Dwele
Encyclopedia
Andwele Gardner better known by his stage name Dwele is a soul
singer, songwriter
and record producer
from Detroit, Michigan
.
from the age of six, later taking up trumpet
, bass
and guitar
. He was deeply affected by the fatal shooting of his father outside his home when he was age ten, later stating "I learned to put my emotions into music; it was my therapy." He cites Stevie Wonder
, Donny Hathaway
, Roy Ayers
, Miles Davis
, and Freddie Hubbard
as favorite artists, and took inspiration from hip hop
group A Tribe Called Quest
, becoming an MC, and working with Slum Village
. Gardner recorded a demo in his bedroom, called, The Rize, and sold it out of the trunk of his car. He had about 100 copies, which sold out within a week. He caught the ears of local heroes Slum Village
and more specifically their world-renowned producer J Dilla
.Slum Village
invited Dwele to sing the hook of the song "Tainted" for their album Trinity (Past, Present and Future)
. It became an instant classic and led to more high profile work with female rapper Bahamadia
, the all-star group Lucy Pearl
and London's New Sector Movement. Dwele signed to Virgin Records
in 2003, who released his debut album, Subject
, which mixed neo soul
and hip hop. In a 2005 review in The Independent
, his style was summed up: "Dwele's rooted in vintage soul but isn't stuck in the past, overly reverential or an exercise in pastiche - there's a major hip-hop edge which betrays his original incarnation as a rapper." A second album, Some Kinda...
, followed in 2005. He then later signed with RT Music Group and KOCH records in March, 2008 He released his fourth album titled, W.ants W.orld W.omen
on June 29, 2010. Dwele was featured on the first single off of Kanye West
's fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The song was entitled "Power" and was leaked on May 28, 2010.
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer, songwriter
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...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
from Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
.
Biography
Gardner was raised on the west side of Detroit in a musical family. He played pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
from the age of six, later taking up trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
. He was deeply affected by the fatal shooting of his father outside his home when he was age ten, later stating "I learned to put my emotions into music; it was my therapy." He cites Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Donny Hathaway
Donny Hathaway
Donny Edward Hathaway was an American soul singer-songwriter and musician. Hathaway contracted with Atlantic Records in 1969 and with his first single for the Atco label, "The Ghetto, Part I" in early 1970, Rolling Stone magazine "marked him as a major new force in soul music."His collaborations...
, Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers...
, Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
, and Freddie Hubbard
Freddie Hubbard
Frederick Dewayne "Freddie" Hubbard was an American jazz trumpeter. He was known primarily for playing in the bebop, hard bop and post bop styles from the early 1960s and on...
as favorite artists, and took inspiration from hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
group A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
, becoming an MC, and working with Slum Village
Slum Village
Slum Village was a hip hop group from Conant Gardens, Detroit, Michigan.The group was formed by three members: rappers Baatin and T3, plus rapper and producer J Dilla . J Dilla left in 2002 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records...
. Gardner recorded a demo in his bedroom, called, The Rize, and sold it out of the trunk of his car. He had about 100 copies, which sold out within a week. He caught the ears of local heroes Slum Village
Slum Village
Slum Village was a hip hop group from Conant Gardens, Detroit, Michigan.The group was formed by three members: rappers Baatin and T3, plus rapper and producer J Dilla . J Dilla left in 2002 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records...
and more specifically their world-renowned producer J Dilla
J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
.Slum Village
Slum Village
Slum Village was a hip hop group from Conant Gardens, Detroit, Michigan.The group was formed by three members: rappers Baatin and T3, plus rapper and producer J Dilla . J Dilla left in 2002 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records...
invited Dwele to sing the hook of the song "Tainted" for their album Trinity (Past, Present and Future)
Trinity (Past, Present and Future)
Trinity is the third studio album by Slum Village, released on August 24, 2002.- Overview :Trinity marked the group's first shift away from its original lineup, due to J Dilla's departure following Fantastic, Vol. 2, to pursue a solo career...
. It became an instant classic and led to more high profile work with female rapper Bahamadia
Bahamadia
Bahamadia is a Philadelphia-born hip hop artist born in 1970, and a DJ who later became an MC. As a member of Gang Starr Foundation, she released her critically acclaimed debut album entitled Kollage in 1996. The album featured production by Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr...
, the all-star group Lucy Pearl
Lucy Pearl
Lucy Pearl was an R&B supergroup formed in 1999, as the brainchild of former Tony! Toni! Toné! member Raphael Saadiq and D'Angelo. However, D'Angelo backed out of the group due to scheduling conflicts. The other members of Lucy Pearl were Dawn Robinson and Ali Shaheed Muhammad...
and London's New Sector Movement. Dwele signed to Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
in 2003, who released his debut album, Subject
Subject (album)
Subject is R&B singer Dwele's 2003 debut album, released on Virgin Records.-Track listing:...
