DA BASSMENT Crew aka SWING MOB (The Genius of Devante Swing) Appreciation Thread

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SWING MOB/DA BASSMENT article from a Blog

DA BASSMENT Crew (aka Swing Mob): The Rise, Fall & Rise Of One Of The Baddest Motherfucking Crews In Modern Music History + the recently unearthed 77min cassette demo tape YOU.MUST.HEAR

let’s take it back to the early/mid-90s for a second and lemme sum up what i’m about to offer up to you, anonymous tastemakers and music-lovers of the Internet:

Jodeci were blowing the fuck up off the strength of their now-classic debut album Forever My Lady in the early 90s (of which all the slow songs were written by mastermind DeVante Swing about a girl he was dating at the time who left & joined the army. random, right?). and amidst all the adulation came some form of power for Mr. Donald “DeVante” DeGrate, who then embarked on an ambitious project that was reminiscent of a bygone era in music. while on tour with Jodeci, he would routinely hear auditions from local groups. after carefully selecting which ones he thought showed real promise and real talent, he amassed them into a collective known as Da Bassment crew (aka Swing Mob) sometime around 1992, tho some people say the ball could’ve got started rolling even before that. this is a large pool of talent that included future legends like Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Tweet, Magoo, Ginuwine, Playa, Static/Major and quite a bit of input from DeVante and Dalvin as well. originally known as the 45.4 Q Clique, and then Swing Mob, the name Da Bassment eventually stuck due to the recording complex that all the artists either lived in or next to (this would be Dajhelon Studios in which the group primarily used the basement studios for their work).

however, the clique imploded sometime after The Show, The Afterparty, The Hotel (an album which had credited and uncredited contributions from various Bassment members, as did Diary Of A Mad Band, this group-mentality of creation being the status quo). while the majority of the goings on and the real reasons for the epic split of this epic crew remained a source of constant wonder and curiosity for nearly two decades (and a certain amount of sadness that it wasn’t fully realised), in the last few years we’ve seen ex-members like Susan Weems (of the group Sugah, of which Tweet and Rolita White were also a part) and emcee, Accion, give lengthy interviews about their experiences in Da Bassment. the former VP of the label, Shannon “Big Shann” Miller also recently recounted the experience with an interview via Skype that’s up on YouTube

From the Bassment Demo

 
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but above all else is this following important information: in 2010 the owner of the Static Major Is Music Blog anonymously recieved a package in the mail after posting a few Bassment-related things. turns out the tape, unmarked and unlabeled, is a full tape of snippets of songs produced and made in Da Bassment, by Da Bassment. since it’s in snippet form, i can only assume it was originally designed to be a mixtape or promo tape of sorts. only a few full-length songs are featured. oh yeah, let me say it again just in case i understated it: UNRELEASED, UNEARTHED TUNES BY YOUR FAVOURITE BASSMENT ARTISTS. this is stuff i, or the collective “we”, thought we’d NEVER EVER end up hearing. when i randomly discovered it in a lazy Google search over a month ago, i almost freaked out. it had become such an unreachable treasure that i didn’t bother to think about it anymore, but here it is y’all: 77MINS OF IT. lol. a sneak peek into the collective creative braintrust known as Da Bassment. and what i hear only confirms my long-held position that, were the ‘experiment’ to work out and the group not disbanded, they would be household names and changed the entire face of modern r&b and hip hop music (as a COLLECTIVE and on their own terms, which is what DeVante was ultimately working towards).

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INSANELY, this gem has somehow managed to remain SO under the radar (even Internet’s radar) that i, a confirmed Bassment zealot, didn’t know of its existence til a YEAR after it hit the net. which is some shameful shit (to me). so i have taken it upon myself to help spread the good vibes like i did with the Jack Herrera post. i want this blog post to become the vocal focal point for some Bassment love. come share your adulation for this still-unheralded clique, read up on the day-to-day happenings of the group via eye-witness accounts of ex-members, and how it ultimately all went sour. but like i said, most importantly: DOWNLOAD THE MIXTAPE. listen to all the early weed-soaked creative nuggets that led to mega-stardom and music icons.

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From the Bassment Demo tape
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FYI: these are tunes that have been directly ripped from a rough cassette tape copy as just “Side 1″ and “Side 2″ (respectively by Static Major Is Music), i’ve spent a good month chopping em up and figuring out track names, and especially the artists involved in each tack. since some of the members were completely new to me, it took a while to get acclimated to their voice in order to suss out who is who. but i think you’ll find this to be the most complete (and probaly ONLY) functioning tracklist.

FYI (II): i’m designing this post to be sort of a central hub for any and all information regarding the history of Da Bassment throughout its entire run. that includes interviews with former members, rare pics and video glimpses into their world, an attempt at a complete list of Bassment members, unconfirmed rumours (some so crazy they might be true), and of course the songs themselves (incuding all the released material the group were involved with).


we begin the audio assault with THE demo tape that no one seems to know ANYthing about lol. typical Bassment style, even when we get to hear the MUSIC, we’re still left in the dark about the finer details. nevertheless, it’s die-hard fans/music nerds like me that desire to put the pieces together. here we go, courtesy of the afore-mentioned Static Major Is Music blog (wanna make sure they/Buddha get the much-deserved shout-outs on this page cos they broke the news/provided links in the first place).
 
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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 – My Parents Are Gone (prod. DeVanté 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)

runtime = 77:18.


http://www.mediafire.com/?5yyrayb18pipp9o

as u might tell, it’s not yet a COMPLETE tracklist. so if anyone’s got info on tracks 31 & 35 please let me know
 
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SWING MOB bio from WIKI

Swing Mob consisted of members of the various collectives and/or record labels associated with Missy Elliott and Timbaland. Elliott with the group Sista, Timbaland, Magoo, Ginuwine, Playa, Darryl Pearson, Tweet with the group Sugah, Majik, Jimmy Douglass Stevie J., Maija Max, Bazaar Royale and Chad "Dr. Seuss" Elliot got their start as members of DeVante Swing's Swing Mob record label/collective.

Swing Mob folded in 1995, with a variety of reasons being attributed. According to Smoke E Digglera of Playa, the artists were forced to choose whether they wanted to be signed directly to Def Jam or through Swing Mob, causing a question of loyalty to arise amongst members. After Swing Mob folded, the artists continued to collaborate and brought new members in, such as Aaliyah, Skillz and Nicole Wray later on.

The post-Swing Mob collective was informally called Da Bassment during the late-1990s. Elliott runs an Elektra Records-distributed label called Goldmind Records, and in 2000 Timbaland started an Interscope Records distributed label called Beat Club Records which has since folded. Timbaland started a new Interscope Records distributed label now called Mosley Music Group
 
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Yo mayne these are some gems right here (In Ki-C voice) DEVANTE SWAAANG and the Bassment Crew is way ahead of their time and if you was a teen in the 90's this is appreciated and sad at the same time, we missed out on what could of been an industry take over.

Bassment members Devante Swing and Darryl Pearson produced and wrote Part Time lover by H-Town
 
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DA BASSMENT DEMO
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and just to further add to this barrage of Bassment-related audio yumminess, i’ve compiled my own personal mix of more Bassment materials which includes: unreleased stuff, soundtrack cuts & work done for other artists (as you will see, many of the members of the crew participated on the production and writing tip for other artists). it’s slightly riskier for me to post these songs as some of them include some big-name artists that might wanna lay the smackdown on me and this blog, but it’s all for the love. if anyone DOES object to their tunes being present here in this particular mix, please give me a yell first. otherwise, please to be enjoying even more of my favourite Bassment-related goodies


(and a further note, i’ve tried to include only tracks that feature two or more Bassment members on the track, and also the songs which i think best exemplify Da Bassment sound. i’ve also tried to track down as many deets/credits regarding who did what on each track as possible, but even i can be wrong time to time so if y’all have any corrections to make, please don’t hesitate to tell me off).
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C/S! I HEARD ABOUT THIS SHIT I WHILE BACK ON THE MISSY " BEHIND THE MUSIC" EPISODE, DEVONTE SURE AS HELL HAD AN EAR FOR MUSIC BUT ALSO CAN SPOT TALENT WHEN NOBODY IN THE INDUSTRY WOULD EVEN CONSIDER SIGNING MOST OF THEM ARTIST. SO BIG UPS TO DEVANTE FOR BRINGIN SOME OF THE GREATS TO LIGHT...
 
it's me bi***es;4150676 said:
C/S! I HEARD ABOUT THIS SHIT I WHILE BACK ON THE MISSY " BEHIND THE MUSIC" EPISODE, DEVONTE SURE AS HELL HAD AN EAR FOR MUSIC BUT ALSO CAN SPOT TALENT WHEN NOBODY IN THE INDUSTRY WOULD EVEN CONSIDER SIGNING MOST OF THEM ARTIST. SO BIG UPS TO DEVANTE FOR BRINGIN SOME OF THE GREATS TO LIGHT...

WORD UP mayne, now listening to the mixtape and and his crew they was a force to be reckon with, look how many people are fans of devante swing and his swingmob crew. Missy, Timbaland, Playa, Ginuwine, Sista, Static Major, Tweet, Sugah, Magoo, Skillz and the tracks you can see where they was going to take music to
 
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YEA IM CHECKING OUT THE MIXTAPE ALSO, THEY STILL PUT THEY STAMP ON HIP HOP N R&B BUT DEVONTE NEVER GETS CREDIT FOR IT. AND WASNT ALLIYAH DOWN WITH DA BASSMENT? BOY I TELL YA THEY DONT MAKE MUSIC LIKE THEY USED TO....
 
it's me bi***es;4150784 said:
YEA IM CHECKING OUT THE MIXTAPE ALSO, THEY STILL PUT THEY STAMP ON HIP HOP N R&B BUT DEVONTE NEVER GETS CREDIT FOR IT. AND WASNT ALLIYAH DOWN WITH DA BASSMENT? BOY I TELL YA THEY DONT MAKE MUSIC LIKE THEY USED TO....

@itsmebi***es this shit makes me want to slap the shit out of timbaland, and i want to slap the buff version of timbaland to let you know i aint a punk..lol. Yeah Devante do not get enough credit for grooming the talent that came out of his camp, the early to mid 90's devante changed the game then with his bassment crew/swing mob he found future legends that changed the game from the mid-late 90's to the mid 00's and he is the father of thier sound. Aaliyah was around but she was very young like in her early teens but she was around, the time Timbaland got the ears and mind of the crew and left devante when he was going through shit with suge knight then he brought aaliyah to the fold. but Static Major stayed with Devante and wasnt a snake like timb even though static wrote songs for ginuwine and aaliyah.

and Ginuwine bassment album that was produced by Devante and Darryl Pearson is way better than the bachelor.
 
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Ginuwine's original Swing Mob/Bassment album tracklist

Ginuwine - Untitled CD

1996 Da Bassment/EMI Publishing

Executive Producer: DeVante Swing.

01. Lady (prod. Darryl Pearson)

02. Pony (Original)

03. Yeah Come On (prod. Darryl Pearson)

04. I Want You (prod. DeVante)

05. Rock (prod. Darryl Pearson)

06. Feel It (prod. Darryl Pearson)

07. Love U Down (Original) (prod. DeVante) (feat. Playa/DeVante/Suga/Misdemeanor/Da Boogieman)

08. Come On Baby (prod. Darryl Pearson)

09. 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)
 
waterproof;4150829 said:
it's me bi***es;4150784 said:
YEA IM CHECKING OUT THE MIXTAPE ALSO, THEY STILL PUT THEY STAMP ON HIP HOP N R&B BUT DEVONTE NEVER GETS CREDIT FOR IT. AND WASNT ALLIYAH DOWN WITH DA BASSMENT? BOY I TELL YA THEY DONT MAKE MUSIC LIKE THEY USED TO....

@itsmebi***es this shit makes me want to slap the shit out of timbaland, and i want to slap the buff version of timbaland to let you know i aint a punk..lol. Yeah Devante do not get enough credit for grooming the talent that came out of his camp, the early to mid 90's devante changed the game then with his bassment crew/swing mob he found future legends that changed the game from the mid-late 90's to the mid 00's and he is the father of thier sound. Aaliyah was around but she was very young like in her early teens but she was around, the time Timbaland got the ears and mind of the crew and left devante when he was going through shit with suge knight then he brought aaliyah to the fold. but Static Major stayed with Devante and wasnt a snake like timb even though static wrote songs for ginuwine and aaliyah.

and Ginuwine bassment album that was produced by Devante and Darryl Pearson is way better than the bachelor

its one song off ginuwines bassment album I've heard and i like it call I want you. I would upload it but i dont know how to do that on the new format
 
DARRYL PEARSON DISCOOGRAPHY from DISCOGS

SWING MOB/DA BASSMENT crew had a crew of songwriters, singers, and producers that was ahead of their time. Here's one of the producers who is know in the industry that wrote and produced, played instruments on Jodeci albums, H-Town, Sista, Mary J Blige and Dru Hill. As you can see he produced the majority of Ginuwine shelved bassment album.

Darryl Pearson

Profile:

Darryl Pearson is an American guitarist, record producer, and songwriter.

Originally a part of DeVante Swing's Swing Mob collective, Pearson has worked with artists such as Missy Elliott and Timbaland, and has produced songs for acts such as Mya ("It's All About Me" and "Moving On", both co-written by Sisqó of Dru Hill) and Total.


Vocals on

April

(CD, Promo)

Universal Records, Bystorm Entertainment 1996

Timbaland Featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott* & Magoo - Here We Come

Blackground Entertainment 1998

Here We Come

Timbaland - Tim's Bio: From The Motion Picture - Life From Da Bassment

Blackground Entertainment 1998

Here We Come

Timbaland And Magoo* - Present 2005

Instruments & Performance

I Don't Want To Do Anything

Mary J. Blige - What's The 411?

Uptown Records 1992

Diary Of A Mad Band

MCA Records 1993

Can U Get Wit It

LaFace Records 1994

Secret Admirer

Sista (2) - 4 All The Sistas Around Da World

Elektra, Elektra 1994

My Life

Mary J. blige

MCA Records 1994

April

(CD, Promo)

Universal Records, Bystorm Entertainment 1996

You Don't Know

Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott* - Da Real World 1999

Light My Fire (as Darryl and 2 more…

Melky Sedeck - Sister & Brother

MCA Records 1999

K-Ci & JoJo - It's Real

MCA Records 1999

Dru World Order

Def Soul 2002

Missy Elliott - 3 For One : Miss E ...So Addictive / Da Real World / Supa Dupa Fly (3xCD, Album, Enh + Box, Comp) 2003

Sexy Ladies - Let Me Talk To You (Prelude) and 2 more…

Justin Timberlake - Futuresex/Lovesounds) 2009

Dance 2night (as Darrell Pearson)

Madonna - Hard Candy

Warner Bros. Records, Warner Bros. Records 2008

Missy Elliott - Da Real World / Supa Dupa Fly (2xCD, Comp


 
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Another Swing Mobb produced classic off of the classic Death Row Soundtrack Abover The Rim Soundtrack, this song is Produced by Swing Mob's Devante Swing and Timbland,

Blowed Away - B Rezell

 
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Mista Vee Presents…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.

runtime = 78:10.


http://www.mediafire.com/?axmdxyizmccc1ns

mix is also available for streaming only viahttp://www.mixcloud.com/player/
 
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nice thread and good lookin out on that mixtape..shit like this is why my i have a portable hard drive..you dont really hear too much about the swing mob and devante swing but his huge in the early to mid 90's

and just for discussion..is it fair to say devante swing should be credited as the founder of hip hop soul cause before jodeci r&b was following still following teddy riley and the whole new jack swing which their main thing was uptempo dance hits and dressing like preps..when jodeci came out in 1991 they flipped the script..their hit records were slow jams..slow tempo songs..and was the first r&b cats to wear the harder edge hip hop style which back then was white sox ballcaps,gold hoop earings,those black shades,baggy clothes,black boots..all that..and this is where public announcement,silk,h-town,dru hill,112,jagged edge and the rest of them groups got their swagger from they..in fact you could say the female groups also like swv,etc also..they all came out in 92,93 and so forth..but for some reason it all goes to mary j blige and puffy daddy when they came out a year after in 92 when it was pretty much the style
 
704Hustla;4157321 said:
nice thread and good lookin out on that mixtape..shit like this is why my i have a portable hard drive..you dont really hear too much about the swing mob and devante swing but his huge in the early to mid 90's

and just for discussion..is it fair to say devante swing should be credited as the founder of hip hop soul cause before jodeci r&b was following still following teddy riley and the whole new jack swing which their main thing was uptempo dance hits and dressing like preps..when jodeci came out in 1991 they flipped the script..their hit records were slow jams..slow tempo songs..and was the first r&b cats to wear the harder edge hip hop style which back then was white sox ballcaps,gold hoop earings,those black shades,baggy clothes,black boots..all that..and this is where public announcement,silk,h-town,dru hill,112,jagged edge and the rest of them groups got their swagger from they..in fact you could say the female groups also like swv,etc also..they all came out in 92,93 and so forth..but for some reason it all goes to mary j blige and puffy daddy when they came out a year after in 92 when it was pretty much the style

Thanks and enjoy the mixtape's, Devante took what Teddy Riley taught him to the next level and even though Bell Biv Devoe was the first have that hip-hop appeal and attitude with r&b it was jodeci that had the hip-hop attitude and brought the soul to the game and brought soul music back to the black youth aka hip-hop heads because they was sangin in our language, like when youngsters used to doo-woop on the corners in ciphers in the late 50's and early 60's. JODECI is hip-hop soul they looked like and dress like us.

and SWV had the brothers and sisters in the hood they was the first even though SWV and Mary came out in 92 then it was sistah, TLC, Xscape ect...

 
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