Divinity Roxx

{{Infobox musical artist

| image = Divinity Roxx - Divi Roxx Kids.jpg

| name = Divinity Roxx

| caption = Divinity Roxx 2020 Promo Photo for Divi Roxx Kids by Jay Denes

| alias = MC Divinity, D. Walker, Debbie Walker, Divi Roxx kids

| birth_date = February 5

| origin = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

| instrument = Bass guitar

| genre = Rap rock, soul, hip hop, funk, rock, children's music family music

| occupation = Musician (bass), entertainer, rapper, singer, producer, performer, composer, musical director, author, entrepreneur

| associated_acts = Beyoncé Knowles, Victor Wooten, Fantasia, 2NE1, Black Girls Rock!, Jermaine Rand, B.o.B

| years_active = 1993–present

| label = iRoxx Entertainment

| spouse = {{marriage|Yanira Marin |2019}}

| website = {{URL|www.divinityroxx.com}}

}}

Divinity Roxx (1976–), born Debbie Walker to Beverly Walker and Raymond Walker Jr. in Atlanta, Georgia, is a two-time Grammy-nominated American recording artist, producer, composer, musician and honorary sister of Tau Beta Sigma, the American honorary band service sorority.{{Cite web | url=http://www.jazzzeitung.de/cms/2015/09/bassistin-divinity-roxx-im-bayerischen-hof-muenchen/ | title=Bassistin Divinity Roxx im Bayerischen Hof in München| date=2015-09-18}}

Divinity's work includes elements of funk, rock, and hip-hop.{{Cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-bohanan/need-more-lemonade-listen_b_9818908.htmlhttp:// | title=HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. And World News| website=HuffPost}} She has released five solo albums on her record label, IRoxx Entertainment (Ain’t No Other Way – 2003, The Roxx Boxx Experience – 2012, ImPossible – 2016, Ready Set Go! – 2021, World Wide Playdate – 2024). Both of her children's music albums were nominated for Grammy Awards.{{cite web | url=https://www.grammy.com/news/2023-grammy-nominations-complete-winners-nominees-list | title=2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See the Complete Nominees List }}{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2025-grammy-nominees-best-childrens-music-album-1235824826/ | title=Meet the 2025 Nominees for Best Children's Music Album | magazine=Billboard }}

She was introduced to the bass world by five-time Grammy Award-winning bassist Victor Wooten with her debut appearance on his Live in America album (2001).{{Cite web | url=https://www.talkbass.com/threads/wooten-live-in-america.53617/| website=TalkBass| title=Wooten live in america--| date=18 July 2002}} She also appeared on his albums Soul Circus and Words and Tones.

