The rapper for the group, DeGrate rarely sang lead on Jodeci tracks, although he has production and songwriting credits on
Diary of A Mad Band and
The Show, The After Party, The Hotel. He occasionally
played drums onstage. DeGrate released his first solo album,
Met.A.Mor.Phic, on April 18, 2000, with the single "Why Can't We". He moved to
Def Jam Recordings, and recorded his second album,
Met.A.Mor.Phic 2: The Rivalry of a Singer and A Rapper, with appearances by
Method Man,
Redman,
Ludacris. The album was due to be released in 2010, but he decided to leave Def Jam and form his own label, DeGrate Productions, after a dispute. In 2017, he released a single called "Vindication (Get Money) feat GOODZ", he also made a video for this single. On his 52nd birthday on July 23, 2023, DeGrate released an EP called FAMOUS. Mr. Dalvin wrote, produced, performed lead and background vocals, and was the studio engineer for the release. His nephew Justin Burton provided additional production. Of the release, Mr. Dalvin wrote the following: "'FAMOUS' is a project I made to have the nostalgia of 90's harmonies, production and lyrical story telling. Also, paying homage to some of my favorite MC's grouping up such as LL COOL J, RAKIM and Big Daddy Kane." == Family ==