Who is DeVante Swing? Jodeci member named as new co-defendant in a Diddy lawsuit

As per a report by Rolling Stone, Donald DeGrate, a.k.a. DeVante Swing, was recently named as the new co-defendant in a lawsuit involving Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Aaron Hall. Citing the amended documents, the magazine stated that Swing was reportedly present when the two musicians allegedly took turns r*ping the plaintiff, Liza Gardner.

Trigger Warning: The following article contains references to s*xual assault. Readers' discretion is advised.

As per the original suit, filed last November, Gardner claimed that the two men assaulted her in 1990 at Hall's residence in New Jersey. She alleged that she was 16 and highly intoxicated at the time.

DeVante Swing is a rapper, songwriter, and music producer best known for founding the R&B group Jodeci. He is best remembered for his songs, Forever My Lady, Stay, and Cry For You. He is also known for starting the musical collective Swing Mob, which featured artists like Timbaland, Magoo, and Missy Elliott, Ginuwine.

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DeVante Swing was the primary songwriter and producer for Jodeci

DeVante Swing hails from Hampton, Virginia, U.S. He was born to Reverend Donald DeGrate and his wife Mary. As a teenager, Swing and his brother Dalvin performed gospels with their family.

Swing, along with his brother Dalvin, JoJo, and K-Ci, formed Jodeci in 1998, one of the most influential R&B groups of all time. The group rose to fame with their debut album, Forever My Lady (1991), which featured three Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.

Swing was the primary songwriter and producer for Jodeci. The group split in the mid-1990s, reuniting in 2014 for a performance at the Soul Train Awards. They followed it up with their fourth album, The Past, the Present, the Future, in 2015. In 1991, DeGrate established Swing Mob, a musical collective consisting of artists and record labels.

Following Jodeci's success, he embarked on a tour with the group, where he routinely held auditions for local groups and acts to recognize talent. Swing also maintained a successful career as a producer. Some of his well-known songs include 2Pac's No More Pain from All Eyez on Me and Mariah Carey's The Beautiful Ones from Butterfly.

While DeVante Swing keeps his private life out of the public eye, he has two kids, Dyana and Justin.

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Liza Gardner's amendment claims DeVante Swing was her "co-guardian at the time"

Liza Gardner's original lawsuit claimed that she met Sean Combs and Aaron Halls at an event hosted by MCA Records (who employed Hall then) and later went to the latter's apartment for an afterparty. She also claimed that a friend accompanied her.

Gardner alleged that Diddy "forcefully" r*ped her after pulling her underwear aside, which left her "shocked and traumatized." As she was getting dressed, she alleged that Hall barged in and assaulted her.

However, the recent amendments noted that DeVante was "in the room" when the abuse took place but allegedly did nothing to prevent it. Rolling Stone, quoting the lawsuit, wrote:

"Unbeknownst to Ms. Gardner at the time, Defendant Swing was in the room when this assault took place and did not take any steps to prevent this abuse from occurring."

Liza Gardner's amendment came after a woman submitted a sworn statement in May, saying she was the fellow minor who accompanied her and saw Swing "leaning against the wall or furniture or something, watching whatever Puffy was doing to Liza."

The amendment alleged that Gardner traveled to New York with DeVante and friends from her hometown. She was reportedly staying with him in his New Jersey housing, provided by Jodeci’s label at the time, Uptown Records, a MCA subsidiary.

The revised lawsuit accused Diddy and Halls of s*xual assault and battery, while DeVante is charged with aiding and abetting the alleged abuse. As per Rolling Stone, the amendment also claims that Swing was Lisa's "co-guardian at the time" as he invited her on the trip. Quoting the lawsuit, the magazine added:

"He had a duty to protect the child as her parents entrusted him with her safety. He trafficked and or coerced the child (to) travel across state lines from North Carolina to New York and New Jersey with the hidden intention of providing the child with alcohol, and marijuana and pr*stituting the child to his A&R Combs."

The lawsuit also includes a claim of "transportation of a minor with intent to engage in illegal s*xual activity."

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Diddy had initially denied all accusations, saying it was a smear campaign against him by someone looking for a quick payday. He has since been indicted on charges of racketeering, s*x trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. His pre-trial is scheduled for Thursday.

DeVante Swing has not publicly reacted to the development.