Shawntae Harris-Dupart, popularly known by the stage name Da Brat was an American rapper who began her career in 1992. She entered the American music industry when she signed with So So Def Records in 1992.
She became the second female rap act after Salt-N-Pepa when her debut album Funkdafied (1994 sold one million copies and earned a platinum certification as the first female solo rap act.
Are you interested in learning more about this 48-year-old well-known American rapper? Don’t worry, we’ll tell you everything that you need to know about Da Brat.
Da Brat: Early Life And Education
Da Brat was born on April 14, 1974, in Chicago, Illinois as the daughter of businessman David Ray McCoy and city bus driver Nadine Brewer.
She has a half-sister named Lisa Raye. Brat was brought up in two different homes. She mostly spends her childhood with her mother and grandmother.
From a very young age, Brat showed interest in music and dancing. She used to perform in most of the events at schools. Da Brat often visited an Apostolic church where she sang in the choir four times per week while living part of the time with her mother and grandmother.
Da Brat ran track and played basketball at Kenwood Academy throughout her sophomore and junior years. In 1992, she completed her education at the continuing charter school Academy of Scholastic Achievement, which serves kids who are at risk.
Da Brat: Musical Career
Da Brat got her big break when she won a neighborhood rap competition in 1992. She released her debut album two years later in 1994. Her second album, Anuthatantrum, was released soon after.
The 1996 album Young, Wealthy, and Dangerous was a collaboration between her and Kris Kross. She appeared in Missy Elliot’s song Sock It 2 Me the next year. She contributed three remixes of three different songs in 1999.
Da Brat released her third album, Unrestricted, in early 2000. Three years later, her fourth album was released. Later, she had an appearance on Kelly Rowland’s Gotsta Go and the remix of I Think They Like Me by Dem Franchize Boyz.
In the following years, she released many singles and albums, some of which were collaborations with popular musicians in the industry.
Da Brat: Songs And Albums
Da Brat has contributed various singles and albums to the American music industry. Here’s the list of a few of Brat’s songs and albums.
Albums
- Lime, Luv & Niteclubz (2003)
- Unrestricted (2000)
- Anuthatantrum (1996)
- Funkdafied (1994)
Songs
- Give It 2 You (1994)
- Da B Side (1996)
- Ghetto Love (1996)
- That’s What I’m Looking For (2000)
- In Love Wit Chu (2003)
- Gangsta Bitches (2001)
- Come See About Me (2000)
- Slap! Slap! Slap! (2001)
- Give It to You (2004)
Da Brat: Acting Career
Besides her musical career, Da Brat was very much interested in and highly talented in acting. Brat had an appearance in an episode of All That in 1994.
She made a small appearance in the film Kazaam two years later. In 1997 and 1998, she made an appearance on the television program The Parent’ Hood.
She acted in the movies Glitter and Carmen: A Hip-Opera the following year. Later, Brat made an appearance in a Sabrina, the Teenage Witch episode. She acted in the 2006 movie 30 Days.
She then appeared in the second season of a TV series named Empire in 2015. She has been in other television shows besides Surreal Life, Celebrity Fit Club, and The Rickey Smiley Morning Program. Since 2016, she has served as a judge on the Reality show series The Rap Game.
Da Brat: Films And TV Shows
Films
- Kazaam (1996)
- Rhyme and Reason (1997)
- Glitter (2001)
- Carmen: A Hip Hopera (2001)
- Civil Brand (2002)
- 30 Days (2006)
Television Shows
- All That (1994-95)
- It’s Showtime at the Apollo (1995-97)
- The Parent’ Hood (1997-98)
- The Andy Dick Show (2000)
- Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (2002)
- The Surreal Life (2005)
- Celebrity Fit Club (2007)
- The Real Housewives of Atlanta (2014-17)
- Empire (2015)
- The Rap Game (2016-19)
- Star (2017)
- Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta (2017-21)
- The Chi (2021)
Da Brat: Awards And Nominations
- Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards for Best Rap Album (1995).
- 1994 Billboard Awards – Top Hot Rap Artist and Top Hot Rap Single.
- 1994 Billboard Awards for Top R&B Artist Female and Top Hot R&B Single Sales (Nominated).
- 1995 Billboard Awards for Top Hot Female Rap Artist.
- 1998 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (Nominated).
- 2004 Grammy Awards for Best Female Rap Solo Performance.
- BET Awards for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist in 2001 and 2004 (Nominated).
Da Brat: Personal Life
Da Brat dated Allen Iverson before she came out as a lesbian. She talked about coming out as a lesbian and why it took so long to do so in an interview with the media in 2020.
In 2020 March, Brat declared her relationship with the businesswoman Jesseca Dupart. In February 2022, the couple got married in Georgia.
In February 2023, Da Brat announced that she and Dupart were expanding their family and that she was carrying her first child.
Before the embryo transfer procedure, she underwent surgery to remove polyps and fibroids. She had previously experienced a miscarriage.
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Da Brat: Controversies
Da Brat made headlines in 2000 for assaulting a woman in an Atlanta club with a rum bottle. She entered a guilty plea the next year and was given a probationary period of one year as well as a $1,000 fine.
She was detained once more in 2007 for brutally attacking a Studio 72 hostess at a Halloween party. Da Brat was given a sentence of three years in prison and seven years on probation.
In May 2010, she was temporarily released from custody as a result of a work-release event. She finished her sentence in 2011.
Da Brat: Net Worth
The 45-year-old American rapper Da Brat’s net worth is estimated to be around $3 million as of 2023.
The musical and acting career of Brat is the main source of her wealth. She is considered one of the most successful female rappers in the American music industry.
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