Da Brat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Da Brat
Da Brat in 2018
Background information
Birth name	Shawntae Harris
Born	(1974-04-14) April 14, 1974 (age 51) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Midwestern hip-hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper
Years active	1992–present
Labels	So So Def Virgin
Spouse(s)	Jesseca Dupart ​ (m. 2022)​
Children	1
Relatives	LisaRaye McCoy (sister)

Shawntae Harris-Dupart (born April 14, 1974), known by her stage name Da Brat, is an American rapper who made history in music. She grew up in Chicago and started her career in 1992. Two years later, she signed with Jermaine Dupri's record label, So So Def Recordings.

In 1994, she released her first album, Funkdafied. This album was a huge success and sold over one million copies, making Da Brat the first female solo rap artist to earn a platinum album. Her hit song, also called "Funkdafied", climbed to number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She also appeared on Lil' Kim's popular 1997 song "Not Tonight" with other famous rappers.

Throughout her career, Da Brat has worked with many top artists, including Mariah Carey and Dem Franchize Boyz. She is known for her unique style and has received two Grammy Award nominations for her music.

Early Life

Da Brat was born Shawntae Harris on April 14, 1974, in Chicago, Illinois. She was raised on the city's West Side. Her father, David Ray McCoy, was a businessman, and her mother, Nadine Brewer, was a city bus driver. Since her parents were not married, she grew up in two different homes.

Da Brat spent time with both her mother and her grandmother. She was active in her church, where she sang in the choir. She is the half-sister of actress LisaRaye McCoy. In high school, Da Brat played basketball and ran track. She graduated in 1992 from the Academy of Scholastic Achievement.

Music Career

1992–1995: A Star is Born

Da Brat's career took off in 1992 when she won a major rap contest sponsored by Yo! MTV Raps. The prize was a meeting with the rap group Kris Kross. They introduced her to their producer, Jermaine Dupri, who signed her to his So So Def record label.

Her first album, Funkdafied, was released in 1994 and was an instant hit. It entered the hip-hop albums chart at number 11 and sold over a million copies. This made her the first solo female rapper to achieve a platinum album. The main single, "Funkdafied", was very popular, reaching #1 on the rap charts and #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her next single, "Give It 2 You," also became a top 30 hit.

Da Brat also became known for her unique fashion. She often wore braids and oversized jerseys, mixing hip-hop style with her own personal touch. Her bold fashion choices made her a style icon and influenced many others.

1996–1999: Famous Collaborations

In 1996, Da Brat released her second album, Anuthatantrum. It featured the single "Ghetto Love" with T-Boz from the group TLC. During this time, she became famous for her fun personality and guest appearances on other artists' songs. She worked with Kris Kross again on their albums Da Bomb and Young, Rich and Dangerous.

She also worked with her good friend, singer Mariah Carey. Da Brat added a rap verse to the remix of Carey's number-one hit "Always Be My Baby". In 1996, she also acted in her first movie, Kazaam, with Shaquille O'Neal.

Da Brat continued to collaborate with major stars. She was featured on a remix of Dru Hill's song "In My Bed" and another Mariah Carey remix for the song "Honey". One of her most famous collaborations was the "Ladies' Night (Not Tonight)" remix with Lil' Kim, Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes, Angie Martinez, and Missy Elliott. The group performed the song at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards.

2000–2003: New Music and Image

In 2000, Da Brat released her third album, Unrestricted. It included the singles "That's What I'm Looking For" and "What'chu Like", which featured singer Tyrese. With this album, Da Brat changed her image, moving from her tomboy style to a more glamorous look.

She continued to work with other artists. In 2001, she was featured on a remix of Mariah Carey's song "Loverboy", which went to #1 on the R&B/Hip Hop chart. That same year, she appeared in Mariah Carey's movie Glitter.

In 2003, she released her fourth album, Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz. The single "In Love wit Chu" was a top 10 hit on the Billboard rhythmic chart. She also appeared on the TV show The Surreal Life.

2005–Present: TV and Radio Host

In 2005, Da Brat was featured on the hit remix of "I Think They Like Me" by Dem Franchize Boyz. The song reached #1 on the R&B/Hip Hop chart. She also joined Mariah Carey on her The Adventures of Mimi Tour in 2006 as a special guest.

Since 2015, Da Brat has been a co-host on the Rickey Smiley Morning show. She is also a cast member on the TV show Dish Nation. Starting in 2016, she appeared on the reality series The Rap Game as a mentor for young rappers. In 2017, she joined the cast of Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta.

Personal Life

On March 26, 2020, Da Brat confirmed her relationship with businesswoman Jesseca Dupart. The couple got married in Georgia on February 22, 2022.

In February 2023, Da Brat announced she was expecting her first child. She gave birth to their son, True Legend, on July 6, 2023.

Discography

Studio albums

• Funkdafied (1994)
• Anuthatantrum (1996)
• Unrestricted (2000)
• Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz (2003)

Tours

Joint tour

• Rainbow World Tour (with Mariah Carey and Missy Elliott) (2000)

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Documentary

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards

BET Awards

Billboard Awards

See also

In Spanish: Da Brat para niños