Divinity Roxx

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Divinity Roxx
Divinity Roxx at Reeveland Festival MM1.jpg
Divinity Roxx performs live at The Reeveland Festival sponsored by The Warwick Bass Factory in Germany, 2015.
Background information
Also known asMC Divinity, D. Walker
BornFebruary 5
Origin Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres Rap rock, soul, hip hop, funk, rock, Children's Music
Occupation(s)Musician (bass), entertainer, rapper, singer, producer, performer, composer, musical director, author, entrepreneur
InstrumentBass Guitar
Years active1993–present
LabelsiRoxx Entertainment
Website www.divinityroxx.com

Divinity Roxx is a two-time Grammy-nominated American recording artist, producer, composer, and musician. Her work includes elements of rhythm and blues, hip-hop, funk, soul, and rock. As a rapper and bassist, her performances have been reviewed as radical and distinctive because of her unique ability to combine vigorous bass lines with simultaneous tongue-twisting yet authoritative rapping. [1]

Contents

She is best known for touring and performing with Beyoncé Knowles (2006–2011) as her bassist and Musical Director for "The Beyoncé Experience" [2] and "I Am... World Tour". [3] On the "I Am...Sasha Fierce" World tour, Divinity also helped compose music alongside Bibi McGill, Brittani Washington and Rie Tsuji. [4] She has appeared in three DVDs with Beyoncé including The Beyoncé Experience Live , [5] I Am... Sasha Fierce , [6] and I Am... Yours . [7] She has also appeared in two videos, "Irreplaceable" and "Green Light". [8] Divinity has performed with Beyonce at The White House for President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama during a State Dinner for the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderon. [9] She also performed with Beyonce during her Glastonbury performance. [10] [11] She has also performed on the Grammy's, The BET Awards, MTV Music Awards, Ellen , The Oprah Winfrey Show , Saturday Night Live , Good Morning America , The Today Show and countless other television shows with Beyonce. [12] In 2014, Divinity played bass on The Arsenio Hall Show and The Queen Latifah Show with Atlanta born rapper, B.o.B. [13] Divinity has also appeared on Big Morning Buzz Live With Nick Lechey [14] [15] and The Wendy Williams Show with singer [K.Michelle]. [16]

In 2021, Divinity released her debut Family Music Album, Ready, Set Go!, turning her attention to the audience she feels matters most. From start to finish, her album, Ready, Set, Go, is about positivity in mind and body. Two of the songs from the album, Happy and Healthy and Me + You were published by Scholastic as fully illustrated picture books. The books were illustrated by NaShanta Fletcher and were part of Scholastic's Family and Community Engagement initiative.

Early career

Divinity founded a hip-hop group in high school called DATBU (Divinity and the Breakfast Unit) alongside her friends Corey Peyton (Kornbred), Chad Browning (Clever Love), Kamal Studdard (Cheezy Feets), and Lewis Miller (Pogo). The group eventually morphed into a trio, Divinity, Clever, and Pogo. They released an independent album, FoolProof https://www.discogs.com/release/3116973-Datbu-Fool-Proof DATBU FoolProof 1997, in 1997. Produced by DJ Kemit. [17]

In October 2000, Divinity attended Victor Wooten's Bass Nature Camp at Montgomery Bell State Park near Nashville, Tennessee. There she met Victor Wooten and his brothers Regi, Joseph, Roy, and Rudy. Once the camp was over, Victor asked Divinity to tour with him. [18] She began touring with Wooten's band where she was a featured part of the show from 2000-2005. [19] She is recorded on Wooten's Live in America (2001) [20] and Soul Circus (2005) albums [21] under the names D. Walker [22] and MC Divinity. [23] She also appears on Victor Wooten's album, Words and Tones (2012) [24]

Solo Recordings

Ain’t No Other Way (2003)

Divinity's first solo album Ain't No Other Way was self-released in 2012 while touring with Victor Wooten. The album featured production from will.i.am, DJ Lethal, and Mike Elizondo.

The Roxx Boxx Experience (2012)

Divinity's second EP, The Roxx Boxx Experience, was released in October 2012. [25] The album featured Divinity Roxx (bass, lead vocals), Matt McMoots (guitar, backing vocals, backing bass), Omar Gusmao (guitar, backing vocals), and Carlos McSwain (drums, backing vocals). The album was mixed by Eric Racy and Mastered by Chris Gehringer for Sterling Sound [26]

ImPossible (2016)

Divinity released ImPossible (album) April 19, 2016. This is album features elements of funk, soul, rock, hip-hop and jazz. [27]

Ready Set Go!

Divinity released Ready Set Go! November 5, 2021. This was her first Children's music album that featured elements of hip-hop, and positivity. [28]

Ready Set Go! was nominated for a 65th Grammy® Award for Best Children's Music Album. [29]

World Wide Playdate (2024)

Divinty released World Wide Playdate August 9th, 2024. The album was the follow-up to her debut Children's Music album, solidifying her place in the genre. The album features production by Wayne Gerard (Dr. Fink, Don Was) and hit songwriter Mary Brown (songwriter) who co-wrote, vocal produced, and sang background vocals on the album. The album also features Divinity's long-time mentor and friend Victor Wooten, Malcom Jamal Warner, MuMu Fresh, Tank 'Tarrionna" Ball, Teemanay, The Genesis Innovation Academy Cheer Squad, as well as her niece and goddaughter. [30]

World Wide Playdate was nominated for a 67th Grammy® Award for Best Children's Music Album. [31]

Television and Film Compositions

Divinity composed, performed, and co-produced the theme song for the PBS Kids show Lyla in the Loop [32] which premiered on PBS Kids Television on February 5, 2024. The show was created by Dave Peth.

Theater Compositions

Divinity and long-time friend and collaborator Eugene Russell IV co-wrote the music for the of The Boy Who Kissed the Sky book by Idris Goodwin. The show was a co-production between The Alliance Theatre (Atlanta) and The Seattle Children's Theater. [33]

Discography

Television appearances

Divinity appeared on the television show The Soul Man alongside the musical guest B.o.B. [36] while playing bass on his Promo Tour for the album Underground Luxury.

Divinity has been the bass player in the house band for the BET-produced television show Black Girls Rock! (2014-2016), backing such artists as Erykah Badu, Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, Brandy, Monica, Jazmine Sullivan and more.

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References

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