D. Woods
Encyclopedia
Wanita "D. Woods" Woodgett (born July 6, 1984) is an American R&B singer, dancer, and actress. She is a former member of the girl group
Danity Kane
. Woods is the founder and CEO of Woodgrane Entertainment.
"D. Woods" (her middle initial and shortened surname) because she felt it was easier to pronounce and more memorable than her birth name. Born in Anaheim, California
, and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts
, she developed a love for performing at the age of 3 years old. After relocating to Atlanta Ga, she and her sister Shanell (Young Money Entertainment/CashMoney Records artist) went on to attend Tri-Cities High School, a visual and performing arts magnet school
in East Point
, Georgia
; she attained further dance
training from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
, Ludwing Foundation in Havanna Cuba and acting
instruction at New York University
's Tisch School of the Arts
, where she earned a B.F.A. in musical theatre
.
, Woods toured with several major recording artists such as Bow Wow, Lloyd, Avant, Snoop Dogg and Letoya Luckett as a background dancer, performed in theater festivals such as the National Black Theater Festival and Windybrow Festival in Johannesburg South Africa off-Broadway
theater productions and interned with Spike Lee's 40 Acres and a Mule Production Company. She was hand picked by director Chris Robinson to appeared in the video "Change Clothes
" by Jay-Z
, where she was one of the models. D. Woods auditioned in 2005 on the second season of the MTV
reality television
program Making the Band 3 Sean "Diddy" Combs
. Danity Kane's first album debuted August 22, 2006 at #1. Danity Kane, along with the Pussycat Dolls
, toured as the opening act for Christina Aguilera
.
In December 2006, Woods was the lead girl in Lloyd
's video "You
". In 2007, she made an appearance in Gorilla Zoe
's album Welcome to the Zoo
, on the track "You Don't Know Me." She was also featured in the film Stomp the Yard
that same year. Her writing
credits include multiple tracks on the platinum-selling Danity Kane album Welcome to the Dollhouse
.
On October 14, 2008, Combs declared Woods no longer a member of Danity Kane, as well as fellow bandmate and then-best friend Aubrey O'Day
, following a heated discussion with Combs. MTV News gauged fan reactions to the dismissals of Woods and O'Day. Fans left impassioned, long and detailed comments on the MTV News site about their discontent at the group's breakup. They cited what they felt was a lack of individuality and excitement left within the group. New members were expected to be chosen for Danity Kane as "replacements" for Woods and O'Day, but the group broke up completely early 2009 when it was reported Woods and O'Day, along with group member Shannon Bex
, declined the offer to return to the series and the group. O'Day stated that she was unsure if Woods was asked back, but that she herself was not asked to return. Although Woods was fired in 2008, she was "officially" released from her Bad Boy Records
contract by Combs February 26 of 2009 before the final episode of Making the Band the following April. Despite this, in the April 23, 2009 finale of the series, Combs stated that all five original members would be returning if he ever decided to reunite the group. Woods said she is going to release a full-length album later in the year, and in addition to a single that will be released early summer 2009.
In an interview conducted after the finale show, Woods spoke with BE Entertained Magazine journalist Phonz L. Thomas. Woods was asked about an alleged rivalry between her and ex-Danity Kane member Dawn Richard. Woods replied, "I don’t know if she has a problem with me . I don’t know why she would have a problem. I was very disappointed by a lot of the things that she did say in the media and her different interviews. People are kind of aware of her comments and then also of course on the show, those comments were definitely going to get back to me. I was really disappointed and I don’t know why she would go that route. And if it was to depict her as the victim and everybody else is the bad guy… I don’t really know where all that stems from, but to me it’s like she has her situation. And as you guys saw, I congratulated her as I was walking out the door! So it was like I don’t have a problem and I don’t know why she would have a problem… but she might, I’m not sure." Woods went on during this interview to comment, "I don’t have any animosity towards any of the girls. Like things happen for a reason, it’s time to move on you know, chapter ends. People are in each other's lives for a reason and a season, as they say! So there’s no reason to hold any grudges. Um, however – the way that you present yourself, the actions you take, the comments that you make can lend themselves to having a ‘beef’ or having animosity."
