Da Brat aka Shawntae Harris was born in Joliet, Illinois on this day 50 years ago. The Grammy-nominated rapper/actress/radio host that is mostly known for her debut album Funkdified, is the first female solo artist to earn a platinum plaque and the second overall only to Hip Hop icons Salt ‘N Pepa.
Da Brat was raised in on Chicago’s West Side, living between parents with an older, beautiful half-sister by the name of Lisa Raye. The So So Def-based artist has recorded hits with rap icons such as Notorious B.I.G., Tyrese, Destiny’s Child, Lil’ Kim, Missy Elliot, Mariah Carey, and the late Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes.
In 2020, Da Brat is now an internationally known radio host on the Atlanta-based, Rickey Smiley-produced show Dish Nation. She and hair care queen Jessica Dupart recently welcomed their new addition to their family last year wit a healthy new baby.
Happy Birthday to Da Brat on her special day and many more to come in the future!
To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of So So Def, Grammy® Award-winning producer, songwriter, hip-hop artist, author, and DJ Jermaine Dupri, announced his upcoming So So Def Festival, a celebration of hip-hop and R&B music. The multi-day festival will feature performances from well-renowned artists, including Xscape, Jagged Edge,Anthony Hamilton, Da Brat, TLC, Dem Franchize Boyz, and Youngbloodz.
The two-day live music event will take place on October 7th from 12 PM – 11 PM ET and October 8th from 12 PM – 10 PM ET in Atlanta’s infamous Central Park. Additional performers are forthcoming.
Da Brat’s wife, Judy Dupart-Harris, has dropped a hip-hop-themed photoshoot of their son, True Legend. Captioning the collection, “It was only right.” True Legend holds a mini microphone and boombox, looking like a legend. The couple also debuts True Legend’s own Instagram: @truelegendhd.
In the final thread, Judy praised the photography for her work. “We took True for a NEWBORN photoshoot session with Kelsey Freeman Photography like 2 weeks ago and I 5000% suggest her to anyone she’s like a baby whisperer.”
Earlier, Da Brat released images of her son, True Legend. Sharing with PEOPLE, Da Brat expressed how she feels about motherhood.
“Look, this came out of my stomach,” Da Brat said while sitting with his wife Jesseca “Judy” Harris-Dupart. “I cry every day. I just look at him and boo-hoo, because I’m so grateful.”
Da Brat also reflected on her pregnancy journey, “I’m 49, I’m high-risk, I have high blood pressure. So many women so much younger than me want kids and can’t have them, and I had a successful pregnancy. It’s just an honor. He’s such a blessing.”
Last month, Da Brat’s wife Jesseca “Judy” Dupart is responding to Shaynah Solocheck, a former employee of Dupart, who claims the couple stole the name of her two songs for their newborn.
Hitting Instagram, Dupart issued a response, pointing to Da Brat speaking on an epsiode of Dish Nation in 2020: “No negativity as we celebrate our PERFECT son, but let’s get 1 thing straight with LOVE. This my wife on Dish in 2020.”
She added, “We didn’t have a daughter but my wife’s pick of OUR sons name is a perfect fit for him with NO ONE else’s child in mind. ESPECIALLY a person we no longer follow/interact with nor know wtf is going on in their life.”
The rapper gave birth to their son in Atlanta on July 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The baby boy weighed 7 pounds and 8 ounces, measuring 20 inches long.
“I can’t BELIEVE he came out of me!” Da Brat tells PEOPLE. “Feels like a dream. He’s PERFECT in every way.” Da Brat says she is “Very appreciative for such a blessing of our bundle of joy. This journey has been more amazing than we could’ve ever imagined.”
Harris-Dupart says, “His name had been True Legend Harris-Dupart but now that we’ve met him we are tempted to name him PERFECT.”
You can see additional pictures below.
Da Brat Is a Mom! Rapper and Wife Jesseca Harris-Dupart Welcome Baby Boy (Exclusive) https://t.co/FyPcxbZdMv
Da Brat has released images of her son, True Legend, for the first time. Sharing with PEOPLE, Da Brat expressed how she feels about motherhood.
“Look, this came out of my stomach,” Da Brat said while sitting with his wife Jesseca “Judy” Harris-Dupart. “I cry every day. I just look at him and boo-hoo, because I’m so grateful.”
Da Brat also reflected on her pregnancy journey, “I’m 49, I’m high-risk, I have high blood pressure. So many women so much younger than me want kids and can’t have them, and I had a successful pregnancy. It’s just an honor. He’s such a blessing.”
Last month, Da Brat’s wife Jesseca “Judy” Dupart is responding to Shaynah Solocheck, a former employee of Dupart, who claims the couple stole the name of her two songs for their newborn.
Hitting Instagram, Dupart issued a response, pointing to Da Brat speaking on an epsiode of Dish Nation in 2020: “No negativity as we celebrate our PERFECT son, but let’s get 1 thing straight with LOVE. This my wife on Dish in 2020.”
