Tanto Metro & Devonte : Keep Them Talking
Tuesday, March 07 - Nowadayzdancehall.com and WhereItzat magazine are now gettin’ down at the headquarters of world renowned reggae music distribution heavyweight, VP Records. Big L and I took a ride out to Queens to get to this hub of music commerce. After buzzing up and down Jamaica Ave, it took us more precious minutes to find the exact location for us to get to our objective. We are seeking an interview with one of the more appreciated of dancehall reggae’s two-man teams. For the last decade, these two cats have run the place red with seriously bangin’ radio-dominating hits. They have placed their indelible mark on the musical map with memorable songs like “Everyone Falls in Love” and “Give It to Her”. These songs landed them in the ranks of the U.S.’s Billboard Top 40 chart not just once, but twice. Their mainstream appeal has afforded them recognition in Europe, Japan, Canada, the U.S., and of course, the Caribbean.
Of course, the partners in rhythm and rhyme we are referring to are none other than Tanto Metro and Devonte. Their powerful creative chemistry has made them immune to the failure and breakdown of partnership that we have seen in the music industry over the years. These two gentlemen have remained bonded by their collaborative success and motivated by the love for the fans that they create their trend-setting songs for.
And let’s not get it twisted. These two are real veterans. You know how long these two have been doing their thing? Tanto Metro, born Mark Wolfe, was introduced to Metro Media sound-system owner Jimmy Metro by Tanto’s long time mentor and associate Peter Metro. He began performing in and around Kingston where you have to be nice to gain acceptance in the dancehalls. Tanto’s first single “We Are Professional”, bust into parties and dances in 1986. Soon after, Tanto met up with Patrick Roberts of the Shocking Vibes record label. These two had worked together to put out more singles, including “Tink Mi Did Dead” and Tantro Metro’s debut hit “Stop It” , an appeal against the prevalence of drugs in Jamaica.
Devonte has also put in much work throughout the years. His first big show was at Kingston’s Ghetto Splash ’96. Born as Wayne Passley, Devonte went on to rock other venues and major music festivals, such as Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay. Devonte then began recording songs on both Madhouse and Penthouse record labels. His first hit though, came after being introduced to the influential Patrick Roberts (sound familiar?). Together the released the track “Bashment Sitt’n”
And the rest became dancehall music history. The two artists made flexes together until they came out with the two bomb singles that we all know did very well on the radio and music charts. On their first album, also named Everyone Falls In Love, also came two more hot songs; “Say Woee” and “She Is Gone”. But the second album , The Beat Goes On, contained a smash song that would put them over the top. “Give It To Her” really blew things up for Tanto Metro and Devonte. They gained so much attention from this contagious hit, that they were asked to perform at big deal events like a New York pop radio authority Z100FM’s birthday bash at Giants stadium, alongside big-namers like Mariah Carey. And of course the two didn’t stop there. Their musical partnership has taken them on tours all over the globe and introduced them to greater heights of professional recognition.
So perhaps you understand why it is important that we chose to reason with them. Their impressive catalogue and career is worthy of investigation. But perhaps more intriguing, we have caught whiffs of startling rumors that the duo might disband. How can this be with murmurs about the production of another (third) album? We had to hit up VP Records and get this whole thing straightened out and tightened up, kna’ mean?
We arrived at VP around 3pm, and quickly discovered how immense the place really is. The core of VP operations is concealed within a sprawling warehouse. Endless mazes of separating machines, boxes, and crates were confined within walls smothered by posters. Various workers scurried back and forth with paperwork, electronics equipment, records and other items, while they communicated on two-way phones. This is life at the American center of dancehall reggae music distribution operations.
It was around 3:20 by the time we bucked up on Tiffany, who is Tanto Metro and Devonte’s publicist. She invited us upstairs so we could get situated and conduct our interview with the two stars. When Big L and I got into the room we were met by the road manager. He said , “Which one of you know Tanya ?” For those whom don’t know, Tanya is nowadayzdancehall.com’s own “Ms. General”. This made us more comfortable within this busy setting to find out we had mutual friend with Tanto Metro and Devonte’s entertainment personnel. One half of the dynamic duo was already sitting in the room. Devonte said hello and asked where we were from and I told him. Soon, a call went out from the road manager; “Wey de brown bwoy de”. I found this ironic because he was really brown-skinned himself. Moments after the beckoning, Tanto Metro popped in and greeted us with a real big smile.
It was now time for the real, firsthand account of this duo’s journey into the world of dancehall reggae and international stardom. Of course, we must begin from the hidden roots of the past before we get to the more obvious blossom of present day success…
Coming From Far
What was your youth like? How did music fit into your childhood?
Devonte: “Music was basically inna my house from day one. My sisters and brothers love listening to the latest [music], so I grow up listening. I grow up hearing my mother sing old songs, so definitely I was the little singer in the family group you know, and then mi mother because mi mother can sing. So basically I always knew that music was a part of the family.”
Tanto Metro: “For me? Going to school every morning, music constantly in the house, when, when breakfast being prepared. Music [was] constantly playing you know, and there, you know, was a tenement yard, a family yard; everybody was family. So you know, mi cousin was an electrician at the time, and dem always a fix up dem little ting you know, so when mi come in a evening time, mi always hear dem a play music.”
When did you become aware that the music was playing a significant role in your life?
Tanto Metro: “Well, it started for me--- Well. Well, well, for me it’s when I started to sing back the songs I heard in the house and go out on the road and started singing back da little deejay song, deejaying back the little songs dem and mi friends started encouraging me; ‘seh you know you sound good you can try it you know.’ [Laughing] Mi cousin used to encourage mi too, yeah . And from there I tek it, you understand, tek it, think bout it and seh this is something that I can try and eventually I can get to like it. I did like music but eventually I get to like the whole feeling of the thing.”
Devonte: “Basically you know, growing up you know, everybody that heard me sing… I was a shy person you know, so, if you ask mi fi sing I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t sing so. After gaining the experience on the road, after reaching eighth grade , I started with a sound system called Sky Creation, everywhere that sound-system where I would go. So leaving high school I went to King Jammy’s to, to do an audition. And while doing the audition, Risto Benji and Bunny General took me out of the studio, the audition, and seh I no suppose to be in the audition I should be recording, see weh mi a seh, I supposed to doing recording. Then and there I know that the sound that I had was real good, real good so.”
What is your most vivid entertainment experience?
Tanto Metro: “Damn, there so many experiences, Lord a God, a whole heap a dem you know! Whole heap a dem you si, like Japan--- not because dem nuh understand, a nuh seh dem nuh understand because when you sing de song, dem know de song, you si weh mi a she? But when you have thousands and thousands of people, hand up in de air from side to side and every jump you jump dem jump with you, trust me…memorable. Yeah because you traveling 14 hours non-stop, right across the da world to perform and when 10 thousand, 15, 40 thousand, 50 thousand come out to see Tanto Metro & Devonte, understand it a work, and you see the love of the reggae music, fi know dat, yo, we-we-we huge, household name and de crowd dem come on like dat, trust mi, memorable.”
What song of your own making is your favorite?
Devonte: “I have done so many favorite songs, but I think “Everyone Falls in Love Sometimes” was like really one of the songs that we love the most, you know, musically. Love, love dat song. I don’t know why, but maybe because it just different than de rest, it did just stand out, so mi love dat song. De love mi have fi dat song, is like de love for no odda song.”
How do you guys feel knowing that you have created two international hits: “Everyone Falls in Love Sometimes” and “Give It to Her”?
Tanto Metro: Well you know, you haffi feel great about dat because you know, we did “Everyone Falls in Love”--- yes it was a smashing hit in Jamaica, we never dream of it crossing over, thank God that it did; people loved it and they expected another smash hit and we come up with “Give it to Her”, you know, it’s not like a one-hit wonder thing. Because when you do a hit song, when you do a huge song like dat people expect you to come bigger and better, you understand, and trust me you know it’s a pleasure. Yeah it’s a pleasure.
