Da Brat
Da Brat in August 2018
Born
Shawntae Harris

(1974-04-14) April 14, 1974
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
EducationKenwood Academy
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • actress
Years active1992–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2022)​
Children1
RelativesLisaRaye McCoy (half-sister)
Musical career
GenresHip hop
InstrumentsVocals
LabelsSo So Def

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, she began her career in 1992, the year she signed with So So Def Records. Her debut album Funkdafied (1994) sold one million copies, making her the first-ever female solo rap act to receive a platinum certification, and the second-ever female rap act (solo or group) after Salt-N-Pepa.

During the first half of her career, she released two top-ten songs on the Billboard Hot 100, with 1994's "Funkdafied" and 1997's "Not Tonight" (with Lil' Kim, Lisa Lopes, Missy Elliott and Angie Martinez), both tracks reaching the #6 spot on the Hot 100; additionally, "Funkdafied" reached the #2 spot on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, with "Not Tonight" reaching #3 on the same chart.[1] Da Brat has also had commercial success with other songs and collaborations, including with Jermaine Dupri (JD) on "I Think They Like Me". She has appeared on several songs/remixes with friend Mariah Carey, notably 2001's "Loverboy" remix which features Brat, Ludacris, Shawnna and Cameo (peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100), as well as with Xscape on JD's 1996 remix of Carey's #1 hit "Always Be My Baby", on JD's 1997 remix to Carey's #1 hit "Honey", with Carey and Krayzie Bone on a 1999 mashup "I Still Believe/Pure Imagination" (which features a chorus based on the "Willy Wonka" song "Pure Imagination"), and a lighthearted 2002 duet with Carey called "Gotta Thing For You" (a hip-hop-inspired version of the Bobby Caldwell song "What You Won't Do For Love").[2] Brat has received two Grammy Award nominations.

Early life and education

Da Brat was born on April 14, 1974 in Chicago, Illinois,[3][4][5] and was raised primarily on the West Side of the city. Her father is David Ray McCoy, a businessman, and mother, Nadine Brewer, a city bus driver.[6][7] Her parents never married. Brat was subsequently raised in two different households. Da Brat lived part of the time with her mother and grandmother and attended an Apostolic church four times a week, where she sang in the choir. She is the paternal half-sister of LisaRaye 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.[8]

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. For the prize, she met the young rap duo Kris Kross. They introduced her to their producer, Jermaine Dupri, who signed her to his So So Def label. Da Brat's debut album Funkdafied was released in 1994 and entered the rap albums chart at number 11. The album went platinum, making her the first female solo rapper to sell one million copies. The single "Funkdafied" reached number 1 on the rap singles chart and number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her follow-up single from the same album, "Give It 2 You", reached number 26 on the Hot 100.[9]

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. During the rest of the 1990s, Da Brat came to be known more for her "featured" appearances on other rappers' and R&B singers' albums rather than for her own solo work. Da Brat was also 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). She contributed a rhyme to the hip hop remix of Mariah Carey's hit, "Always Be My Baby" (1996). She also made her feature film debut that year in Kazaam (1996) with Shaquille O'Neal. In 1997 she and Dupri appeared on the remix of the Dru Hill hit "In My Bed". That same year, Da Brat appeared along with Dupri on a remix of Carey's "Honey (So So Def mix)" (1997) and recorded the hit remix of "Ladies' Night (Not Tonight)" (1997) with Lil' Kim, Left-Eye of TLC, Angie Martinez, and Missy Elliott. Also in 1997, she was featured on "Sock It 2 Me", a track on Missy Elliott's debut album, Supa Dupa Fly. In 1999, she appeared, alongside Krayzie Bone, on the remix to Mariah Carey's cover of Brenda K. Starr's "I Still Believe" (1998). She also appeared as a guest artist with Elliott on Carey's remix of "Heartbreaker" (1999), and on the remix of Brandy's "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)". That year, she was also featured on a remix of the Destiny's Child single "Jumpin', Jumpin'" (1999).

