Shawntae Harris-Dupart (née Harris; born April 14, 1974), better known by her stage name Da Brat, is an American rapper. Born and raised in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, she began her career in 1992 and signed with

Jermaine Dupri Jermaine Dupri Mauldin (born September 23, 1972) is an American rapper and record producer. Raised in Atlanta, Georgia as the son of Columbia Records executive Michael Mauldin, he began his career in music at the age of nine. He discovered th ...

's So So Def Recordings two years later to release her debut studio album, '' Funkdafied'' (1994). Receiving

platinum Platinum is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a density, dense, malleable, ductility, ductile, highly unreactive, precious metal, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name origina ...

certification by the

Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

(RIAA), it became the first album by a female hip hop solo act to do so. The album was supported by the 1994 lead single of the same name, which peaked at number six on ''Billboard'' Hot 100, along with her guest appearance alongside Lisa Lopes,

Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott (born July 1, 1971), also known as Misdemeanor, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She began her musical career as a member of the Contemporary R&B, R&B girl group 4 All the Sistas Arou ...

and Angie Martinez on Lil' Kim's 1997 single " Not Tonight". Furthermore, "Funkdafied" peaked at number two on the ''Billboard''

Hot Rap Songs Hot Rap Songs (formerly known as Hot Rap Tracks and Hot Rap Singles) is a chart released weekly by '' Billboard'' in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stat ...

chart, while "Not Tonight" peaked at number three. Her second album, '' Anuthatantrum'' (1996) spawned the single " Ghetto Love" (featuring T-Boz), while her third, '' Unrestricted'' (2000) peaked at number five on the ''Billboard'' 200. During the late 1990s–2000s, she guest performed on

Dem Franchize Boyz Dem Franchize Boyz was an American hip hop music, hip hop group from Atlanta, Georgia, Atlanta, signed to E1 Music. The group had four members: Parlae (born Maurice Gleaton), Pimpin' (Jamal Willingham), Jizzal Man (Bernard Leverette), and Buddie ...

's single " I Think They Like Me", the remixes of Mariah Carey's "

Loverboy Loverboy is a Canadian Rock music, rock band formed in Calgary, Alberta in 1979. Loverboy's hit singles, particularly "Turn Me Loose (Loverboy song), Turn Me Loose" and "Working for the Weekend", have become arena rock staples and are still hear ...

", " Always Be My Baby", and "

Honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several species of bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of pl ...

", and the 1999 mashup " I Still Believe/Pure Imagination". With Carey, she released the 2003 duet "Gotta Thing For You", a hip hop-inspired version of the Bobby Caldwell song " What You Won't Do for Love". Harris has received two

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

nominations.

Early life and education

Da Brat was born on April 14, 1974 in Chicago, Illinois, and was raised primarily on the West Side of the city. Her father, David Ray McCoy, was a businessman, and her mother, Nadine Brewer, was a city bus driver. Her parents never married, and Brat was subsequently raised in two different households. She lived part-time with her mother, and part with her grandmother, attending an Apostolic church four times a week and singing in the choir. Brat is the paternal half-sister of actress LisaRaye "Lisa Raye" McCoy. Da Brat attended Kenwood Academy during her sophomore and junior year, where she ran track and played basketball. She graduated from the Academy of Scholastic Achievement, a continuation charter school that caters to at-risk students in 1992.

Career

1992–1995: Early success

In 1992, Da Brat's big break occurred when she won the grand prize in a local rap contest sponsored by '' Yo! MTV Raps''. As part of her prize, Brat met the young rap duo Kris Kross and was introduced to their producer,

; Brat was eventually signed to his So So Def label, with Dupri remaining a collaborator, friend and fixture throughout the entirety of Brat's career. Her debut album, '' Funkdafied'' (1994), entered the '' Billboard'' hip hop albums chart at #11. The album went

, making her the first solo female rapper to exceed one million records sold. The album's lead single, " Funkdafied", reached #1 on the ''Billboard''

chart and #6 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Her follow-up single from the album, "Give It 2 You", reached #26 on the Hot 100. The Essence article "Da Brat's Best Fashion Looks" highlights the evolution and impact of Da Brat's unique style throughout her career. It showcases her distinctive fashion choices, blending hip-hop culture with personal flair, making her a fashion icon. The article features her signature looks, such as iconic braids and oversized jerseys, emphasizing how her bold style complements her musical career and influences the fashion industry. Da Brat's fearless approach to fashion has inspired many, solidifying her role in shaping hip-hop fashion and beyond.