Woods has had two photo spreads with King Magazine
. She is currently recording songs for a possible solo album that can be heard via her MySpace
, and appeared in Ludacris
's music video "One More Drink
". She has recently appeared in Lil Wayne
's new video "Prom Queen
" and Young Money
video "Every Girl
". She also is working on film/television projects. She is currently filming a music video for her upcoming single "Legalize Me." It was later revealed that "On My Side" is the lead single with her filming the video in Los Angeles
in June. However, "Legalize Me" is released as a digital single, along with a music video, under Woods' own label Woodgrane Entertainment on iTunes. Woods was a featuring artist for Canadian rapper DY (Die Young) for his second single "That's My Spot", which a music video was filmed right before Dy
disappeared in Mexico in early September 2010, and has now been confirmed as missing as of November 18, 2010. On November 20, 2010, Woods took to her Twitter account after learning about the disappearance of Schab: "I'm so hurt and worried learning about DY. This news effects me no matter how long I knew him. I'm praying for DY." She went on to say...,"Last time I saw DY we were joking on set of his video (That's My Spot). The director said it's a wrap and we said our 'see ya later' to each other."
In 2011, D. Woods was featured on Ray Garrison's single Forever Gone, alongside Kyle Lucas. Later that year, she also released a "part 2" version of her song "Lady in the Street" on iTunes. The Gray Area EP that was supposed to come out in 2009 is now coming out on July 12, 2011, digitally on iTunes.
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
Danity Kane
Danity Kane
Danity Kane was an American female music group signed to Bad Boy Records, first established in 2005. Formed on the third installment of MTV's Making the Band reality television series, the quintet comprised members Aubrey O'Day, Wanita "D. Woods" Woodgett, Shannon Bex, Dawn Richard, and Aundrea...
. Woods is the founder and CEO of Woodgrane Entertainment.
Early life
Woodgett coined the nicknameNickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
"D. Woods" (her middle initial and shortened surname) because she felt it was easier to pronounce and more memorable than her birth name. Born in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, she developed a love for performing at the age of 3 years old. After relocating to Atlanta Ga, she and her sister Shanell (Young Money Entertainment/CashMoney Records artist) went on to attend Tri-Cities High School, a visual and performing arts magnet school
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
in East Point
East Point, Georgia
The city of East Point is southwest of the neighborhoods of Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 33,712...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
; she attained further dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
training from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is a modern dance company based in New York, New York. It was founded in 1958 by choreographer and dancer Alvin Ailey...
, Ludwing Foundation in Havanna Cuba and acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
instruction at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
's Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts is one of the 15 schools that make up New York University ....
, where she earned a B.F.A. in musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
.
Career
Before joining Danity KaneDanity Kane
Danity Kane was an American female music group signed to Bad Boy Records, first established in 2005. Formed on the third installment of MTV's Making the Band reality television series, the quintet comprised members Aubrey O'Day, Wanita "D. Woods" Woodgett, Shannon Bex, Dawn Richard, and Aundrea...
, Woods toured with several major recording artists such as Bow Wow, Lloyd, Avant, Snoop Dogg and Letoya Luckett as a background dancer, performed in theater festivals such as the National Black Theater Festival and Windybrow Festival in Johannesburg South Africa off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
theater productions and interned with Spike Lee's 40 Acres and a Mule Production Company. She was hand picked by director Chris Robinson to appeared in the video "Change Clothes
Change Clothes
"Change Clothes" is the first official single from rapper Jay-Z's studio album The Black Album. It features additional vocals by Pharrell and is produced by The Neptunes. The song reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December, 2003. The video features appearances from supermodel Naomi Campbell,...
