Biography
Originally the 45.4Q Clique, Da Bassment or Da Bassment Cru was a musical collective spearheaded by DeVante Swing of Jodeci during the 90s, signed to his Swing Mob imprint. Described by some as a "music college", each member spent hours on end creating music alongside one another. After the success of Jodeci's debut album Forever My Lady, DeVante sought to start a movement and develop a new sound to take over the industry. Using Jodeci's tours throughout the country, DeVante would discover talent through backstage auditions, with Teaneck, New Jersey being group's first home. Various Bassment members would make credited and uncredited contributions to Jodeci's second and third albums "Diary of a Mad Band" and "The Show, The After Party, The Hotel", along with accompanying DeVante on his other projects. After striking a deal with Dave Schumaker, DeVante was given access to the entire building of Dajhelon Studios for the recording of The Show, the After Party, the Hotel, and their own projects. The name "Da Bassment" would come the rich, bassy sound produced by the massive subwoofers that DeVante later installed at Dajhelon.
Sista's debut album "4 All the Sistas Around Da World" would be the only official release to come from the collective other than "Love You Down" from The Nutty Professor Soundtrack, both Gin & Juice and its remix. With projects failing to get off the ground, deals falling through, and DeVante's behavior taking a turn for the worse (due to his vices and influence from the infamous Suge Knight), Da Bassment began to slowly fall apart, with Timbaland dscribing it as a "Ghetto Fraternity" in his last year with the label. Missy Elliott and Sista would be the first to make their exit after an incident with DeVante, with Elliott refusing to be mistreated any longer.
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With help from Robert Reives and convincing from Missy, Ginuwine would be the first to achieve a record deal and leave Rochester. Timbaland deliberated with himself, stuck between loyalty to DeVante despite his poor treatment and his lifelong friendship with Elliott, before ultimately returning to Virginia. It would not take long for the young producer and young writer to receive the chance of a lifetime to work with a young Aaliyah, who took interest in the two after listening to Sugah's Sugar & Spice. R&B group Playa would discuss with DeVante about their departure before signing with Def Jam, reconnecting with Timbaland and his Supafriends, which was mostly composed of other ex-Bassment members. Even with DeVante bringing on new talent to replace the departed during the latter half of the decade, the collective continued to dwindle in numbers, whether it was due to stagnating careers or having to constantly move around the country. After more unsuccessful attempts to release solo or compilation albums with the remaining members, Da Bassment would end alongside the 90s.
Known members of Da Bassment were:
DeVante "Boss Playa" Swing
VP Shannon "Big Shann" Miller
Mr. Dalvin aka Dalvin Degrate
Darryl Pearson
Chad "Dr Ceuss" Elliot
Timbaland
Missy Elliott, LaShawn Shellman, Radiah Scott, Chonita Coleman of Sista
Magoo aka Melvin Barcliff of Timbaland & Magoo
Larry "Live" Lyons
Ginuwine
Stevie J aka Steven Jordan
Smokey or Smoke E. Digglera, Black or Digital Black, and Static or Static Major of Playa
Tweet aka Charlene Keys, Susan Weems, and Rolita White of Sugah
Reboc aka Chandra Bailey
SMK aka Shawn Pross
Mr. Brendal aka Jamel Wilson
Accion aka Tobias Butler
Da Boogie Man or Bazaar Royale
Enoch Wofford, Marcus, Afro aka Devron Bumphis, and Willis Chandler of Black N Wild, Black NWild, or Black & Wild
Virginia, Virginia Williams, or Virginia Rush
LB or El Beau aka Lionel Bussey
Dante Hawkins
Renee Anderson
Robert Reives
C-Dub aka Charles Wiley
D. Brooks
Da Deuce
Big Mel
Special “K” Tay
Reggie "Devell" Moore
Makeda "Hollywood" Davis
Marco Polo, Snake Eyes, Slim Boogie, Pretty Boy/Pretty Boy Floyd, and LB of Freeze
Devante's cousin (name unknown)
The twins (name unknown)
Jah
Wild Flower
CoCo
Protege
Montana
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.