Swing Mob
Encyclopedia
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 together 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
.
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
and Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
. Elliott with the group Sista, Timbaland, Magoo, Ginuwine
Ginuwine
Elgin Baylor Lumpkin , better known by his stage name Ginuwine is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Signed to Epic Records since the mid-1990s, Ginuwine had released a number of multi-platinum and platinum-selling albums and singles, becoming one of R&B's top artists during the late 1990's...
, Playa
Playa (band)
Playa was an American R&B/hip-hop group. Composed of Smoke E. Digglera , Digital Black , and the late Static Major , Playa is best known for their 1998 hit album, "Cheers 2 U", produced by longtime collaborator Timbaland...
, Darryl Pearson, Tweet
Tweet (singer)
Tweet is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter.-Early years:The youngest child of Tom and Shirley Keys, Tweet was born in Rochester, New York on January 21, 1972, and grew up singing in the church along with her parents and her four older siblings...
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
DeVante Swing
Donald Earle DeGrate, Jr. , better known by his stage name DeVante Swing, is an American record producer, singer, rapper and songwriter. Swing rose to fame in the 1990s as the founding member of the trendsetting R&B group Jodeci, one of the more popular R&B acts of its time...
'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 together and brought new members in, such as Aaliyah
Aaliyah
Aaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
, Skillz
Skillz
Shaquan Lewis, also known as Mad Skillz, Skillz, is an American rapper known for his acclaimed 1996 album From Where???, a reference to his origins in Virginia, not the stereotypical New York City or Los Angeles rapper, and he's also known for his yearly "Rap Ups", which he has done since...
and Nicole Wray
Nicole Wray
Nicole Monique Wray, also known as simply Nicole, is an American R&B and hip hop singer. Her 1998 debut single, "Make It Hot"—written and produced by Timbaland and co-written by and featuring Missy Elliott—was certified gold.-Musical career:...
later on.
The post-Swing Mob collective was informally called Da Bassment during the late-1990s. Elliott runs an Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
-distributed label called Goldmind Records, and in 2000 Timbaland started an Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
distributed label called Beat Club Records which has since folded. Timbaland started a new Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
distributed label now called Mosley Music Group
Mosley Music Group
Mosley Music Group is a record label created by producer Tim "Timbaland" Mosley. It operates as an imprint of, and is distributed through, Universal Music Group's Interscope Records.-History:...
.
Mad Skillz (1995-2002)
- 1995: From Where???From Where???From Where??? is the debut album from underground Hip Hop artist Mad Skillz, now known as Skillz. The album was praised for its strong lyrical content and production, but didn't sell well at all possibly due to two other major hip-hop albums released on the same day, 2Pac's All Eyez on Me and The...
(Big Beat/Atlantic) - 2002: I Ain't Mad No More (Rawkus)
Timbaland
- 1997: Welcome To Our WorldWelcome to Our WorldWelcome to Our World is the 1997 debut album from hip-hop group Timbaland & Magoo, issued on Blackground Records. The album features a number of guest appearances from Timbaland & Magoo's regular collaborators at the time, among them Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Aaliyah, Ginuwine, Playa, and others...
(w/ Magoo) - 1998: Tim's Bio: Life from da BassmentTim's Bio: Life from da BassmentTim's Bio: Life from da Bassment is a 1998 album released by Blackground Records. Though nominally the debut solo album by R&B/hip-hop producer Timbaland, the LP is technically a compilation of tracks produced by Timbaland and often - though not strictly - featuring his vocals...
- 2001: Indecent ProposalIndecent Proposal (album)Indecent Proposal is a 2001 album by hip-hop duo Timbaland & Magoo. The group's second LP , Indecent Proposal takes its name from the 1993 film of the same name....
(w/ Magoo)