In 1992, Harris got a big break when she won the grand prize in a local rap contest sponsored by Yo! MTV Raps. For the prize, she got to meet Kris Kross, and they in turn introduced her to their producer, Jermaine Dupri, who signed her to his So So Def label. Dupri cultivated Da Brat's image as a "female Snoop Doggy Dogg", and she became one of the first female "reality-based" rappers.
Da Brat's debut album Funkdafied was released in 1994 and entered the rap albums chart at Number #1. The album went platinum, which made her the first female solo rapper to sell one million units. The single also entitled "Funkdafied" reached #1 on the rap singles chart and #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. She had a follow-up hit from the same album, "Give It 2 You", which reached #26 on the Hot 100.
In 1996, Da Brat released her second full-length album, Anuthatantrum, which included the single "Ghetto Love" featuring T-Boz of TLC.
During the rest of the '90s, Da Brat came to be known more for her "featured" appearances on other rappers' and R&B singers' albums rather than for her own solo work. She contributed a rhyme to the hip hop remix of Mariah Carey's hit, "Always Be My Baby". She also made her feature film debut that year in Kazaam with Shaquille O'Neal. During the summer of 1997, Da Brat appeared along with Dupri on a remix of Carey's "Honey (So So Def mix)" and recorded the hit remix of "Ladies' Night (Not Tonight)" with Lil' Kim, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Angie Martinez and Missy Elliott. Da Brat was also featured with Kris Kross on their track "Da Bomb" on the album Da Bomb, as well as on their third album Young, Rich and Dangerous.
In 1997, she was featured on "Sock It 2 Me", a track on Missy Elliott's debut album, Supa Dupa Fly. In 1999, she appeared, alongside Krayzie Bone, on the remix to Mariah Carey's cover of Brenda K. Starr's "I Still Believe". She also appeared as a guest artist with Elliott on Carey's remix of "Heartbreaker", and on the remix of Brandy's "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)". That year, she was also featured on a remix of the Destiny's Child single "Jumpin', Jumpin'".
In early 2000, Da Brat released her third full-length album Unrestricted, which produced the moderately successful singles "That's What I'm Looking For" (U.S. #56) and "What Chu Like" (U.S. #26), featuring soul singer, Tyrese. The album was not well received compared to Brat's earlier work. However, the new album and new millennium did inspire an image makeover for Da Brat. Abandoning her "gangsta" persona, she decided to follow the trend in popular music and attempted to add to her sex appeal; the video for "What Chu Like" featured Da Brat and Tyrese rolling around naked on a beach.
In 2001, Brat continued her trend of being featured on other artist's remixes, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart along with rapper Ludacris on the main remix of Mariah Carey's "Loverboy" and being featured artist on Destiny's Child's "Survivor" remix. Da Brat also appeared as Louise in Carey's 2001 movie Glitter. In 2003, Brat released her fourth album, titled Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz, and appeared on the 4th season of VH1's The Surreal Life.
In 2001, Da Brat pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless conduct after she had beaten a woman with a gun during a dispute over VIP seating in a Buckhead, Georgia, nightclub in 2000. The victim in that incident received six stitches for a head wound. Harris ended up serving a year's probation, performed 80 hours of community service and paid a $1,000 fine.
In 2005, she made a comeback of sorts when she was featured on the remix to the song "I Think They Like Me," by Dem Franchize Boyz, which also featured Bow Wow and Jermaine Dupri. The song peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart and #15 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2006, she was an onstage guest on Mariah Carey's The Adventures of Mimi Tour in Atlanta, New York City, Long Island, Washington DC, Chicago, and Los Angeles performing her rap verses on the "Heartbreaker" and "Honey" remixes. She was also featured on Kelly Rowland's "Gotsta Go", a bonus track from her 2007 album Ms. Kelly and is also featured on a bonus track from Carey's E=MC² on a track entitled "4real4real". She also co-wrote a song with Mariah Carey called "O.O.C." which appears on E=MC² and contributes backing vocals on the track.In 2007, she participated in the fifth season of the VH1 reality series Celebrity Fit Club.
On October 31, 2007, she was involved in the altercation that ended in assault at a Halloween party at Studio 72 nightclub in Tucker, Georgia. Harris sparred verbally with a hostess, and later, when the hostess proceeded to talk to her manager, Harris attacked her from behind, striking her in the face with a rum bottle. Harris entered a guilty plea to aggravated assault charges. She was sentenced to three years in prison, seven years of probation, and 200 hours of community service. In May 2010 she was released from prison after serving 21 months.
