Da Brat

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. 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"). Brat has received two Grammy Award nominations. Early life and education Da Brat was born on April 14, 1974 in Chicago, Illinois, 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. 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. Career