, which mixed neo soul
Neo soul
The term neo soul was originally coined by Kedar Massenburg of Motown Records in the late 1990s as a marketing category following the commercial breakthroughs of artists such as D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Maxwell...
and hip hop. In a 2005 review in The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, his style was summed up: "Dwele's rooted in vintage soul but isn't stuck in the past, overly reverential or an exercise in pastiche - there's a major hip-hop edge which betrays his original incarnation as a rapper." A second album, Some Kinda...
Some Kinda...
Some Kinda... is the second studio album from R&B artist Dwele, released on Virgin Records.-Track listing:...
, followed in 2005. He then later signed with RT Music Group and KOCH records in March, 2008 He released his fourth album titled, W.ants W.orld W.omen
W.ants W.orld W.omen
-Best Buy Edition:The Best Buy Edition has three more songs: "She A Star", "Kissing Game" and "You Don't Love Me"....
on June 29, 2010. Dwele was featured on the first single off of Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
's fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The song was entitled "Power" and was leaked on May 28, 2010.
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | U.S. Ind Independent Albums The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels... |
U.S R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
||
| 2000 | Rize (Self-released) | - | - | - |
| 2003 | Subject Subject (album) Subject is R&B singer Dwele's 2003 debut album, released on Virgin Records.-Track listing:... |
108 | - | 20 |
| 2005 | Some Kinda... Some Kinda... Some Kinda... is the second studio album from R&B artist Dwele, released on Virgin Records.-Track listing:... |
54 | - | 10 |
| 2008 | Sketches of a Man Sketches of a Man Sketches of a Man is the third album from Dwele. It was released on June 24, 2008 on his new record label with Koch Records.-Track listing:... |
35 | 4 | 7 |
| 2010 | W.ants W.orld W.omen W.ants W.orld W.omen -Best Buy Edition:The Best Buy Edition has three more songs: "She A Star", "Kissing Game" and "You Don't Love Me".... |
28 | 3 | 9 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
U.S. R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
|||
| 2003 | "Find a Way" | 93 | 42 | Subject Subject (album) Subject is R&B singer Dwele's 2003 debut album, released on Virgin Records.-Track listing:... |
| 2004 | "Hold On" (featuring Eric Roberson Eric Roberson Eric Roberson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter from Rahway, New Jersey, United States. He is sometimes referred to simply as Erro.... ) |
– | 53 | |
| 2005 | "I Think I Love U" | – | 53 | Some Kinda... Some Kinda... Some Kinda... is the second studio album from R&B artist Dwele, released on Virgin Records.-Track listing:... |
| 2006 | "Weekend Love" | – | 116 | |
| 2007 | "The People The People (Common song) "The People" is a song by American rapper Common, released as the lead single of his seventh studio album Finding Forever. It made its first appearance on Kanye West's Can't Tell Me Nothing mixtape. The song features production by West and contains background vocals provided by soul singer Dwele... " (with Common) |
111 | 56 | Finding Forever |
| "Flashing Lights Flashing Lights "Flashing Lights" is a song by American rap artist Kanye West. It was released on November 22, 2007, as the fourth single for his third studio album, Graduation. The song was co-produced by Eric Hudson and features R&B singer Dwele as well as additional vocals provided by Connie Mitchell of Sneaky... " (with Kanye West Kanye West Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and... ) |
29 | 12 | Graduation Graduation (album) Graduation is the third studio album by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released September 11, 2007 on Roc-A-Fella Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during 2005 to 2007 at Chung King Studios and Sony Music Studios in New York City and at Chalice Studios and The Record Plant... |
|
| 2008 | "I'm Cheatin" | – | 29 | Sketches of a Man Sketches of a Man Sketches of a Man is the third album from Dwele. It was released on June 24, 2008 on his new record label with Koch Records.-Track listing:... |
| "A Few Reasons (Truth Pt.2)" | - | 75 | ||
| 2010 | "What's Not to Love" | – | 43 | 'W.W.W (W.omen,W.ant,W.orld) |
Featured On
| Year | Information |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Trinity (Past, Present and Future) Trinity (Past, Present and Future) Trinity is the third studio album by Slum Village, released on August 24, 2002.- Overview :Trinity marked the group's first shift away from its original lineup, due to J Dilla's departure following Fantastic, Vol. 2, to pursue a solo career... (Slum Village Slum Village Slum Village was a hip hop group from Conant Gardens, Detroit, Michigan.The group was formed by three members: rappers Baatin and T3, plus rapper and producer J Dilla . J Dilla left in 2002 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records... ) |
| 2003 | New Awakening (DJ MITSU The Beats) |
| 2004 | Pure (Boney James Boney James Boney James, is a saxophonist, songwriter and producer who popularized urban jazz... ) |
| Detroit Deli (Slum Village Slum Village Slum Village was a hip hop group from Conant Gardens, Detroit, Michigan.The group was formed by three members: rappers Baatin and T3, plus rapper and producer J Dilla . J Dilla left in 2002 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records... ) |
|
| The Undeniable (Phat Kat Phat Kat Phat Kat , is a rapper from the east side of Detroit, Michigan. His career began in the mid 90's as part of 1st Down, which consisted of Phat Kat on vocals and Jay Dee on production... ) |
|
| 2006 | Shine (Boney James Boney James Boney James, is a saxophonist, songwriter and producer who popularized urban jazz... ) |
| SOULidified (Hil St. Soul) | |
| The Shining (J Dilla J Dilla James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan... ) "Dime Piece (Remix)" |
|
| Dirty District Vol.3 (Brucie B.) | |
| Witness My Growth (Elzhi Elzhi Jason Powers is a hip-hop artist from Detroit, Michigan. Many Underground fans know him as "Detroit's Best Kept Secret". As a former member of Slum Village he now records as a solo artist... ) |
|
| 2007 | Desire (Pharoahe Monch album) Desire (Pharoahe Monch album) Notes* On the song "Fuck You" the explicit version is 12 seconds longer than the edited version.Samples*"Free" contains elements from the composition "I'm Free" performed by Millie Jackson.... |
| Nu-Mixx Klazzics Vol. 2 Nu-Mixx Klazzics Vol. 2 Nu Mixx Klazzics Vol. 2 - Evolution: Duets & Remixes is a posthumously released remix album from the late hip hop icon Tupac Shakur. The album was released through Koch. It is the follow-up to Tupac Shakur's Nu-Mixx Klazzics, released previously on October 7, 2003... (2Pac) "Straight Through My Rear View" |
|
| Interpretations: Celebrating The Music Of Earth, Wind & Fire Interpretations: Celebrating The Music Of Earth, Wind & Fire Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind and Fire is a tribute album to the R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire. The album was the first album to be released on the revived Stax label.-Reception:... |
|
| 2008 | Brooklyn's Don Diva Brooklyn's Don Diva Brooklyn's Don Diva is a street album, originating from a mixtape, by American hip-hop artist Foxy Brown. Released on May 13, 2008, it was intended to be the follow-up to 2001's Broken Silence... (Foxy Brown) "Never Heard This Before" |
| Of All The Things (Jazzanova album) (Jazzanova Jazzanova Jazzanova is a German Berlin-based DJ/producer collective consisting of Alexander Barck, Claas Brieler, Jürgen von Knoblauch, Roskow Kretschmann, Stefan Leisering, and Axel Reinemer. Formed in 1995, the group is one of the foremost proponents of the nu-jazz, chillout and jazz house styles of music... ) |
|
| The Dresden Soul Symphony The Dresden Soul Symphony (album) The Dresden Soul Symphony is an album by The Dresden Soul Symphony, released October 24, 2008. The musicians reinterpret soul hits and combine them with classical music... |
|
| Man vs. Many (Nefew Nefew Nefew is a hip hop group from Windisch, Switzerland. It consists of Polemikk and PA-Double . Nefew is an acronym which stands for New Education From Every Word. Q Magazine describes Nefew as one of the most promising hop hop acts from Europe... ) |
|
| "Time Stands Still" (with DJ Quik DJ Quik David Martin Blake , better known by his stage name DJ Quik, is an MC and record producer. According to Quik himself, his stage name reflects his ability to produce records in short time.... ) from The Book of David The Book of David In an interview with Mariel Concepcion from Billboard DJ Quik spoke about the album saying "Lyrically, I'm just kind of being defensive on this album; I'm pointing out some people that have really pissed me off along the way," he says. One of those people might be his sister, who put him in prison... |
|
| 2009 | Death of a Man Rebirth of a King (Pryslezz) |
| 2010 | "Power Power (Kanye West song) "Power" is a single by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West, released as the lead single from his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The song features additional vocals by Dwele and is co-produced by Kanye West and Symbolyc One... " (with Kanye West Kanye West Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and... ) from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy |
| 2011 | Flower Girl (with Maysa Maysa Leak Maysa Leak is an American jazz singer better known by her mononym Maysa. She is well known by fans of smooth jazz both for her solo work and for her work with the British band Incognito.-Biographical sketch:... ) from Motions Of Love |
| Celebrity (with Big Sean Big Sean Sean Michael Anderson , better known by his stage name Big Sean, is an American rapper. Big Sean signed with Kanye West's G.O.O.D... ) from Finally Famous |
External links
- Dwele on TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
- Dwele - W.ants W.orld W.omen review at Cream