Smoke of Playa: An Insider's View of Swing Mob

What was it like being a part of Swing Mob?

In my opinion, that era of my life and career was the best and most important time. It was like school. It enabled me to learn a lot from being hands-on and from looking over DeVante's shoulders. I wouldn't be where I am, career-wise, I wouldn't be where I am, talent-wise, and I wouldn't be who I am if it hadn' been for that period of my life and career.

DeVante was really swamped with recording and finishing up the third Jodeci album (The Show, The AfterParty, The Hotel). The studio we worked out of had many studio rooms in it. I took the initiative to take over one of the rooms and, actually, to learn how to work the equipment and create my own stuff. That's when Playa really went "hard in the paint". We did tons of records at that time. We really never did a record with DeVante - maybe just a few, those whole two and a half years.

And, being a part of that whole crew was like Motown, all over again. So much talent, from so many angles!

It seems everybody that came out of that camp was multi-talented and was not just limited to just singing. Was that something DeVante pushed for?

DeVante was and is a connoisseur of music and talent. With him, it didn't matter what genre of music or style, if he saw a vision and could acknowledge the talent, he was ready to deal with you. I'm sure that's what he pushed for.

What went wrong and caused everybody to leave DeVante? Ginuwine, Timbaland, and Missy have all said that the business got to DeVante's head. Can you elaborate?

I feel like there was always an ego trip from time to time, but we left DeVante because there was a concern about our loyalty to him (why I don't know) due to the fact that we were given an option to sign straight to him, under Def Jam or straight to Def Jam. We chose to sign straight to Def Jam. It was as if the option was really a test or something. We had a negative situation and bounced.

Playa's debut album, Cheers 2 U.

Speaking of Ginuwine, Timbaland, and Missy they were the first three (along with Magoo) to leave DeVante. I read somewhere that Playa was actually one of the last to leave Devante. Why did you guys decide to stay for so long?

We stayed with DeVante due to the fact that we were big admirers of Jodeci. We really wanted it to work out and we had already, in our eyes, weathered the storm, for so long, paying our dues, etc etc. We believed we would get into a situation that we had waited for and hoped for, which came with the Def Jam situation. We just couldn't pass that "moment of truth".

What's your current relationship with DeVante and the rest of Swing Mob? Do you still keep in touch with any of the members?

I haven't heard from or talked to DeVante in years. No animosity here, but just haven't connected with him in a long time. I would still love to work with him. He's still the dopest producer, writer and arranger I know and/or have heard. I'm not saying that because I'm an admirer or because I worked with him. But, I'm sure he could attest to the fact that music and the music industry is so fucked up right now, that it's putting real talented people like him and myself in a "box" (meaning, we're fucked....lol). I have talked to a few of the members of Da Bassment crew from time to time. Everyone still tryna get it, get it!

Keep up to date with Smoke E. Digglera at Smoke's Myspace. Be sure to check out his new album, Truth in Da Booth, coming out April 22nd.