When did you record your first song?
Tanto Metro: Mi, I think hum, it was 1996. 1995-96 somewhere down dat line.
When did you record you first song as a solo artist?
Tanto Metro: Fi mi, bout 1986, yeah.
Devonte: About 1993.
What was the experience like in the studio then?
Tanto Metro: “Yo man, it was, it was, trust mi. It was something to rememba, you know. Going into the studio at dat, dat tender age you know, hum, Peter Metro and me did that song together, [Laughing] becah he was the one dat brought me into the studio and seh, ‘come mek we do the song ya.’ Produced by Jack Thomas at the time, you know, it was something to look and seh whoa! Am inna studio, you know, looking at all the keyboards and dem deh-deh. Yeah everything you just a look pon, the equipment dem and you know, da reels and everything so, yo a memorable thing, a watch man a play music and dem thing deh.”
Devonte: “Yeah see, I went straight from audition to recording you know, so, that moment was real, real great, you know. Not many people get the privilege to just do an audition and on the same day get to privilege to do recording at dem time deh, you know. Man haffi go way and come back or something or dem prepare a little time fi you. Right then and there I was just accepted by King Jammy’s and dem staff you know.”
When did you decide to officially become a duo?
Tanto Metro: “It was a friend thing you know. Devonte come to Shocking Vibes-- I was the one who who si him and seh ‘me a you a brethren’, ‘ca you done know a family thing you know, ‘ca him sign to Shocking Vibes at de time and as a young recruit, him nuh really know the ropes too tough, so me seh ‘come singy man, mi ah you a mek two drive up and down and jus’ par as a friend.’ You know, and then Devon meanwhile, while we were up and down (Devonte a solo act and me a solo act) in the streets same way, a run up and down. And we put a one song together “Living in Style” that was the first one, you know and the second one was “She Gone”. Yeah, but we were still solo acts at the time friend and everything you know. The third one “Everyone Falls in Love”, deh so everything get “criss”. Yeah. And we just know seh, chuh, de people put us together really, cause even when “Everyone Falls in Love” was a smash hit we were still [individual] solo act[s].”
Were you confident that the group would be successful?
Tanto Metro: “Yeah and when , when me and Devonte decide seh, yeah man, it wasn’t nothing like seh Devonte would go home and sit down, and seh, boy I wonda if me, I wonda if dat ting ya a go work, or if it a damage me or me a go home and sey de same thing, because we are friends, you si wey me a seh, we just know seh yeah! We are friends, we just know sey we a go do this, we a do this to the fullest, that’s why we just keep doing songs doing songs, buck up back inna bigga song again, and we just keep on doing songs, doing songs up until now.”
Well, the two have been very forthcoming thus far. Tanto Metro has this larger than life personality. He is articulate and lively. With his charismatic, well-spoken conversational style and sharply-dressed appearance, one may think that he, and not Devonte, is the singer. Devonte is more of a laid back, calm and calculating individual. They both exude a personable confidence that makes talking with them quite a friendly and enjoyable event. These are the personalities behind the stardom and success, acomfortability of where they are at today. But maybe the better question is, musically, where are they going?
Up To The Time
Can tell us about the latest project that you are working on?
Devonte: The latest project right now is, the new album
What is the name of the new album?
Devonte: “ Musically Inclined. It has 17 tracks you know, 17 wicked tracks, mek me put it that way, wicked tracks! Si wey we a seh, collaborations with Morgan Heritage--- who again?”
Tanto Metro: “Courtney Melody.”
Devonte: Yeah. You have Lady Rue. Definitely. So basically, dem can look forward for the new album and the first single off of it is “Good or Bad Times”.
When is the album coming out?
Tanto Metro: The 21st of March.
Where do you see reggae music going?
Devonte: “To the top. Yeah me cyan really explain it more than dat. To the top, straight up deh.”
Tanto Metro: “Am with it. To the top.”