1996–1999: Collaborations and film projects

In 1996, Da Brat released her second full-length album, '' Anuthatantrum'', which included the single " Ghetto Love" featuring T-Boz of TLC. Over the course of the 1990s, Brat came to be recognized for her comedic timing, her laidback attitude, and her many memorable guest-spots on other artists' songs. She was featured with Kris Kross on the title track of their album '' Da Bomb'' (1993), as well as on their third album, '' Young, Rich and Dangerous'' (1996). A long-time friend of singer Mariah Carey, Brat contributed a rap verse to the So So Def

remix A remix, also sometimes called reorchestration or rework, is a piece of media which has been altered or contorted from its original state by adding, removing, or changing pieces of the item. A song, piece of artwork, book, poem, or photograph ca ...

of Carey's #1 single " Always Be My Baby" in 1996, which also featured Dupri and fellow So So Def group Xscape. That same year, Brat made her feature film debut in '' Kazaam'' (1996), starring Shaquille O'Neal. The late 1990s saw Da Brat featured in many high-profile collaborations, including her appearance on a remix of Dru Hill's 1997 song " In My Bed". That same year, she and Dupri also appeared on a remix of Mariah Carey's #1 single "

", entitled " Honey (So So Def mix)"; Brat also recorded a hit remix of "Ladies' Night (Not Tonight)" with Lil' Kim, Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes (of TLC), Angie Martinez, and

. The quintet gave an

Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt () was a cradle of civilization concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in Northeast Africa. It emerged from prehistoric Egypt around 3150BC (according to conventional Egyptian chronology), when Upper and Lower E ...

/ Roman-themed performance of the song at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards. Brat was then featured in " Sock It 2 Me" by Elliott, off of her debut album '' Supa Dupa Fly'' (1997), and starred in its accompanying music video. In 1999, she was featured with Krayzie Bone (of

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Bone Thugs-n-Harmony (formerly known as B.O.N.E. Enterpri$e and also referred to as simply Bone Thugs or Bone) is an American hip hop group formed in 1991 in Cleveland, Ohio. Consisting of rappers Bizzy Bone, Wish Bone, Layzie Bone, Krayzie ...

) on Carey's " I Still Believe (Imagination Remix)", originally by Brenda K. Starr; the remixed version creatively samples the melodies of " Pure Imagination", originally performed by

Gene Wilder Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman; June 11, 1933 – August 29, 2016) was an American actor, comedian, writer, and filmmaker. He was mainly known for his comedic roles, including his portrayal of Willy Wonka in ''Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Fa ...

in '' Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory'' (1971). That same year, Brat was featured again with Missy Elliott on Mariah Carey's remix of " Heartbreaker" (1999), and starred in the accompanying music video. She also joined Carey for several televised promotional performances, including on ''The'' ''Oprah Winfrey Show''. The remix samples the song " Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)" (1993) by

Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. ( ; born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg), is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Rooted in West Coast hip-hop, he is widely regarded as one of t ...

, who also appears in the music video, and Brat composed her verses loosely based on the original. By the end of 1999, she had also contributed a verse to the remix of

Brandy Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured ...

's " U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)", as well as to a remix of the

Destiny's Child Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final lineup comprised Beyoncé, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams (singer), Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Hou ...

hit " Jumpin', Jumpin'".

2000–2003: Return to solo work

In early 2000, Da Brat released her third full-length album, '' Unrestricted'', preceded by the single "That's What I'm Looking For" (U.S. #56), which was featured on the soundtrack to '' Big Momma's House'' (2000). She also released " What'chu Like" (U.S. #26), featuring R&B singer Tyrese. The album was not as well-received as Brat's earlier work. However, the record and the new millennium saw an image change for Da Brat, deviating from her " gangsta", tomboy persona, and deciding to follow the "sexy" trend in

popular music Popular music is music with wide appeal that is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. These forms and styles can be enjoyed and performed by people with little or no musical training.Popular Music. (2015). ''Fun ...

. The new album featured Da Brat reciting more forward, sexually-charged lyrics and wearing more revealing, feminine outfits. In 2001, Brat continued being featured on other artists' songs, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart (along with Cameo and rappers Ludacris and Shawnna) on the remix of Mariah Carey's "

". The same year, she was featured on

's "Survivor" remix. Da Brat also appeared as friend Louise in Carey's 2001 movie '' Glitter''. In 2003, Brat released her fourth album, titled '' Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz'', including the single " In Love wit Chu" which peaked at peaked at #9 on the Billboard rhythmic chart. At the same time, she appeared on the fourth season of VH1's '' The Surreal Life''.