She added, “We didn’t have a daughter but my wife’s pick of OUR sons name is a perfect fit for him with NO ONE else’s child in mind. ESPECIALLY a person we no longer follow/interact with nor know wtf is going on in their life.”
The rapper gave birth to their son in Atlanta on July 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The baby boy weighed 7 pounds and 8 ounces, measuring 20 inches long.
“I can’t BELIEVE he came out of me!” Da Brat tells PEOPLE. “Feels like a dream. He’s PERFECT in every way.” Da Brat says she is “Very appreciative for such a blessing of our bundle of joy. This journey has been more amazing than we could’ve ever imagined.”
Harris-Dupart says, “His name had been True Legend Harris-Dupart but now that we’ve met him we are tempted to name him PERFECT.”
You can see additional pictures below.
Da Brat Is a Mom! Rapper and Wife Jesseca Harris-Dupart Welcome Baby Boy (Exclusive) https://t.co/FyPcxbZdMv
Da Brat’s wife Jesseca “Judy” Dupart is responding to Shaynah Solocheck, a former employee of Dupart, who claims the couple stole the name of her two songs for their newborn.
Hitting Instagram, Dupart issued a response, pointing to Da Brat speaking on an epsiode of Dish Nation in 2020: “No negativity as we celebrate our PERFECT son, but let’s get 1 thing straight with LOVE. This my wife on Dish in 2020.”
She added, “We didn’t have a daughter but my wife’s pick of OUR sons name is a perfect fit for him with NO ONE else’s child in mind. ESPECIALLY a person we no longer follow/interact with nor know wtf is going on in their life.”
Exclusive news from PEOPLE revealed that Da Brat and her wife, Jessica “Judy” Harris-Dupart, have welcomed a baby boy into their family.
The rapper gave birth to their son in Atlanta on July 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The baby boy weighed 7 pounds and 8 ounces, measuring 20 inches long.
“I can’t BELIEVE he came out of me!” Da Brat tells PEOPLE. “Feels like a dream. He’s PERFECT in every way.” Da Brat says she is “Very appreciative for such a blessing of our bundle of joy. This journey has been more amazing than we could’ve ever imagined.”
Harris-Dupart says, “His name had been True Legend Harris-Dupart but now that we’ve met him we are tempted to name him PERFECT.”
You can see additional pictures below.
Da Brat Is a Mom! Rapper and Wife Jesseca Harris-Dupart Welcome Baby Boy (Exclusive) https://t.co/FyPcxbZdMv
Rapper Da Brat, known for her groundbreaking contributions to hip-hop, and Jesseca “Judy” Harris-Dupart, CEO of Kaleidoscope Hair Products, joyfully announced the arrival of their baby boy, True Legend Harris-Dupart. This marks Da Brat’s first experience as a mother at the age of 49, and the couple couldn’t be more thrilled to embrace this new […]
Exclusive news from PEOPLE reveals that Da Brat and her wife, Jessica “Judy” Harris-Dupart, have welcomed a baby boy into their family.
The rapper gave birth to their son in Atlanta on July 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The baby boy weighed 7 pounds and 8 ounces, measuring 20 inches long.
“I can’t BELIEVE he came out of me!” Da Brat tells PEOPLE. “Feels like a dream. He’s PERFECT in every way.” Da Brat says she is “Very appreciative for such a blessing of our bundle of joy. This journey has been more amazing than we could’ve ever imagined.”
Harris-Dupart says, “His name had been True Legend Harris-Dupart but now that we’ve met him we are tempted to name him PERFECT.”
You can see additional pictures below.
Da Brat Is a Mom! Rapper and Wife Jesseca Harris-Dupart Welcome Baby Boy (Exclusive) https://t.co/FyPcxbZdMv
The summer of 1994 was marked by a history-making debut album by Da Brat. Funkdafied was the album that largely unleashed the talents of the rapper into the limelight. Da Brat quickly cemented herself in the history books with the nine-track project. Looking back 29 years later, it’s easy to see how she became a pioneer female MC.
As the album inches closer to its third decade, it’s important to note how Da Brat’s debut inspired women in rap worldwide. A solo woman rapper selling one million copies at the time was an arduous task. Nonetheless, Da Brat came out swinging, becoming the first female solo act to achieve a Platinum certification with an album. The rest, as they say, was history.
The History Behind Da Brat’s Rise
When he was just 19 years old, Jermaine Dupri discovered the chart-topping hip hop duo Kriss Kross. In 1992, they had become mainstream acts and watched a then-unknown Da Brat win a rap battle in Chicago. Enthralled by her flow, the pair encouraged Dupri to bring her on the So So Def label. Although reluctant, Dupri decided to give her a chance.
“She was introduced to me by Kriss Kross. They saw her while they were on tour, and they came to me and said, “We got this female rapper you should check out,” Dupri told Angela Yee for Fox Soul. “And when they did it, I didn’t want no female rapper. But I thought that since they said I should check her out… I’m like, what does she do that made them want me to look at her? So I at least decided to give it a listen.”
The Success Of Funkdafied
Funkdafied was released on June 28, 1994 to overwhelmingly positive reviews. Importantly, Da Brat was only 20 years old when her debut album hit the airwaves. This left more than enough room for the artist to carve out a distinct rap career for herself. Funkdafied housed the lead single of the same name, which also achieved Platinum status two months after the album’s release.
Da Brat has previously mentioned that while Dupri expressed the near-impossibility of a largely successful debut, she wasn’t deterred. Things would later work in her favor, as Funkdafied sold over a million copies, the first by a solo woman in rap to do so. Da Brat quickly became a noteworthy act, especially for her edgier rap style that many women artists would later emulate.
Jermaine Dupri also earned significant acclaim for his impressive production on the album. Funkdafied peaked at the eleventh spot on the Billboard 200. It further hit the top spot on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Featured acts on the project include Kandi Burruss, LaTocha Scott, Y-Tee, Mac Daddy from Kris Kross, and Dupri himself on the lead track.
Besides the title track, two other singles were released from Brat’s debut album. “Fa All Y’all” and “Give It 2 You” also succeeded, becoming her second and third consecutive songs to hit the Top 40. However, none of Da Brat’s other songs have enjoyed the success of “Funkdafied,” which peaked at the sixth spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The G-funk single was praised for its infusion of parody, funk music, and heavy-hitting rap lyrics.
Funkdafied’s Legacy
With her debut album, Da Brat paved the way for many after her. By breaking the Gold-certification hold others had before her, she proved a woman could sell a million copies in rap solo. Today, it’s impossible to highlight Hip Hop’s most iconic albums without including Funkdafied. While Da Brat has found success with other ventures, she will still be widely heralded for her stellar debut album and her impressive catalog of hits.
Da Brat and Jesseca Harris-Dupat’s baby shower looked lit. With a baby loading, the couple hosted a Minions-themed baby shower that was full of family, friends, love, games, and twerking.
Da Brat hit Instagram to celebrate what she referred to as “the best baby shower” she had ever attended.
“Maaan I am STILL on a cloud!” Da Brat wrote. “Our little Minion baby shower was soooo BEAURRRRTIFUL. OMG From the decor to the delectable food to the decadent desserts to the FABULOUS FAMILY & FRIENDS who came out to my wife’s ass in the air twerking to the delicious specialty drinks.
“Maaaan THEEEE BEST BABY SHOWER I’ve ever been too. (the only one l’ve ever been too) MY BEAURTIFUL @darealbbjudy and Elly B Events @ellybevents SHOWED THEE FUGG AOUT! What a way to CELEBRATE our little Miracle Drop.”
Da Brat and her wife Jesseca Dupart are giving us an intimate look at their road to a new baby. In a shared post on Instagram, the couple shared a video of the two feeling for kicks from their forthcoming son.
In the video, Da Brat pushes her stomach and feels for kicks from the baby. “I felt it again,” she says.
The caption for the video reads:
Guess who’s feeling the baby’s movements now it’s the SWEETEST little things to watch my wife is so deserving of all this excitement, love and blessings Baby Boy Harris-Dupart is playing games with his mommy
The two are also promoting a new series, Brat Loves Judy, which will premiere on April 27.
Previously, Da Brat and Jesseca held a gender reveal. Joined by their family, the couple revealed an “It’s A Boy” on a sign, sparking celebration among the attendees.
“Baby Harris – Dupart is a boy,” the couple wrote on Instagram.
Da Brat has faced backlash for comments she made during a recent interview. On an appearance of Tamron Hall, the musician and her wife Judy Dupart talked about their difficulties finding a sperm donor. However, Da Brat raised a few eyebrows when talking about the final choices available to them.
“And that [dude] looked like Jiminy Cricket. I was like, ‘I’m sorry but that wasn’t gonna be my choice.,” Brat said of the remaining Black donor. She continued, “Because we didn’t have a lot to choose from, he definitely wasn’t Black. But I think we did a great job with picking. He’s handsome, he’s tall and I think he’s going to look beautiful with my wife’s egg.” Da Brat has now issued an additional statement on the interview.
Da Brat Says Comments Taken Out Of Context
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 06: Da Brat performs onstage during the Lovers & Friends music festival at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on May 06, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
“I didn’t think it would be offensive to anybody. I cracked jokes about almost everybody that I saw, that one just happened to make it in the show,” Da Brat said. “I wasn’t trying to be mean or say anything negative about Black people. I guess they thought it was funny and I didn’t think it would bother anybody or else I would have taken it out.” She continued, “I had no idea people were going to be so offended, but I meant no harm whatsoever,” the rapper said. “People take things and run with it. I’m like, ‘What?’ People who know me know that I didn’t mean any harm.”
She continued, “We were looking for a Black donor. We’re Black, we wanted a Black donor. So it was just misconstrued and taken way out of context.” However, she also apologized wholeheartedly for her comments. “If I offended anybody, I do apologize. But it was a joke between me and my wife and the doctor, like, we joke like that, we play around so it wasn’t meant to be offensive in any way.” Do you think people took Da Brat’s comments out of context? Let us know in the comments below.