2000–2003: Return to solo work

In early 2000, Da Brat released her third full-length album Unrestricted, which produced the moderately successful singles "That's What I'm Looking For" (U.S. number 56) and "What'chu Like" (U.S. number 26), featuring soul singer, Tyrese. The album was not well-received compared to Brat's earlier work. However, the new album and new millennium did inspire an image makeover for Da Brat. Abandoning her "gangsta" persona, she decided to follow the trend in popular music and attempted to add to her sex appeal. In 2001, Brat continued her trend of being featured on other artist's remixes, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart along with rapper Ludacris on the main remix of Mariah Carey's "Loverboy" and being featured artist on Destiny's Child's "Survivor" remix. Da Brat also appeared as 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 n°9 on the Billboard rhythmic. In 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 Dem Franchize Boyz, which also featured Bow Wow and Jermaine Dupri. 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.[10] She released her new single "Is It Chu?" on iTunes and other digital services on July 2, 2013.[11] 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.[12]

Personal life

Da Brat dated Allen Iverson in the late 1990s.[13] In an interview with Variety in March 2020, she discussed coming out as bisexual and why it took her 25 years to do so.[14] On March 26, 2020, Da Brat confirmed that she is in a relationship with hair product businesswoman Jesseca Dupart.[15] On February 22, 2022, Da Brat and Dupart married in Georgia.[16]

Da Brat announced in February 2023 that she and Harris-Dupart are growing their family and that she is 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.[17] She gave birth to their son on July 6, 2023.[18]

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.[19]

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 charges. She was sentenced in August 2008 to three years in prison, seven years of probation, and 200 hours of community service.[19] In May 2010, she was temporarily released from prison as part of a work-release program,[20] after serving 21 months. On February 28, 2011, Da Brat was released from prison, according to her boss Jermaine Dupri.[21] Her civil trial stemming from the 2007 altercation commenced on February 24, 2014.[22] 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

Tours

Joint tour

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Kazaam Herself
2001 Carmen: A Hip Hopera Narrator TV movie
Glitter Louise
2002 Civil Brand Sabrina
2006 30 Days Kamesha
2018 Canal Street Herself
2021 Envy: Seven Deadly Sins Herself TV movie

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1994-95 All That Herself Episode: "Da Brat" & "Larisa Oleynik/Da Brat"
1995-97 It's Showtime at the Apollo Herself Recurring Guest
1996-03 Soul Train Herself Recurring Guest
1997-98 The Parent 'Hood Bernice "Boo" Walker Recurring Cast: Season 4
2000 Making the Video Herself Episode: "Da Brat: What'Chu Like"
The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards Herself/Co-Host Main Co-Host
2001 The Andy Dick Show Herself Episode: "Come Back Quentin"
2002 Weakest Link Herself Episode: "Rap Stars"
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Baby K2K Episode: "Shift Happens"
2003 Intimate Portrait Herself Episode: "Mariah Carey"
2005 The Surreal Life Herself Main Cast: Season 4
2007 Celebrity Rap Superstar Herself/Judge Main Judge
Celebrity Fit Club Herself Main Cast: Season 5
2008 Hollywood Trials Herself Episode: "Episode #1.6"
2012 Unsung Herself Episode: "Millie Jackson"
2014-19 The Real Housewives of Atlanta Herself Recurring Cast: Seasons 7 & 10 & 12, Guest: Season 8
2015 Empire Jezzy Episode: "Et Tu, Brute?"
2015- Dish Nation Herself/Co-Host Main Co-Host: Season 4-
2017 Hip Hop Squares Herself Recurring Guest
Star Herself Episode: "A House Divided"
2017-21 Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta Herself Recurring Cast: Seasons 1-2a, Main Cast: Seasons 2b-4
2018 Unsung Hollywood Herself Episode: "Rickey Smiley"
2021 The Chi LaPorsha Episode: "Candyman"
2021-22 Brat Loves Judy Herself Main Cast
2022 Celebrity Family Feud Herself/Contestant Episode: "Simu Liu vs. Nathan Chen and Monica vs. So So Def"
Step Up: High Water Herself Recurring Cast: Season 3
2023 Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop Herself Episode: "What Are They Up Against?"
Saturdays Princess Episode: "Don't Clown the Duchess"
Married to Medicine Herself Episode: "Heard It Through the Grapevine", "Resurrection Rejection" & "Good Vibrations"