Ain't No Thang
Da Brat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Breakin' motherfuckers off proper like
And all y'all motherfuckers know what I mean
(Ain't no thang, ain't no thang)
Puttin' it down puttin' it down ain't no thang to me
(Ain't no thang, ain't no thang)
For me to knock niggas out the box daily
Get out, watch ya steps and the ol' bucksway
Fire sixteen and we bust an oozy
What side can we ride on, take off your sign or
Fire tech-9 and we bust your car right
Here's one, it bust louder than a normal gun
Here's one, fire one and fire on and on
Ambush, we have bush and we have tech psycho
Run by and rat tat tat at cha' and ya trucko
Bumptity bump is that shit that cha' get
When ya listenin' to the sounds of Da Brat (BABY!)
It's like that it's like that ain't no future in frontin'
So to avoid all that I keep bumpin' (AH NIGGA!)
I ain't no motherfucking joke (NIGGA!)
Step and get broke up loc
How I came in is how I'm goin' out (With a bang)
Puttin' it down, puttin' it down ain't no thang
(Ain't no thang, ain't no thang)
Puttin' it down puttin' it down ain't no thang to me
(Ain't no thang, ain't no thang)
It's the ZZ, it's one to the two to the motherfucking three
(Ain't no thang, ain't no thang)
Puttin' it down puttin' it down ain't no thang to me
(Ain't no thang, ain't no thang)
For me to knock niggas out the box daily
Uh, it ain't no thang for me to lay a busta down
Buck a sucker down cause me don't fuck around
With them niggas that be fussin' on that fake shit
I'm on that ill tip nigga, you ain't heard about that real bitch
Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge
Motherfuckers wanna test me, cops wanna arrest me
But fuck that, ya get a hole in ya fuckin' head
I puts it down as a come up with a pinch of Chi
A little dash of the funk and it's funkdafied
As I combine them to get the good funkdafied
Can ya ride with this bitch from the Westside (NIGGA!)
I ain't no motherfucking joke (NIGGA!)
Puffin' on that indo smoke
How I came in is how I'm goin' out (With a bang)
Back with a motherfucking dope and man
From around the mountain, to the place that chu' call ya block
It's that nigga with no nuts but cha' still on jock
Highly (Why you) why me cause I rap tightly
And ain't no need for you to even try me
From sunrise to sunset I keeps niggas in check
It's the i-itiful, dopest individual
Who gets wreck, for all places and all races
First come, first serve basis
(Ain't no half steppin')
Cause Brat's spittin' shit like an automatic weapon
Ain't no room for no flaws in this click
(Cause the shit that we make is the funky shit)
Ya know (NIGGA!) I ain't no motherfucking joke (NIGGA!)
Step and get broke up loc
How I came in is how I'm goin' out (With a bang)
Puttin' down puttin down cause it ain't no thang
The lyrics to Da Brat's song "Ain't No Thang" are about putting down and defining one's place as a rapper in the industry. The first verse talks about breaking off new rappers like they are nothing (ain't no thang) and knocking them out daily. The second verse talks about how Da Brat is not to be messed with and doesn't tolerate any fake people around her. She combines the East and West Coast sounds to make her music funkdafied and enjoyable for all races and places. The chorus repeats that it's easy (ain't no thang) for Da Brat to put down her music and knock out any new rappers that come her way.