She toured and performed with Beyoncé Knowles (2006–2011) as her bassist and Musical Director for "The Beyoncé Experience"{{citation|title=The Beyoncé Experience Live (DVD). Beyoncé. Columbia Records. 2007.}} and "I Am... World Tour".Knowles, Beyoncé (2009). Official I Am... World Tour. USA: Columbia Records. On the "I Am...Sasha Fierce" World tour, Divinity also helped compose music.Music World Entertainment (2010) Beyoncé – I Am... World Tour (Liner Notes) Columbia Records. She has appeared in three DVDs with Beyoncé including The Beyoncé Experience Live,Beyoncé, Beyoncé (2007). The Beyoncé Experience Live (Media notes). Beyoncé. Spain: Columbia Records. 88697 20641 9. I Am... Sasha Fierce,Music World Entertainment (2010) Beyoncé – I Am... World Tour (Liner Notes) Columbia Records. and I Am... Yours.Knowles, Beyoncé (2009). I Am... Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas (DVD/Blu-ray). Music World Entertainment/Columbia Records. Event occurs at 0:00 to 1:38:19. She has also appeared in two videos, "Irreplaceable" and "Green Light".{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IW0cLcDTbN8C&pg=PA37 | title=B'Day}} Divinity has performed with Beyoncé at the White House for President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama during a state dinner for the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderon.{{Cite web | url=http://www.zomagazine.com/divinity-roxx/ |title = Divinity Roxx Combines Sound and Delivers Pure Gold Along the Way – ZO Magazine|date = 20 March 2019}} She also performed with Beyoncé during her Glastonbury performance.{{Cite web | url=http://kitmonsters.com/bands/d/divinity-roxx |title = KitMonsters – Divinity Roxx}}{{Cite web | url=http://beyonceonline.org/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2144&pid=120413#top_display_media |title = White House State Dinner - Beyoncé Online Photo Gallery}} She has also performed on the Grammys, the BET Awards, MTV Music Awards, Ellen, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Saturday Night Live, Good Morning America, The Today Show and countless other television shows with Beyoncé.{{Cite web | url=https://popwrapped.com/beauty-bass-divinity-roxx-offers-something-inspired/ | title=Beauty and the Bass, Divinity Roxx Offers up Something Inspired| date=2016-05-06}} In 2014, Divinity played bass on The Arsenio Hall Show and The Queen Latifah Show with Atlanta-born rapper B.o.B.{{cite web | url=http://ddotomen.com/2013/12/13/b-o-b-performs-on-the-arsenio-hall-show/ | title=Offshore Hosting | DMCA Ignored Hosting | Offshore Servers }} Divinity has also appeared on Big Morning Buzz Live With Nick Lechey{{Cite web |url=http://www.vh1.com/video/misc/1098771/love-em-all-big-morning-buzz-live.jhtml |title="Love Em All (Big Morning Buzz Live)" by K. Michelle | Show Performance | VH1.com |access-date=2016-06-13 |archive-date=2016-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630064409/http://www.vh1.com/video/misc/1098771/love-em-all-big-morning-buzz-live.jhtml |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.divinityroxx.com/newsite/end-of-the-year-promo-run-with-k-michelle/ |title=End of the Year Promo Run with K. Michelle | Divinity Roxx Experience |access-date=2016-06-13 |archive-date=2016-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703121539/http://www.divinityroxx.com/newsite/end-of-the-year-promo-run-with-k-michelle/ |url-status=dead }} and The Wendy Williams Show with singer [K.Michelle].{{cite AV media| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/xGXSH_2fLr8| archive-date = 2021-12-11| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGXSH_2fLr8| title = K.Michelle Maybe I Should Call | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

Early career

Divinity founded a hip-hop group in high school called DATBU (Divinity and the Breakfast Unit) alongside her friends Corey Peyton (Kornbred), Chad Browning (Clever Love), Kamal Studdard (Cheezy Feets), and Lewis Miller (Pogo). The group eventually morphed into a trio, Divinity, Clever, and Pogo. They released an independent album, FoolProof, in 1997. Produced by DJ Kemit.{{cite web|title=Datbu|website=Discogs |date=1997 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3116973-Datbu-Fool-Proof}}

In October 2000, Divinity attended Victor Wooten's Bass Nature Camp at Montgomery Bell State Park near Nashville, Tennessee. There she met Victor Wooten and his brothers Regi, Joseph, Roy, and Rudy. Once the camp was over, Victor asked Divinity to tour with him.{{cite web|title=Les Claypool, Victor Wooten & Divinity Roxx Among Guest Professors At Bootsy Collins' Funk University|url=http://crossharpchronicles.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/les-claypool-victor-wooten-divinity-roxx-among-guest-professors-at-bootsy-collins-funk-university/|work=CHC Network|date=2010-05-19}} She began touring with Wooten's band, where she was a featured part of the show from 2000 to 2005.{{cite web|title=Divinity Roxx on Primetime|url=http://www.swoopsworld.com/2011/divinity-roxx-on-primetime/|work=Swoop's World Online Radio|accessdate=Oct 20, 2011|date=2011-10-18}} She is recorded on Wooten's Live in America (2001){{Cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-in-america-mw0000014307/credits | title=Live in America - Victor Wooten | Credits| website=AllMusic}} and Soul Circus (2005) albums{{Cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/soul-circus-mw0000737334/credits |title = Soul Circus - Victor Wooten | Credits|website = AllMusic}} under the names D. Walker{{Cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-in-america-mw0000014307/credits | title=Live in America - Victor Wooten | Credits| website=AllMusic}} and MC Divinity.{{Cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/soul-circus-mw0000737334/credits |title = Soul Circus - Victor Wooten | Credits|website = AllMusic}} She also appears on Victor Wooten's album Words and Tones (2012).{{Cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sword-and-stone-words-and-tones-mw0002421413/credits |title = Sword and Stone/Words and Tones - Victor Wooten | Credits|website = AllMusic}}