" by Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, where she was one of the models. D. Woods auditioned in 2005 on the second season of the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
program Making the Band 3 Sean "Diddy" Combs
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
. Danity Kane's first album debuted August 22, 2006 at #1. Danity Kane, along with the Pussycat Dolls
Pussycat Dolls
The Pussycat Dolls are an American pop girl group and dance ensemble based in Los Angeles; currently consisting of Lauren Bennett, Vanessa Curry, Kristal "Lyndriette" Smith, Tiffany "Taz" Zavala, Kia Hampton and Paula Van Oppen. The Pussycat Dolls were founded by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995...
, toured as the opening act for Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
.
In December 2006, Woods was the lead girl in Lloyd
Lloyd (singer)
Lloyd Polite, Jr. , who performs under the mononym Lloyd, is an American R&B recording artist, who experienced as a member of the group N-Toon before embarking on a solo career in 2004....
's video "You
You (Lloyd song)
"You" is the title of a song by R&B artist Lloyd featuring rapper Lil Wayne, and was produced by Big Reese for Lloyd's second studio album, Street Love. It was recorded in the producer's basement. It is the first official single off the album. Lloyd himself has reported that he leaked the song to...
". In 2007, she made an appearance in Gorilla Zoe
Gorilla Zoe
Alonzo Mathis better known by his stage name Gorilla Zoe is an American rapper and member of rap group Boyz N Da Hood. His solo debut album Welcome to the Zoo came out in 2007.-Biography:...
's album Welcome to the Zoo
Welcome to the Zoo
-Chart positions:...
, on the track "You Don't Know Me." She was also featured in the film Stomp the Yard
Stomp the Yard
Stomp the Yard is a 2007 drama and dance film produced by Rainforest Films and released through Sony Pictures' Screen Gems division on January 12, 2007. Directed by Sylvain White, Stomp the Yard centers around DJ Williams, a college student at a fictional historically Black university who pledges...
that same year. Her writing
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
credits include multiple tracks on the platinum-selling Danity Kane album Welcome to the Dollhouse
Welcome to the Dollhouse (album)
Welcome to the Dollhouse is the second and final studio album by American R&B/pop group Danity Kane, released by Bad Boy and Atlantic Records on March 18, 2008 in the United States and March 25, 2008 in Canada...
.
On October 14, 2008, Combs declared Woods no longer a member of Danity Kane, as well as fellow bandmate and then-best friend Aubrey O'Day
Aubrey O'Day
Aubrey Morgan O'Day is an American singer, actress, fashion designer, television personality, and former member of the girl group Danity Kane...
, following a heated discussion with Combs. MTV News gauged fan reactions to the dismissals of Woods and O'Day. Fans left impassioned, long and detailed comments on the MTV News site about their discontent at the group's breakup. They cited what they felt was a lack of individuality and excitement left within the group. New members were expected to be chosen for Danity Kane as "replacements" for Woods and O'Day, but the group broke up completely early 2009 when it was reported Woods and O'Day, along with group member Shannon Bex
Shannon Bex
Shannon Rae Bex is a singer, professional dancer, anda former member of the musical group Danity Kane.The group was founded by P. Diddy through the MTV reality television series Making the Band 3. Danity Kane's debut album debuted at #1 on August 22, 2006, as did their second album Welcome to the...
, declined the offer to return to the series and the group. O'Day stated that she was unsure if Woods was asked back, but that she herself was not asked to return. Although Woods was fired in 2008, she was "officially" released from her Bad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records is a record label founded in 1993 by producer/rapper/entrepreneur Sean "Diddy" Combs. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records.-Beginnings:...
contract by Combs February 26 of 2009 before the final episode of Making the Band the following April. Despite this, in the April 23, 2009 finale of the series, Combs stated that all five original members would be returning if he ever decided to reunite the group. Woods said she is going to release a full-length album later in the year, and in addition to a single that will be released early summer 2009.