The lyrics reflect Da Brat's confident and aggressive demeanor as a rapper. She asserts her dominance and warns other rappers not to mess with her. The use of words like "bust" and "fire" emphasize the violent and dangerous nature of the rap game. The repetition of "ain't no thang" throughout the chorus highlights the ease with which Da Brat puts down her music and knocks out other rappers. The lyrics showcase Da Brat's ability to take control and define her place in the industry.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, puttin' down, definition
I am laying down my style and making it my unique definition
Breakin' motherfuckers off proper like
I am showing people how it is done in the most perfect manner
And all y'all motherfuckers know what I mean
Everyone knows I am the best in the game
(Ain't no thang, ain't no thang)
It is easy for me, I do not find it difficult
Puttin' it down puttin' it down ain't no thang to me
I am confident in my skills and it is effortless for me
For me to knock niggas out the box daily
I am always ahead of the competition and continuously setting the bar high
Get out, watch ya steps and the ol' bucksway
Be careful and watch your step, while I handle this old school style effortlessly
Fire sixteen and we bust an oozy
We are firing sixteen bars with such force that it is like firing an oozy gun
What side can we ride on, take off your sign or
What side do we represent, either remove your affiliation or we will destroy you
Fire tech-9 and we bust your car right
We are firing tech-9 guns and obliterating your car
Here's one, it bust louder than a normal gun
This gunshot is much louder than any other gunshot
Here's one, fire one and fire on and on
We keep firing shots non-stop
Ambush, we have bush and we have tech psycho
We are waiting to ambush and we have advanced weaponry that is hard to defend against
Run by and rat tat tat at cha' and ya trucko
We will run by you and fire multiple gunshots at you and your truck
Bumptity bump is that shit that cha' get
This bumptity bump is the sensation you get when listening to my music
When ya listenin' to the sounds of Da Brat (BABY!)
The soundwaves you hear are from the exceptional voice of Da Brat
It's like that it's like that ain't no future in frontin'
Acting like something you are not will get you nowhere in life
So to avoid all that I keep bumpin' (AH NIGGA!)
I continue to produce amazing music to avoid the fake lifestyle
I ain't no motherfucking joke (NIGGA!)
I am not here to play around, I am serious about my craft
Step and get broke up loc
Anyone who gets in my way will get hurt
How I came in is how I'm goin' out (With a bang)
I entered the music industry as a force to be reckoned with and I will leave the same way
It's the ZZ, it's one to the two to the motherfucking three
This is Da Brat's unique sound and it is unforgettable
Uh, it ain't no thang for me to lay a busta down
It is easy for me to take down any competition
Buck a sucker down cause me don't fuck around
I will destroy anyone who tries to challenge me because I am a serious artist
With them niggas that be fussin' on that fake shit
I do not associate with people who act fake or put on a front
I'm on that ill tip nigga, you ain't heard about that real bitch
I am the real deal, and people should already know that by now
Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge
I am close to the point of breaking and I will not tolerate any more negativity
Motherfuckers wanna test me, cops wanna arrest me
People want to challenge me, and authorities want to take me down, but I won't falter
But fuck that, ya get a hole in ya fuckin' head
Anyone who challenges me will get hurt severely
I puts it down as a come up with a pinch of Chi
My music is successful and has a touch of Chicago roots and identity
A little dash of the funk and it's funkdafied
There is a slight element of funk in my music that makes it unique and groovy
As I combine them to get the good funkdafied
I bring these elements together to produce amazing music that everyone can enjoy
Can ya ride with this bitch from the Westside (NIGGA!)
Can you vibe with this artist who hails from the Westside?
Puffin' on that indo smoke
I am smoking some high-quality marijuana
From around the mountain, to the place that chu' call ya block
From wherever you are, to the place you call home
It's that nigga with no nuts but cha' still on jock
Even though I am a woman, people still want to follow and be like me
Highly (Why you) why me cause I rap tightly
People respect me because I rap very well
And ain't no need for you to even try me
Do not waste your time trying to test me
From sunrise to sunset I keeps niggas in check
I am in control and people respect me from morning until night
It's the i-itiful, dopest individual
I am a beautiful and unique artist who stands out from others
Who gets wreck, for all places and all races
I am successful and respected among all people from every background
First come, first serve basis
I am so popular that it is first come first served to get a hold of my music
(Ain't no half steppin')
I do not cut corners, everything I do is 100 percent
Cause Brat's spittin' shit like an automatic weapon
I am rapping so quickly and aggressively that it is like firing an automatic weapon
Ain't no room for no flaws in this click
We do not tolerate any mistakes in this group
(Cause the shit that we make is the funky shit)
We produce amazing music that is enjoyable and fresh
Ya know (NIGGA!) I ain't no motherfucking joke (NIGGA!)
Everyone should know by now that I am serious about my craft
Back with a motherfucking dope and man
I am back with amazing new music that everyone will love
Puttin' down puttin down cause it ain't no thang
It is easy for me to produce amazing music and set trends
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMAHL KAHEEL HANNA, JERMAINE DUPRI, SHAWNTAE HARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind