaland) (1:12)
33. Sugah – Smokin’ In The Dark (1:23)
34. Sugah – Smokin’ In The Dark (Alternate Mix) (0:34)
35. Mr. Dalvin (?) – Set It Off (4:12)
36. Sugah – Sugar & Spice (1:51)
DEATH ROW MCA/DeVante Swing
01. gin & juice (devante swing feat. static) [produced by: devante swing] © 1995 mca records
02. how do u want it (2pac feat. k-ci & jojo) [produced by: johnny j] © 1996 death row records
03. you bring me up [mr dalvin remix] (k-ci & jojo feat. snoop doggy dogg) [remixed by: mr dalvin] © 1997 mca records
04. it's all about u (danny boy) [produced by: devante swing] © 1996 death row records
05. doin time [snoop time remix] (sublime feat. snoop doggy dogg) [remixed by: dave aron] © 1996 mca records
06. nobody else [remix] (anthony hamilton feat. too short) [remixed by: ant banks] © 1996 mca records
07. toss it up (jodeci feat. 2pac, aaron hall & danny boy) © 1996 death row records
08. ooh wee baby (immature feat. daz) [produced by: lt hutton] (add prod by: daz) © 1997 mca records
09. so low (iv xample) [produced by: damon thomas] © 1995 mca records
10. get on up (gangsta gangsta remix) (jodeci feat. tha dogg pound) [remixed by: daz] © 1996 mca records
11. death represents my hood (bokie loc) [produced by: sean 'barney' thomas] ©1995 mca records
12. you bring me up [johnny j remix] (k-ci & jojo feat. snoop doggy dogg) [remixed by: johnny j] © 1997 mca records
13. we got it [dj jam remix] (immature feat. smooth) [remixed by: dj jam & tommy d.] © 1996 mca records
14. don't wanna lose it (rahsaan patterson) [produced by: les pierce] © 1997 mca records
15. nuttin but a 'g' thang [1996 remix] (dr dre & snoop doggy dogg) [remixed by: dj jam & tommy d.] © 1996 death row records
16. i'm talkin to myself (nme & grench) [add vocs: kurupt] (produced by: kurupt) © 1995 mca records
Confessions of A Curly Mind- Swing Mobbin:Sounds From Da Bassment
tracklist:
01. DeVante – P.I.B 4Play
produced by DeVante Swing.
02. Danny Boy – Slip N’ Slide
produced by DeVante Swing & Reggie De’vell Moore.
additional vocals by DeVante Swing & Ginuwine.
03. Aaron Hall – Curiosity (Misdemeanor)
produced by Mr. Dalvin.
written by Aaron Hall, Missy Elliott & Mr. Dalvin.
additional vocals by Missy Elliott.
04. DeVante – Gin & Juice (Remix)
produced by DeVante Swing & Timbaland.
additional vocals by Da Boogie Man, Mr. Brendal, Magoo, Timbaland, Accion, Static & C-Dub.
05. Al Green – Could This Be The Love
produced by DeVante Swing.
additional vocals by DeVante Swing, Playa & Renee Anderson.
06. Mr. Dalvin & Static – True O.G.
produced by Mr. Dalvin & Timbaland.
07. Jodeci – Can We Flo?
written, produced and arranged by DeVante Swing.
background vocals by Playa.
08. Jodeci – Zipper
produced by DeVante Swing.
09. DeVante – Gin & Juice
produced, written & arranged by DeVante Swing.
additional vocals by Static.
10. B Rezell – Blowed Away
produced by DeVante Swing & Timbaland.
additional vocals by DeVante Swing.
11. Jodeci – Room 454: DeVante’s “Inhermission”
produced by DeVante Swing.
12. Da Bassment – Love You Down
produced by DeVante Swing.
vocal arrangements by Playa.
additional vocals by LB, Sugah & DeVante Swing.
13. Jodeci – What About Us (Swing Mob)
produced by DeVante Swing & Timbaland.
additional vocals by Magoo.
14. Ginuwine – I Want You
produced by DeVante Swing.
15. Tony Thompson – Slave
produced by DeVante Swing & Darryl Pearson.
music by DeVante Swing, Darryl Pearson & Missy Elliott.
all instruments by DeVante Swing & Darryl Pearson.
background vocals by Static, Smokey, Darryl Pearson, Missy Elliott & DeVante Swing.
mixed by Prince Charles Alexander.
16. Jodeci – Sweaty
produced by DeVante Swing.
additional vocals by Missy Elliott.
scratches by Timbaland.
17. Sista – Find My Love
produced by DeVante Swing & Timbaland.
additional keys by DeVante Swing.
written by Missy Elliott.
18. Renee Anderson – Gonna Be Your Night
produced by DeVante Swing.
19. Usher – Can U Get Wit It
produced by DeVante Swing.
instruments by DeVante Swing & Timbaland.
guitar by Darryl Pearson.
mixed by Prince Charles Alexander.
additional vocals by DeVante Swing.
20. H-Town – Part Time Lover
produced by DeVante Swing & Darryl Pearson.
additional vocals by DeVante Swing.
1."Intro Talk" 0:582."Hip Hop" 3:283."Slow Down" 1:004."Wfro" 0:185."Sweat You Down" 3:356."DeVante at the Payphone" 0:167."Find My Love" 3:008."I Wanna Know" 1:579."Hit U Up" Dalvin DeGrate4:0410."125th Street" 1:4511."Big Shann and Timbaland at Train Stop" 0:4512."I Don't Mind" 3:3313."Secret Admirer" 3:5614."Sista Bounce" 1:4415."Swing Thing" 2:2116."Brand New" 4:2517."I Wanna Be with U" 3:2318."Good Thang" 4:1619."Feel of Your Lips" (feat. Mary J. Blige, Virginia Williams and K-Ci) 5:0520."Sista Mack" 0:50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHJSJmwfHOE
Da Bassment Family Tree (all artist that came from Da Bassment and their artists they discovered)
Timbaland: Bubba Sparxxx,Ricky Rucker, Danja, Polow Da Don, Nicole Wray, Hit Boy, Kiley Dean, Nyemiah Supreme, Keri Hilson, Sebastian, D.O.E. , Jimmy Codean, Shawn Chrystopher, Tink, Attitude, Duddy Ken,Petey Pablo, SBI (Pharrell, Magoo, Larry Live), Timbo's son Love Demetrius, Jo'zzy, Wizz Dumb, Chally, D.R.I.O., Skillz, Ludacris, One Republic, Aaliyah, Izza Kizza,BK Brasco, ect..
Missy Elliot: Tweet, Lil Mo, Mocha, Torrey Carter
Polow Da Don: Jim Crow, Rich Boy
Danja: Luke James, Caligula, Wyld, Kevin Cossom,
Pharrell(Timbaland's cousin): The Clipse, Kelis, Roscoe P Coldchain, Fam Lay, N.E.R.D. , Kenna, Spymob
Roc Nation has now adopted some of the family tree w/ Timbaland, Pharrell, J-Roc , Hannon Lane
K-Ci & JoJo of Jodeci is related to DeVin Hailey, Ricco Barrino, Lebrado, Fantasia & Dave Hollister. Close friend Calvin Richardson.
DeVante has a son who produces . his name is Justin DeGrate
Static/Major: Pretty Ricky
Smoke E Digglera: G.No
H-Town & New Edition have now become part of that family tree with Mr Dalvin forming a supergroup with Ricky Bell, Shazam, and Rashaad .Caleb , Autumn, & Lucci Minx are part of the tree as well.