Solo recordings

=Ain’t No Other Way (2003)=

Divinity's first solo album, Ain't No Other Way, was self-released in 2012 while touring with Victor Wooten. The album featured production from will.i.am, DJ Lethal, and Mike Elizondo.

=The Roxx Boxx Experience (2012)=

Divinity's second EP, The Roxx Boxx Experience, was released in October 2012.{{cite web|last=Liebman|first=Jon|title=Divinity Roxx|url=http://www.forbassplayersonly.com/Interviews/Roxx.html|work=For Bass Players Only|accessdate=March 7, 2011}} The album featured Divinity Roxx (bass, lead vocals), Matt McMoots (guitar, backing vocals, backing bass), Omar Gusmao (guitar, backing vocals), and Carlos McSwain (drums, backing vocals). The album was mixed by Eric Racy and mastered by Chris Gehringer for Sterling Sound.{{cite AV media notes |title= The Roxx Boxx Experience}}

=ImPossible (2016)=

Divinity released ImPossible April 19, 2016. This is album features elements of funk, soul, rock, hip-hop and jazz.{{Cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-bohanan/need-more-lemonade-listen_b_9818908.htmlhttp:// | title=HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. And World News| website=HuffPost}}

=Ready Set Go!=

Divinity released Ready Set Go! on November 5, 2021. This was her first children's music album that featured elements of hip-hop, and positivity.{{Cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/2021/11/04/1051890644/divinity-roxx-former-beyonce-bassist-childrens-music | title=After touring with Beyoncé, Divinity Roxx brings positive vibes to children's music| website=NPR}}

Ready Set Go! was nominated for a 65th Grammy® Award for Best Children's Music Album.{{cite web | url=https://www.grammy.com/news/2023-grammy-nominations-complete-winners-nominees-list | title=2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See the Complete Nominees List }}

=World Wide Playdate (2024)=

Divinity released World Wide Playdate on August 9, 2024. The album was the follow-up to her debut children's music album. The album features production by Wayne Gerard (Dr. Fink, Don Was) and hit songwriter Mary Brown, who co-wrote, vocal-produced, and sang background vocals on the album. The album also features Divinity's longtime mentor and friend Victor Wooten, Malcom Jamal Warner, MuMu Fresh, Tank 'Tarrionna" Ball, Teemanay, and The Genesis Innovation Academy Cheer Squad, as well as her niece and goddaughter.{{Cite news | url=https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/how-divinity-roxx-changed-her-tune/LGXH6WKEO5D3ZDXFUWGX3A65FU/ | title=Grammy nominated Atlanta musician finds success making music for children: How Divinity Roxx Changed her tune | newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution }}

World Wide Playdate was nominated for a 67th Grammy® Award for Best Children's Music Album.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2025-grammy-nominees-best-childrens-music-album-1235824826/ | title=Meet the 2025 Nominees for Best Children's Music Album | magazine=Billboard }}

Television and film compositions

Divinity composed, performed, and co-produced the theme song for the Emmy-nominated PBS Kids show Lyla in the Loop,{{Cite web | url=https://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/blogs/news/new-pbs-kids-series-lyla-in-the-loop-launches-february-5-2024/ | title=New PBS KIDS Series, LYLA IN THE LOOP, Launches February 5, 2024| website=PBS}} which premiered on PBS Kids Television on February 5, 2024. The show was created by Dave Peth.

