Raheem Devaughn

Raheem DeVaughn
DeVaughn performing in September 2010
Background information
Birth name	Raheem DeVaughn
Also known as	Chronkite, Radio Raheem
Born	(1975-05-05) May 5, 1975 (age 41) Newark, New Jersey, United States
Origin	Washington, D.C.
Genres	R&B, Neo soul
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instruments	vocals
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Jive (2002–2011) Mass Appeal/Fontana Distribution (2012-2014) Entertainment One (2014-present)
Associated acts	Cee-Lo, Bilal, Musiq Soulchild, Kenny Dope, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Dwele, Jill Scott, Logic, King Los

Raheem DeVaughn (born May 5, 1975) is an American singer and songwriter. His debut album, The Love Experience (2005), reached No. 46 on the US Billboard 200 album chart. It featured the singles "Guess Who Loves You More" and "You". His second album Love Behind the Melody was released in January 2008. It features the singles "Woman", and "Customer".

DeVaughn was nominated for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 2008 Grammy Awards for the single "Woman". In 2015, he had released his fifth album, Love Sex Passion.

DeVaughn was born in Newark, New Jersey on May 5, 1975, the son of jazz cellist Abdul Wadud. He was raised in Maryland (Montgomery and Prince George's counties) by his mother, Imani Smith, a now retired federal worker. He is a cousin of singer Chrisette Michele. His mother states that her son first expressed an affinity towards music in preschool, recalling how whenever the class had musical events, he would conduct them. DeVaughn's love for music solidified during his early teens, when he began to envision his career path. One of his favorite artists was Babyface, and Smith recalls that her son once begged her to visit the Waxie Maxie's record store in the District to buy a promotional picture of the singer. DeVaughn visited his father during the summer, mainly in New Jersey. With his father, DeVaughn attended gigs and experienced his first taste of the life of a working musician.

He graduated from High Point High School in Beltsville, Maryland, an unincorporated section of Prince George's County. DeVaughn had an epiphany early in his college career at Coppin State University in Baltimore City, when he saw a group of street corner singers and began harmonizing with them. DeVaughn said his focus became music: "Before I knew what was going on, I was... cutting class to write lyrics and record". His focus turned to becoming a professional singer.