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Guitar World
Guitar World
Entertainment
Bill Leigh

“It’s great to tap like Les Claypool and thump like Marcus Miller, but the world of a studio bassist is different”: Having graced hits by OutKast, TLC, and Usher, LaMarquis Jefferson carved a niche in a scene long dominated by synthetic low-end

LaMarquis Jefferson with his Sadowsky Bass Guitar.

In addition to being the bassist for multi-platinum producer Jermaine Dupri, the “king of crunk” Lil Jon, and contemporary R&B singer Tony Rich, LaMarquis Jefferson and his bass grooves have graced recordings from OutKast, TLC (that's him on Waterfalls), and Da Brat. He also received a Grammy nomination for his contributions to Usher's 2012 mega-hit Yeah!

Raised in Youngstown, Ohio, with the sounds of his father's Earth, Wind & Fire records playing in the background, Jefferson tuned into the low frequency when his older brother received a Fender Jazz knockoff as a Christmas gift.

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