DA BRAT
Da Brat was one of the first of a new breed of hard-edged female MCs to hit the hip-hop scene during the ‘90s. Although sexuality was certainly part of her image, it wasn’t as important to her as it was to Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown; instead Da Brat made her name as a tough, profane, rhymer whose hardcore attitude and lyrical skills were never in doubt. Da Brat was born Shawntae Harris in Chicago in 1974, and started rapping at age 11.
Still a teenager, she was discovered by producer Jermaine Dupri in 1992. With their endorsement, Dupri signed her to his So So Def label and produced her debut album, Funkdafied, which was released in 1994. The title track was an enormous hit, going to number two on the R&B charts and spending nearly three months on top of the rap singles chart.
It’s success—as well as that of the follow-up singles Fa All Y’All and Give It 2 You helped Da Brat become the first female rapper to ever have a platinum-selling album. Funkdafied also hit number one on the R&B album chart.
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