2005–present: Current activities

In 2005, she made a comeback of sorts when she was featured on the remix of the song " I Think They Like Me", by

, which also featured Bow Wow and

. The song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart and No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2006, she was an onstage guest on Mariah Carey's '' The Adventures of Mimi Tour'' in Atlanta, New York City, Long Island, Washington DC, Chicago, and Los Angeles performing her rap verses on the "Heartbreaker" and "Honey" remixes. She was also featured on Kelly Rowland's "Gotsta Go", a bonus track from her 2007 album '' Ms. Kelly'' and is also featured on "4real4real", a bonus track from Carey's '' E=MC²''. She also co-wrote a song with Carey called "O.O.C." which appears on ''E=MC²'' and contributes backing vocals on the track. In 2007, she participated in the fifth season of the VH1 reality series '' Celebrity Fit Club''. In 2011, she did a remix with Kelly Rowland called "Motivation" featuring Lil Wayne. Following her release from prison, she launched a web series about life after the experience titled "Brat Chronicles: In Transition" on YouTube. She released her new single "Is It Chu?" on iTunes and other digital services on July 2, 2013. She now works for the ''Rickey Smiley Morning show'' as a co-host (July 2015 – present) and is part of the '' Dish Nation'' cast out of Atlanta. Since 2016, Da Brat has appeared on the reality TV series ''The Rap Game'', as a mentor to young talent. In 2017 Da Brat joined the reality TV series '' Growing up Hip Hop: Atlanta'' which follows around Atlanta legends and children of Atlanta legends.

Personal life

Da Brat dated Allen Iverson in the late 1990s. In an interview with ''Variety'' in March 2020, she discussed coming out as bisexual and why it took her 25 years to do so. On March 26, 2020, Da Brat confirmed that she is in a relationship with hair product businesswoman Jesseca Dupart. On February 22, 2022, Da Brat and Dupart married in Georgia. Da Brat publicly came out in March 2020 through an Instagram post where she announced her relationship with Jesseca Dupart, CEO of Kaleidoscope Hair Products. In an interview, Da Brat shared that she had always preferred privacy but felt the need to meet in the middle with her partner, who is a social media influencer. The decision to come out was spontaneous, and Da Brat expressed how good it felt to share her happiness with the world. Da Brat announced in February 2023 that she was expecting her first child. She had surgery to remove fibroids and polyps prior to an embryo transfer procedure and suffered a miscarriage before the current pregnancy. She gave birth to their son, True Legend, on July 6, 2023.

Legal troubles and 2008 prison sentence

In 2001, Da Brat pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless conduct after she had battered a woman with a gun during a dispute over VIP seating in an Atlanta nightclub in 2000. The victim in that incident received six stitches for a head wound. Da Brat ended up serving a year's probation, performed 80 hours of community service, and paid a $1,000 fine. On October 31, 2007, Da Brat was involved in an altercation that ended in assault at a Halloween party held at Studio 72 nightclub near Atlanta. Da Brat initially argued with a hostess, ex-NFL cheerleader Shayla Stevens, and when the hostess walked away to talk to her manager, Da Brat attacked her from behind, striking her in the face with a rum bottle. The waitress was rushed to an area hospital, and police arrested and jailed Da Brat. In court, Da Brat pleaded guilty to

aggravated assault In the terminology of law, an assault is the act of causing physical harm or unwanted physical contact to another person, or, in some legal definitions, the threat or attempt to do so. It is both a crime and a tort and, therefore, may result ...

charges. She was sentenced in August 2008 to three years in prison, seven years of probation, and 200 hours of community service. In May 2010, she was temporarily released from prison as part of a work-release program, after serving 21 months. On February 28, 2011, Da Brat was released from prison, according to her boss Jermaine Dupri. Her civil trial stemming from the 2007 altercation commenced on February 24, 2014. On February 28, 2014, a civil trial jury awarded the assault victim $6.4 million to cover her injuries and past/future loss of earnings.

Discography

;Studio albums * '' Funkdafied'' (1994) * '' Anuthatantrum'' (1996) * '' Unrestricted'' (2000) * '' Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz'' (2003)

Tours

;Joint tour * Rainbow World Tour (with Mariah Carey and

) (2000)

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Documentary

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards BET Awards Billboard Awards

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Brat, Da 1974 births Living people 20th-century African-American actresses 20th-century American actresses 21st-century African-American actresses 21st-century American actresses Actresses from Chicago African-American women rappers American film actresses American people convicted of assault American television actresses American bisexual actresses American bisexual musicians Bisexual rappers African-American LGBTQ people LGBTQ people from Illinois American LGBTQ rappers Midwest hip-hop musicians Participants in American reality television series Prisoners and detainees of Georgia (U.S. state) Rappers from Chicago So So Def Recordings artists 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American singers 21st-century American rappers 21st-century American women singers 21st-century American singers 20th-century American LGBTQ people 21st-century American LGBTQ people 20th-century African-American women singers 21st-century African-American women singers 21st-century American women rappers 20th-century American women rappers Kenwood Academy alumni LGBTQ women singers