Devonte/Tanto Metro: The Dancehall Powerhouse

Devonte, known professionally as Tanto Metro, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay and producer who rose to fame in the late 1990s. Alongside his production partner Stephen 'Di Genius' McGregor, he crafted a signature sound that dominated the charts and defined a generation of digital dancehall.

Early career

Born Devonte Rochester in Kingston, Jamaica, he entered the music scene in the mid-1990s. He initially performed under the name Devonte before adopting the moniker Tanto Metro, a name inspired by a popular Japanese anime character.

Breakthrough

The artist's major breakthrough arrived in 1997 with the massive hit Everyone Falls In Love, a duet with singer Tanya Stephens. Released on the Shocking Vibes label, the track became an anthem across Jamaica and the Caribbean, establishing Tanto Metro as a formidable vocal talent.

Key tracks

Everyone Falls In Love — This 1997 duet with Tanya Stephens was his first major chart-topper and a defining song of the era.

Give It To Her — A pivotal 2003 collaboration with producer Stephen McGregor and singer Wayne Marshall that signaled a new, minimalist dancehall direction.

She's Hotter — A key track from the 2003 album Everyone Falls In Love that further solidified his commercial success.

Gal Yu Hot — This 2005 single, again with Stephen McGregor, became another staple in his catalog of club-ready hits.

Continued success and evolution

Following his initial success, Tanto Metro formed a crucial partnership with young producer Stephen 'Di Genius' McGregor. This collaboration culminated in the 2003 album Everyone Falls In Love, which featured the smash single Give It To Her. The album was a commercial success, reportedly achieving gold certification in Jamaica and resonating strongly with the diaspora.

His work with McGregor on the 'Di Genius' riddim became a blueprint for modern digital dancehall. Tanto Metro continued to release popular singles throughout the 2000s, including Gal Yu Hot and collaborations with artists like Vybz Kartel and Devin Di Dakta.

For fans of Tanto Metro's energetic dancehall style, similar artists from Jamaica include Beenie Man, a fellow dancehall legend known for his rapid-fire lyrical delivery. Elephant Man shares the same high-energy, party-starting approach to the genre. The production style of Stephen McGregor is intrinsically linked to Tanto Metro's biggest hits. Also explore Vybz Kartel, a controversial but influential figure in modern dancehall who collaborated with the artist.

The music of Tanto Metro remains a fixture on radio stations that specialize in Caribbean sounds, from reggae and dancehall FM broadcasts to online streams dedicated to island rhythms. His classic hits are regularly featured in rotation, keeping his influential sound alive for listeners worldwide.

You can hear the iconic dancehall tracks of Tanto Metro on radio stations featured on our website. Explore the stations available on onairium.com to discover his music and the vibrant genre he helped shape.