Music Videos

Year Song Artist
1994 "Da Bomb" Kris Kross
1995 "One More Chance" The Notorious B.I.G.
1997 "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" Missy Elliott
2001 "Ghetto Girls" Lil' Bow Wow
2005 "Shake It Off" Mariah Carey

Documentary

Year Title
1997 Rhyme & Reason

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards [23]

Year Nominated work Award Result
1998 "Not Tonight" Remix Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Nominated
2004 "Got It Poppin'" Best Female Rap Solo Performance Nominated

Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards [24]

Year Nominated work Award Result
1995 Funkdafied Best Rap Album Won

BET Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result
2001 Da Brat Best Female Hip-Hop Artist Nominated
2004 Nominated

Billboard Awards [25]

Year Nominated work Award Result
1994 Da Brat #1 Rap Artist Won

References

  1. ↑ "Da Brat Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Da Brat's Best songs". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  3. ↑ Kernodle, Tammy Lynn; Maxile, Horace Joseph (December 3, 2011). Encyclopedia of African American Music. ABC-CLIO. p. 196. ISBN 9780313342004 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ Hess, Mickey (November 3, 2009). Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide. ABC-CLIO. p. 326. ISBN 9780313343216 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (December 3, 2004). Joel Whitburn Presents Top R & B/hip-hop Singles, 1942-2004. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 9780898201604 – via Google Books.
  6. ↑ "IMAGINEI MAGAZINE". LaptrinhX. December 2, 2020. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  7. ↑ Company, Johnson Publishing (May 3, 1996). "Ebony". Johnson Publishing Company. p. 40 – via Google Books.
  8. ↑ "Da Brat". KOKY-FM. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Da Brat". Billboard.
  10. ↑ "Da Brat Documents Life After Prison In New Series "Brat Chronicles: In Transition" (EPISODE 1)". YouTube. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Video: Da Brat – 'Is It Chu'". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  12. ↑ "About". WE tv. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Da Brat Opens Up About Dating Allen Iverson, Says They 'Never Talked About' Her Bisexuality". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  14. ↑ Herman, James Patrick (June 3, 2020). "Da Brat's Coming Out Story Is 25 Years in the Making". Variety. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Rapper da Brat Comes Out, Shows World Her Girlfriend". March 26, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Da Brat Marries 'Twin Flame' Judy Dupart on 2/22/22: 'We Get to Show the World We're a Union'". People. February 23, 2022.
  17. ↑ France, Lisa Respers (February 21, 2023). "Da Brat is pregnant at 48". CNN. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  18. ↑ Chan, Anna (July 7, 2023). "Da Brat Gives Birth to First Child With Wife Jesseca Harris-Dupart: 'Feels Like a Dream'". Billboard.
  19. 1 2 "Da Brat Sentenced To Three Years In Prison For Atlanta Nightclub Fight". Mtv.com. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Da Brat Out of Prison On Work Release, Ready To Get To Work". Ballerstatus.Com. May 28, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Rapper Da Brat Released From Prison". Cinemablend.com. March 1, 2011. Archived from the original on March 5, 2011. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  22. ↑ Garner, Marcus K. (February 19, 2014). "Lawsuit against Da Brat goes to court next week". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Winners Data". grammy.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Aaliyah, Stacy Dash, Total and Da Brat @ Soul Train Awards (1995)". KlassicThrowbackTV. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Winners Data". billboardmusicawards.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.

Further reading

  • Hope, Clover (2021). The Motherlode: 100+ Women Who Made Hip-Hop. Harry N. Abrams. ISBN 978-1-4197-4296-5.
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