Today we’d like to introduce you to DeVante Ray.
Hi DeVante, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is De’Vante L Ray, known professionally as De’Vante The King (aka DTK). I’m a 17-year-old American rapper, singer, songwriter, poet, and music producer from Hayward, California, now based in Austin, Texas. I studied Spanish in high school and learned my name resembled the Spanish phrase ‘El Rey,’ which means ‘The King’ in English. I incorporate Spanish into my music, which gives a unique Latin Hip-Hop vibe. My vast array of interests in different genres of music has diversified my style to create music for a wider audience.
At 12 years old, I put pen to paper and began writing as an outlet to express myself through music. I was always excited about dance; however, that energy morphed into lyrical poems, raps, and rhymes that flowed naturally.
In February 2017, I performed at Google’s Black History Month Festival in front of hundreds of people. At this moment, I knew music and being on stage was my passion.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Growing up, I struggled with being bullied and questioning my self-worth, which led to formulating a negative view of myself. As time passed, I found a way to use these struggles to sculpt and influence my music.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At an early age, my family exposed me to the entertainment industry. My mother, Kash Brown of Kash Koncepts, was a known promoter/event curator in the SF Bay Area for almost 20 years, my father, a talented singer/songwriter, and my brother, Darius, founded a creative agency Hour Voyses.
I released my first single, Dear Pops, in October 2020 for a documentary, “Black Daddy the Movie,” I was featured in and received a lot of traction. I went on to release two albums (“NOTES” and “L3V!TATE”), 2 EPs (“King Koncepts” and “New Beginnings”), and three singles (“C9”, “FL4SH” and “GearShift”).
Please talk to us about happiness and what makes you happy.
My happiness comes from my art. Music and poetry alike have given me an outlet to release the built-up tension I feel and be a voice for myself and others experiencing the same thing. I want people to listen to my lyrics, find something relatable they can connect to, and help them overcome challenges they may be experiencing.
So, what should we be on the lookout for? What’s next in store for you?
I’ve just released my new album, “L3V!TATE,” and am now back in the studio working on my next project. This one is near and dear to me. The Bay Area will always be home; this album will give people a different flavor of my music and a taste of where I’m from.
I have some music videos in the works that will be released soon, and collaborating with a fire musician from Oakland, CA, named @TheRealKMS (IG). Stay tuned!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.devantetheking.
com - Instagram: www.Instagram.com/
DevantetheKing - Facebook: https://facebook.
com/DevantetheKing - Twitter: www.Twitter.com/
DevantetheKing - Youtube: www.YouTube.com/@
DevantetheKing - Phone: 737-235-7676
- Email: bookdevantetheking@gmail.com
Image Credits
Brittney Tonée aka @TheModelInfluencer