In an interview conducted after the finale show, Woods spoke with BE Entertained Magazine journalist Phonz L. Thomas. Woods was asked about an alleged rivalry between her and ex-Danity Kane member Dawn Richard. Woods replied, "I don’t know if she has a problem with me . I don’t know why she would have a problem. I was very disappointed by a lot of the things that she did say in the media and her different interviews. People are kind of aware of her comments and then also of course on the show, those comments were definitely going to get back to me. I was really disappointed and I don’t know why she would go that route. And if it was to depict her as the victim and everybody else is the bad guy… I don’t really know where all that stems from, but to me it’s like she has her situation. And as you guys saw, I congratulated her as I was walking out the door! So it was like I don’t have a problem and I don’t know why she would have a problem… but she might, I’m not sure." Woods went on during this interview to comment, "I don’t have any animosity towards any of the girls. Like things happen for a reason, it’s time to move on you know, chapter ends. People are in each other's lives for a reason and a season, as they say! So there’s no reason to hold any grudges. Um, however – the way that you present yourself, the actions you take, the comments that you make can lend themselves to having a ‘beef’ or having animosity."
Woods has had two photo spreads with King Magazine
King (magazine)
King is a monthly men's magazine geared toward African American and urban audiences. It features articles about hip-Hop and R&B, as well as articles covering sports and fashion. The magazine is published by Harris Publications, and was a spinoff from XXL. It ceased publication on March 31, 2009,...
. She is currently recording songs for a possible solo album that can be heard via her MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
, and appeared in Ludacris
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
's music video "One More Drink
One More Drink
"One More Drink" is the second official single off Ludacris' album, Theater of the Mind. The song "co-stars" T-Pain. The song was released on iTunes on October 28, 2008. Ludacris performed the song live while he and T-Pain appeared as musical guests on Saturday Night Live...
". She has recently appeared in Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
's new video "Prom Queen
Prom Queen (song)
"Prom Queen" is the first official single off of Lil Wayne's rock album, Rebirth. The track is produced by DJ Infamous and Andrew "Drew" Correa. The song is written by and contains backing vocals from Shanell Woodgett. The song made its official debut on January 27, appearing on Lil Wayne's...
" and Young Money
Young Money Entertainment
Young Money Entertainment is an American record label founded by rapper Lil Wayne. Young Money's president is Lil Wayne's lifelong friend Mack Maine. The label is an imprint of Cash Money Records and is distributed by Universal Republic Records...
video "Every Girl
Every Girl (Lil Wayne song)
"Every Girl" is a song by rap group Young Money Entertainment released as the first single from their debut collaboration album titled We Are Young Money. It was legally released to the iTunes store on June 11, 2009...
". She also is working on film/television projects. She is currently filming a music video for her upcoming single "Legalize Me." It was later revealed that "On My Side" is the lead single with her filming the video in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in June. However, "Legalize Me" is released as a digital single, along with a music video, under Woods' own label Woodgrane Entertainment on iTunes. Woods was a featuring artist for Canadian rapper DY (Die Young) for his second single "That's My Spot", which a music video was filmed right before Dy
DY (rapper)
Forrest Schab known by his stage name DY is a Canadian hip-hop artist raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In 2009, he signed to CP Records.His stage name is an acronym deriving from his nickname "Die Young"...
disappeared in Mexico in early September 2010, and has now been confirmed as missing as of November 18, 2010. On November 20, 2010, Woods took to her Twitter account after learning about the disappearance of Schab: "I'm so hurt and worried learning about DY. This news effects me no matter how long I knew him. I'm praying for DY." She went on to say...,"Last time I saw DY we were joking on set of his video (That's My Spot). The director said it's a wrap and we said our 'see ya later' to each other."
In 2011, D. Woods was featured on Ray Garrison's single Forever Gone, alongside Kyle Lucas. Later that year, she also released a "part 2" version of her song "Lady in the Street" on iTunes. The Gray Area EP that was supposed to come out in 2009 is now coming out on July 12, 2011, digitally on iTunes.