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.
Da Shit Ya Can't Fuc Wit
Da Brat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chorus: I be Da B-R-A-T the new lady wit dat shit ya can't fuck wit (say 2x)
Verse 1:
Uh, fool sittin' all fat brat tat tat tat (bitch and its like that)
Well let me lift you to the sky
Those with no love I stay about like GOD
Quick to pull ya trigga nigga quick to pull ya card
And it don't stop and it don't quit
In ninety-fo I be the sho shot shit
And in years to come shit ain't gonna change
Sosodef, you know the name of the game
And those that say they don't, nigga bitch please
Cuz, we be known for makin' dem Geeees
Settin them swole, steady going gold
Whateva we release, whateva we unfold
So now you know in ninety-fo who's the shit
And who's got the shit dat you just can't fuck wit
Chorus
Verse 2:
Well yo, I ain't no joke never have never will be
Down your whole block you can feel me
All I do is keep fucking it up
The doper my shit the bigger my come up
Now tell me have you ever heard a female vocalist
Swift like this that kick shit like this?
I don't think so, I don't think you know
No hoe that can flow like I flow
And plus if you like it rough and rugged then you love it
Play it say it day to day you never ever get enough of it (WOOOOOOO)
Ain't I ridiculous its dat bad mamma jamma
Like hammer you can't touch this
(Don't fuck wit) My shit (nor) my click
(Don't even trip) Cuz you bound to get split....Biiitch
Ain't no thang ain't no thang
For me to put it down and make you motherfuckas swang
Bridge: Di di di dah di di di dah di day
All you suckas anxious won't you please come out and play (say 2x)
Chorus
The lyrics to Da Brat's "Da Shit Ya Can't Fuc Wit" are a proclamation of her confidence and skill as a rapper. The opening line, "I promise the funk, the whole funk, and nothin' but the funk" sets the tone for the song, as Brat establishes herself as a force to be reckoned with in the rap game. The chorus repeats her name, spelling it out and emphasizing her distinctiveness and uniqueness as an artist.
In the first verse, Brat asserts her superiority over her competition with lines like "Quick to pull ya trigga nigga, quick to pull ya card" and "And in years to come shit ain't gonna change, Sosodef, you know the name of the game." She also references her success, saying "Settin them swole, steady going gold / Whateva we release, whateva we unfold."
In the second verse, Brat continues to boast about her skills, saying "All I do is keep fucking it up / The doper my shit the bigger my come up" and "Ain't I ridiculous, it's dat bad mamma jamma / Like hammer you can't touch this." She also plays with the phrase "don't fuck with," turning it into a repetitive refrain in the outro.
Overall, "Da Shit Ya Can't Fuc Wit" is a declaration of Da Brat's talent and confidence, establishing her as a formidable player in the rap world.
Line by Line Meaning
I promise the funk the whole funk and nothin' but the funk...Yoooooohoo
I vow to deliver an authentic and pure genre of music known as funk, not tainted by any other style or influence. Yooooohooo!
I be Da B-R-A-T the new lady wit dat shit ya can't fuck wit (say 2x)
I go by the name The Brat and I am the fresh new female artist with a unique musical style that no one can match or compete with. Say it twice!
Uh, fool sittin' all fat brat tat tat tat (bitch and its like that)
I see you sitting there foolishly with arrogance, but I will swiftly shut that down with my sharp wit and flow - just like that, bitch.
Well let me lift you to the sky
Allow me to elevate your spirit and mind with my music
Just climb aboard the B-R-A-T ride
Join me on a musical journey with my unique and unparalleled style known as the B-R-A-T ride
Those with no love I stay about like GOD
I stay away from those who do not show love, just like God does
Quick to pull ya trigga nigga quick to pull ya card
I am not afraid to call out those who try to act tough or lie to me
And it don't stop and it don't quit
I will continue with my music and won't let anything or anyone stop me
In ninety-fo I be the sho shot shit
In 1994, I was the ultimate, unrivaled artist
And in years to come shit ain't gonna change
My style will remain unique and unmatched even in future years
Sosodef, you know the name of the game
Sosodef is the name of my game and it's known by all
And those that say they don't, nigga bitch please
Anyone who claims not to know about me and my music is lying
Cuz, we be known for makin' dem Geeees
We are known for making hits and producing great music
Settin them swole, steady going gold
We make successful music, with many gold certifications
Whateva we release, whateva we unfold
Everything we release or bring to the table is unique and successful
So now you know in ninety-fo who's the shit
In 1994, everyone knew that I was the best artist around
And who's got the shit dat you just can't fuck wit
No one could compete with my unique style and talent
Well yo, I ain't no joke never have never will be
I am not someone to be taken lightly, and I will always be serious about my music
Down your whole block you can feel me
My music is felt and appreciated throughout the entire neighborhood
All I do is keep fucking it up
I make great music that keeps raising the bar and making everyone recognize my talent
The doper my shit the bigger my come up
The more amazing my music, the greater my success and popularity will be
Now tell me have you ever heard a female vocalist
Have you ever heard a female artist with my level of skill and talent before?
Swift like this that kick shit like this?
Fast and powerful like me, with music that no one else can match?
I don't think so, I don't think you know
I doubt you have ever heard someone with my level of skill and talent before
No hoe that can flow like I flow
No other woman can match my flow and style
And plus if you like it rough and rugged then you love it
If you are a fan of raw and tough music, then you will surely appreciate my style
Play it say it day to day you never ever get enough of it (WOOOOOOO)
You can listen to my music every day and never get tired of it, and that's worth celebrating with a WOOOOOOO!
Ain't I ridiculous its dat bad mamma jamma
Am I not amazing and impressive, like a bad mamma jamma
Like hammer you can't touch this
Similar to MC Hammer's hit song, you cannot touch my music in terms of skill and talent
(Don't fuck wit) My shit (nor) my click
Don't mess with my music, or my squad
(Don't even trip) Cuz you bound to get split....Biiitch
Don't even worry about it, because you'll regret it in the end
Ain't no thang ain't no thang
It's not a problem, it's not a problem, no big deal
For me to put it down and make you motherfuckas swang
It's easy for me to create great music that gets people dancing and swaying to the beat
Di di di dah di di di dah di day
A nonsense phrase used to add rhythm and emphasis to the lyrics
All you suckas anxious won't you please come out and play (say 2x)
All the wannabe artists who are eager to compete, please step up and try to play with me. Say it twice!
I be Da B-R-A-T the new lady wit dat shit ya can't fuck wit (say 2x)
I am The Brat, the female artist with unique music that no one else can match. Say it twice!
Chorus
Reiterating the main point of the song, that Da Brat is the new female artist with music that cannot be matched
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JERMAINE DUPRI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind