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Divinity Roxx

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Divinity Roxx
Divinity Roxx performs live at The Reeveland Festival sponsored by The Warwick Bass Factory in Germany, 2015.
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
OriginAtlanta, Georgia, U.S.
GenresRap 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
Websitewww.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]

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Television appearances

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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.

References

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  1. ^ "Bassistin Divinity Roxx im Bayerischen Hof in München". 2015-09-18.
  2. ^ The Beyoncé Experience Live (DVD). Beyoncé. Columbia Records. 2007.
  3. ^ Knowles, Beyoncé (2009). Official I Am... World Tour. USA: Columbia Records.
  4. ^ Music World Entertainment (2010) Beyoncé – I Am... World Tour (Liner Notes) Columbia Records.
  5. ^ Beyoncé, Beyoncé (2007). The Beyoncé Experience Live (Media notes). Beyoncé. Spain: Columbia Records. 88697 20641 9.
  6. ^ Music World Entertainment (2010) Beyoncé – I Am... World Tour (Liner Notes) Columbia Records.
  7. ^ Knowles, Beyoncé (2009). I Am... Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas (DVD/Blu-ray). Music World Entertainment/Columbia Records. Event occurs at 0:00 to 1:38:19.
  8. ^ "B'Day".
  9. ^ "Divinity Roxx Combines Sound and Delivers Pure Gold Along the Way – ZO Magazine". 20 March 2019.
  10. ^ "KitMonsters – Divinity Roxx".
  11. ^ "White House State Dinner - Beyoncé Online Photo Gallery".
  12. ^ "Beauty and the Bass, Divinity Roxx Offers up Something Inspired". 2016-05-06.
  13. ^ "Offshore Hosting | DMCA Ignored Hosting | Offshore Servers".
  14. ^ ""Love Em All (Big Morning Buzz Live)" by K. Michelle | Show Performance | VH1.com". Archived from the original on 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2016-06-13.
  15. ^ "End of the Year Promo Run with K. Michelle | Divinity Roxx Experience". Archived from the original on 2016-07-03. Retrieved 2016-06-13.
  16. ^ K.Michelle Maybe I Should Call. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11.
  17. ^ "Datbu". Discogs.
  18. ^ "Les Claypool, Victor Wooten & Divinity Roxx Among Guest Professors At Bootsy Collins' Funk University". CHC Network. 2010-05-19.
  19. ^ "Divinity Roxx on Primetime". Swoop's World Online Radio. 2011-10-18. Retrieved Oct 20, 2011.
  20. ^ "Live in America - Victor Wooten | Credits". AllMusic.
  21. ^ "Soul Circus - Victor Wooten | Credits". AllMusic.
  22. ^ "Live in America - Victor Wooten | Credits". AllMusic.
  23. ^ "Soul Circus - Victor Wooten | Credits". AllMusic.
  24. ^ "Sword and Stone/Words and Tones - Victor Wooten | Credits". AllMusic.
  25. ^ Liebman, Jon. "Divinity Roxx". For Bass Players Only. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  26. ^ The Roxx Boxx Experience (Media notes).
  27. ^ "HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. And World News". HuffPost.
  28. ^ "After touring with Beyoncé, Divinity Roxx brings positive vibes to children's music". NPR.
  29. ^ "2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See the Complete Nominees List".
  30. ^ "Grammy nominated Atlanta musician finds success making music for children: How Divinity Roxx Changed her tune". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  31. ^ "Meet the 2025 Nominees for Best Children's Music Album".
  32. ^ "New PBS KIDS Series, LYLA IN THE LOOP, Launches February 5, 2024". PBS.
  33. ^ "Boy Who Kissed the Sky a 'mythical story that echoes Hendrix's Life". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  34. ^ "2NE1's live CD from 'New Evolution in Seoul' to be released".
  35. ^ "2NE1's live CD from 'New Evolution in Seoul' to be released".
  36. ^ "All the Way Live". IMDb.
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