Theater compositions

Divinity and longtime friend and collaborator Eugene Russell IV co-wrote the music for the The Boy Who Kissed the Sky book by Idris Goodwin. The show was a co-production between The Alliance Theatre (Atlanta) and The Seattle Children's Theater.{{cite news | url=https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/boy-who-kissed-the-sky-a-mythical-story-that-echoes-hendrixs-life/236QZADTJBCEVI5RELWGQZPABM/ | title=Boy Who Kissed the Sky a 'mythical story that echoes Hendrix's Life | newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution }}

Divinity composed the original song "Fresh Greens" for the Alliance Theatre production of Into the Burrow: A Peter Rabbit Story. The work follows the characters of Peter Rabbit's world as they gather for a surprise party. They quickly realize that Mr. McGregor, who owns the garden above the rabbit's den, has terrible plans for the surrounding land. The tale encourages audiences to acknowledge fears and work together to overcome challenges.{{cite news | url=https://playbill.com/article/into-the-burrow-a-peter-rabbit-trail-begins-world-premiere-run-at-atlantas-alliance-october-14 | title=Into the Burrow: A Peter Rabbit Trail Begins World-Premiere Run at Atlanta's Alliance October 14| newspaper=Playbill }}

Discography

Victor Wooten - Words and Tones ("Get it Right", "Say Word", "Heaven") (2012)
2NE1 - 2NE1 GLOBAL TOUR NEW EVOLUTION IN SEOUL! DVD (2012) {{Cite web | url=http://www.allkpop.com/article/2012/12/2ne1s-live-cd-from-new-evolution-in-seoul-to-be-released |title = 2NE1's live CD from 'New Evolution in Seoul' to be released}}
2NE1 - GLOBAL TOUR NEW EVOLUTION IN SEOUL! Live CD (Dec 4, 2012) {{Cite web | url=http://www.allkpop.com/article/2012/12/2ne1s-live-cd-from-new-evolution-in-seoul-to-be-released |title = 2NE1's live CD from 'New Evolution in Seoul' to be released}}
will.i.am – Songs About Girls ("She's a Star") (2007)
NX Zero – A Melhor Parte De Mim 0.2 (2010)
Beyoncé Knowles – The Beyoncé Experience Live (2007)
Beyoncé Knowles – I Am... Sasha Fierce (2010)
Beyoncé Knowles – Live in Vegas Instrumentals (2010)
Beyoncé Knowles – Irreplaceable Live at Glastonbury (2011)
Essence Music Festival, Vol 4: The Collection (Live) ("Single Ladies") (2011)
Victor Wooten – Live in America (2001)
Victor Wooten - Soul Circus (2005)
Béla Fleck and the Flecktones – Little Worlds ("The Ballad of Jed Clampett") (2003)
Divinity Roxx – Ain't No Other Way (2003)
Divinity Roxx - The Roxx Boxx Experience (2012)
Divinity Roxx - ImPossible (2016)
Divinity Roxx - Ready Set Go! (2021)
Madame Gandhi - Crystals and Congas (2022)
Aiza - Sovereignty ("Rosé") (2023)
Divinity Roxx - Lyla in the Loop Theme (2024)
Divinity Roxx - Lyla in the Loop Extended Theme (2024)
Divinity Roxx - World Wide Playdate (2024)

Television appearances

Divinity appeared on the television show The Soul Man alongside the musical guest B.o.B.{{Cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3383322/?ref_=nm_flmg_msdp_3 | title=All the Way Live| website=IMDb}} while playing bass on his Promo Tour for the album Underground Luxury.

Divinity was the bass player in the house band for the BET-produced television show Black Girls Rock! (2014-2016), backing such artists as Erykah Badu, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Brandy, Monica, Jazmine Sullivan, and more.