The Quiet Force Behind R&B’s Biggest Hooks

Dewain Whitmore Jr.'s journey began in Kansas City, Missouri, where gospel and grit collided early in his life. Raised in a devout Pentecostal home, his introduction to music was both spiritual and structured. His mother led the church choir, his father played the organ, and Dewain, despite stage fright, found himself regularly pushed into the spotlight. From five years old, he was already performing, discovering how to switch off the nerves and turn on the delivery.

Though his twin brother Germaine shared the household — and briefly, the music lessons — Dewain stuck closer to the sounds and songs. Early exposure to Suzuki piano lessons, despite hating the rigor, instilled a discipline that would pay dividends years later. And while the television was off-limits on weekdays, music was not. Dewain soaked up everything from gospel greats to Charlie Brown’s Christmas soundtrack, building a palette that would later shape his distinctive writing style.

A2J and Early Songwriting

Before chart hits and platinum plaques, there was A2J — Addicted to Jesus. The family gospel group featured Dewain, his twin, and cousins Titus, Caleb, and Deontay. Their harmonies rang through Kansas City churches and festivals, but it was Titus who unknowingly unlocked Dewain’s career. Around 14, Dewain learned that some of the songs they were performing were original — penned by Titus himself. That revelation led to Dewain writing his first songs, a craft he nurtured through high school.

The Gridiron Detour

Before music took over, football had Dewain’s full attention. He played safety in junior college and later at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, eventually landing a spot in NFL Europe with the Berlin Thunder. But even as he ran drills and memorized playbooks, he was penning hooks and melodies. A teammate noticed him singing in their dorm and encouraged him to keep at it — a subtle sign of the pivot ahead.

When Dewain was eventually cut from an NFL Europe team, he saw it not as a failure but a redirection. “Music started pulling me harder than football,” he said, recounting the moment he decided to stop chasing a football dream and start building a musical legacy.

KC to L.A.: The Real Start

With his cousin Titus already in Los Angeles and producer Brian Kennedy sending tracks back to Kansas City, Dewain found himself immersed in a bi-city workflow. He and his cousin Caleb would write and record out of a makeshift bathroom studio, sending vocals back west. The quality might have been scrappy, but the songs had spark.

When Brian’s industry success took off — with credits for Ciara, Chris Brown, and Rihanna — so did Dewain’s proximity to greatness. He eventually signed a publishing deal with Brian, Titus, and Caleb, officially relocating to L.A. without really planning to. “I didn’t even know I had moved,” he said. “I just came out and never went back.”

Breaking In With the Best

That L.A. leap paid off. Dewain started working closely with Steve Russell, Eric Dawkins, and Harvey Mason Jr., eventually becoming a fixture at The Underdogs' studio. There, he landed his first major placements — including two songs on Chris Brown’s F.A.M.E. album: “Up To You” and “Should’ve Kissed You.”

His writing style, fluid and intuitive, impressed the veterans. “I just go in the booth and sing the first things that come to mind,” he said. This improvisational approach, especially under the guidance of producers like Harvey and Steve, opened the door to collaborations with some of the biggest names in R&B.

A Sonic Identity Rooted in Feeling

Dewain credits his musical instincts to his early exposure to emotionally resonant music — gospel, R&B, and even pop-rock from artists like Michael McDonald and Steely Dan. “I didn’t associate genre with race,” he noted. “I just knew what made me feel something.”

That ear for emotion has defined his work, even if his early musical training felt burdensome. The structure and discipline learned in those Suzuki piano sessions ultimately served him well — not just in writing melodies, but in building a sustainable creative practice.

A Quiet Power Player

Though he’s not always front and center, Dewain Whitmore Jr. is one of R&B’s most reliable hitmakers. His humility and calm demeanor often mask the firepower behind the pen. He’s written with the best and for the best, and yet he still moves like he’s got something to prove.

In the end, it’s that groundedness — born in the pews of Kansas City, refined in the studios of L.A. — that keeps his name in the rooms where the hits are made.

Looking Forward

Whitmore’s story is still being written, both figuratively and literally. As a songwriter and vocal producer, he continues to contribute to the sound of modern R&B. But what stands out most is his perspective: patient, passionate, and proud of the journey.

Not many can say they went from Suzuki-trained choir kid to penning chart-toppers for Chris Brown. Even fewer can say they made that transition gracefully, never once losing sight of the love that started it all. Dewain Whitmore Jr. didn’t just write his way into music — he lived his way into it.