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.
Education	Kenwood Academy
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper songwriter actress
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 as Da Brat, is an American rapper. She was born and grew up in Chicago. She started her music career in 1992.

In 1994, she signed with Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings. She then released her first album, Funkdafied. This album was a big success. It became the first album by a female solo hip hop artist to sell over one million copies. This earned it a platinum award.

The song "Funkdafied" was very popular in 1994. It reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Da Brat also worked with other artists like Lil' Kim, Missy Elliott, and Mariah Carey. She was nominated for two Grammy Awards for her music.

Early Life and School

Da Brat was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 14, 1974. She grew up mostly on the West Side of the city. Her parents were David Ray McCoy and Nadine Brewer. They were not married. Da Brat lived with her mother and grandmother sometimes. She sang in the choir at an Apostolic church.

She is the half-sister of actress LisaRaye McCoy. Da Brat went to Kenwood Academy for two years. There, she played basketball and ran track. She finished school in 1992 at the Academy of Scholastic Achievement. This school helps students who might be at risk.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out: 1992–1995

Da Brat got her big chance in 1992. She won a local rap contest held by Yo! MTV Raps. As a prize, she met the rap group Kris Kross. They introduced her to their producer, Jermaine Dupri. He signed her to his So So Def music label.

Her first album, Funkdafied, came out in 1994. It quickly became very popular. The album sold over one million copies. This made Da Brat the first female solo rapper to achieve this. The song "Funkdafied" was a number one hit on the rap singles chart. Another song from the album, "Give It 2 You", also did well.

Working with Others: 1996–1999

In 1996, Da Brat released her second album, Anuthatantrum. It included the song "Ghetto Love" with T-Boz from TLC. During this time, Da Brat became well-known for her guest appearances. She often featured on songs by other rappers and R&B singers.

She worked with Kris Kross again on their albums. She also added a rap verse to a remix of Mariah Carey's song "Always Be My Baby" in 1996. That same year, she acted in the movie Kazaam with Shaquille O'Neal. Da Brat also appeared on remixes for songs by Dru Hill and Missy Elliott. In 1997, she was part of the hit remix "Ladies' Night (Not Tonight)" with Lil' Kim and other artists. She also worked with Mariah Carey on more remixes and with Destiny's Child.

Solo Music and Acting: 2000–2003

Da Brat released her third album, Unrestricted, in 2000. It had songs like "That's What I'm Looking For" and "What'chu Like" with singer Tyrese. In 2001, she was featured on a remix of Mariah Carey's "Loverboy". She also appeared in Mariah Carey's 2001 movie Glitter.

In 2003, Da Brat released her fourth album, Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz. This album included the song "In Love wit Chu". She also appeared on the TV show The Surreal Life.

Recent Activities: 2005–Present

In 2005, Da Brat was featured on the remix of "I Think They Like Me" by Dem Franchize Boyz. This song was very successful. In 2006, she joined Mariah Carey on her The Adventures of Mimi Tour for several shows. She performed her rap parts on popular remixes.

She also worked on songs for Kelly Rowland and Mariah Carey's album E=MC². In 2011, she made a remix with Kelly Rowland called "Motivation". Since 2015, Da Brat has been a co-host for the Rickey Smiley Morning Show. She is also part of the Dish Nation TV show. From 2016, she has been a mentor on the reality TV series The Rap Game. In 2017, Da Brat joined the TV show Growing up Hip Hop: Atlanta.

Personal Life

Da Brat married Jesseca Dupart on February 22, 2022, in Georgia. In February 2023, she shared that she was expecting her first child. She had some health procedures before this pregnancy. Da Brat gave birth to their son on July 6, 2023.

Music Albums

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

Tours

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

Film and TV Appearances

Movies

Television Shows

Music Videos

Documentaries

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards

BET Awards

Billboard Awards

See also

In Spanish: Da Brat para niños