Now we wish to get their insight into every day living and issues that many of us as people share. And for those outside of this realm of experience, you might learn a little something. In any event, let’s see if you believe like we do, these guys know exactly where it’s at…
What words of encouragement would you offer to the adolescent males and females growing up in Jamaica and America who are facing the struggles of daily life?
Devonte: “Right now?”
Tanto Metro: “Yeah, give your advice first.”
Devonte: “To-to- to- to the yutes. Definitely we were their age once, and we know what it is like growing up in this world, so dem haffi more focus on what’s going on cause, the world get more advance and da yute get more privilege fi touch all gun faster than back in our time, si wey mi a seh? So, dem need fi know seh, war a no de way fi go. If a man step pon you, just brush it off and tell him seh ‘a next day’, zeen, and give God thanks fi everything wey you do inna life and dem fi try fi aim de goal wey dem love de most, si wey mi a seh, go fi you goal. Yeah man , de reward deh-deh. Yeah man, straight.
Tanto Metro: “Basically de same thing mi a go sey, but you know de yutes dem haffi just lift up dem head and hold it high. Strive. Yeah, you know, because like Devonte seh we were there age at one point but dem a get gun quicka now you know, and it cyaan mek it becah, if dem really get the fact and ratio inna life a de young kid is dying faster than the older person nowadays, because a de young kids firing the guns---”
Devonte: [Interjecting] “Dem si badness a wear or it a di new thing, but guess what, mek we mek badness de old thing. Yeah man put it out of style”
How do you guys feel about this latest dancing craze?
Tanto Metro: “ It great, because you si music is fun you know. Music is not no screw face thing you know, music is something that you play inna you house, inna you bathroom, inna you bedroom, inna anywey, and it mek you body move, you understand?”
Devonte: “From mi a hear bout music, I always hear about dance with music, so it is a combination of both; there is no dance without music, because, you never go a one dance yet and just si people stand up straight, no, dem a dance. It comes with the music.”
Tanto Metro: “And, and it is a good feeling to know that, you can see the Puerto Ricans, the Trinidadians, Bajans, everybody you name, the Americans, everybody doing the same dance, the Jamaican dance.”
We remember when the majority of dancing took place between the men and women; how do you guys feel about men and women doing the same dances and the men having dance off’s with each other?
Tanto Metro: [Laughing] “Boy de man dem a tek it over wit you know--- well nothing nuh wrong with a man enjoy himself. Him a hold a vibes inna de crowd and party, but sometimes de man dem go over board with it”
Devonte: “Yeah man we nuh dig da one de.”
Tanto Metro: “You understand, dem fi give de women dem a chance fi dance too, as well as hold de women dem and dance with dem.”
Devonte: “Mi nuh go a dance with women and nuh give dem a two wine.”
Tanto Metro: “You have some man wey come a dance nowadays, bring dem woman, and a dem tek de dance floor, the woman itch-up inna one corner, like dem nuh come with no woman. No work so. You dance which part you deh with you woman, do de same dance wey you do out inna de crowd but do it with you woman, you si wey me a seh, yeah. Nothing nuh wrong with de man dem dance but, Jesus Christ man, dem gone overboard with it man!”
Is this the last album Tanto Metro & Devonte will do as a duo?
Devonte: “You ever hear a song “Talk Keep Them Talking” [Garnett Silk]?”
Tanto Metro: “I don’t know of that.”
Devonte: “You have to leave some people talking you know. I heard the rumors still, but keep some people talking.”
Aaaight, folks , that is what it is. Apparently Tanto Metro and Devonte are prepared once again to drop it like it’s hot. We hope that you are as eager as we are to get a hold of their new material. Nowadaydancehall.com and WhereItz At magazine encourage you to continue to join us for these up close and personal segments that we hope are informative as well as entertaining for you. As the reader, you are the most important person in the scheme of things. Holla at us and let us know how you feel about the music industry, the world or your own personal experiences. Until then stick with us
Interviewed by: Mistah Shakes
Assisted by: Big L
Photography: Big L
Layout and Design: B.Diamondz and Mistah Shakes
Written by: Lazarus
Nowadayzdancehall.com 2005
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