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.
Give It to You
Da Brat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One for the money
Two for the bass
Three to get you going
'Cause Da Brat's in the place (I'm gonna give it to you)
Yeah, huh
(I'm gonna give it to you)
(Who's that?) The B to the R-A-T and in fact
If you ain't heard of me, take a seat, lay back and listen
As I bust for your ass on this Funkdafied mission
Just kick off your shoes and relax your feet (that's right)
Party on down with Da Brat and her beat
Now it goes like that and that's how it goes
I'm gonna give it to all you negroes and hoes
So listen up (listen up)
Make sure you listen up well
And don't miss shit 'cause this bitch be bad as hell
Truth of the matter is, I splatter kids
That talk shit in a gangster's way
That's how them fools get dealt with
So, what you want to do, bitch? Don't even trip
Step up, step up and I'ma bust your lip
Now I know that you know that I know you don't want me to
But keep on tripping and I'm gon' give it to you, biatch
(I'm gonna give it to you, you, ooh)
(I'm gonna give it to you, whoa)
(I'm gonna give it to you)
Brat is the fantastic, romantic
Single-handed bandit and damn it
Don't get no better, better, it don't get no more
Than the flow that I flow for you negroes and hoes
Devastating, captivating, elevating as I (smooth)
Operating and I love to get high
Well, nigga, fire it up (say what?), Nigga, fire it up
At your request, I guess it's time for me to get fucked up
It goes one puff, two puff, three puff, four
From the bottom to the top, top to bottom, I go
So now you know what I ain't and what I is
It's the baddest new bitch in this hip-hop biz
O.G. is what I am, a brat is what I be
Blunts are what I smoke and you can't see me
So let it go 'cause my shit is tight
Take it how I give it and enjoy the night, right
(I'm gonna give it to you, you, ooh)
Yeah, it's like that, it's like that
For the nine-fucking-four
It's Da Brat and you don't know (I'm gonna give it to you)
You better ask some-motherfucking-body
La di da di, I came to party, bitch
Ayy JD, sing this shit with me, boy (I'm gonna give it to you)
Right here
Word up, hey, word up, hey
Word up, hey, for real though, shit
Word up, hey, word up, hey
Word up, hey, for real though
(I'm gonna give it to you, you, ooh)
(I'm gonna give it to you, whoa)
In the song Give It 2 You, Da Brat declares her intention to give her best to her listeners. She starts by counting one, two, three, and then asserts that she is in charge of the place. The self-proclaimed O.G. funk bandit sets her mike and gets her base going, inviting her audience to relax their feet and party with her. She offers her beats to all her "negros and hoes," promising to go hard on anyone who may talk trash. Da Brat boasts of being the baddest new bitch in the hip-hop biz, smoking on blunts that no one else can see.
In the second verse, Da Brat calls herself fantastic, romantic, single-handed bandit, and delivers her lyrics with a smooth flow. She loves to get high and takes a puff at the request of her fans. The artists put her ego on full display, claiming to be the baddest in the business, and dares anyone to challenge her. She ends the song by getting JD to join her as she sings, "I'm gonna give it to you, you, ooh."
Line by Line Meaning
One for the money
Starting this funky ride with one sweet sound
Two for the bass
Adding more depth to the beat with a second frequency
Three to get you going
Building up momentum with a third element to the music
'Cause Da Brat's in the place
Setting the tone and letting everyone know who's in charge
It's me, the O.G .funk bandit
Introducing herself as the Original Gangsta of funk music
(Who's that?) The B to the R-A-T and in fact
Clarifying her name for anyone who still doesn't know
If you ain't heard of me, take a seat, lay back and listen
Encouraging anyone who's not familiar with her to pay attention and learn
As I bust for your ass on this Funkdafied mission
Displaying her skills and dedication to the funky cause
Just kick off your shoes and relax your feet (that's right)
Inviting everyone to let loose and join the party
Party on down with Da Brat and her beat
Informing everyone of the main source of fun for the night
Now it goes like that and that's how it goes
Summarizing the simple but effective formula for creating good music
I'm gonna give it to all you negroes and hoes
Promising to deliver the funky goodness to everyone, regardless of race or gender
So listen up (listen up)
Urging everyone to pay attention and not miss a beat
Make sure you listen up well
Reinforcing the importance of attentive ears
And don't miss shit 'cause this bitch be bad as hell
Warning everyone not to underestimate her skills and confidence
Truth of the matter is, I splatter kids
Admitting to being tough and sometimes violent with those who disrespect her
That talk shit in a gangster's way
Clarifying that she only retaliates against those who try to act tough and disrespectful
That's how them fools get dealt with
Explaining the consequence of crossing her
So, what you want to do, bitch? Don't even trip
Challenging anyone who dares to test her
Step up, step up and I'ma bust your lip
Threatening physical harm to anyone who tries to mess with her
Now I know that you know that I know you don't want me to
Acknowledging the possibility that some people may try to avoid confrontation with her
But keep on tripping and I'm gon' give it to you, biatch
Promising to stay true to her reputation and fight back when necessary
Brat is the fantastic, romantic
Describing herself in a playful and confident manner
Single-handed bandit and damn it
Boasting about her skills and accomplishments
Don't get no better, better, it don't get no more
Claiming that she's the best and no one can top her
Than the flow that I flow for you negroes and hoes
Emphasizing the quality and exclusivity of her music
Devastating, captivating, elevating as I (smooth)
Adding more adjectives to describe her unique style and impact
Operating and I love to get high
Enjoying the good life and indulging in her vices
Well, nigga, fire it up (say what?), Nigga, fire it up
Encouraging her fans to join her in getting high
At your request, I guess it's time for me to get fucked up
Humorously admitting to being easily influenced by her fans' requests
It goes one puff, two puff, three puff, four
Counting and enjoying each step of the way
From the bottom to the top, top to bottom, I go
Reiterating her love for the high life
So now you know what I ain't and what I is
Being upfront about her flaws and strengths
It's the baddest new bitch in this hip-hop biz
Boasting about her status and influence in the industry
O.G. is what I am, a brat is what I be
Explaining her personal identity and legacy
Blunts are what I smoke and you can't see me
Expressing her love for smoking and asserting her independence
So let it go 'cause my shit is tight
Urging anyone who doubts her to accept her greatness and move on
Take it how I give it and enjoy the night, right
Encouraging everyone to have a good time and appreciate her music
For the nine-fucking-four
Acknowledging the current year and possibly its significance to her fans
It's Da Brat and you don't know (I'm gonna give it to you)
Reminding everyone of her name and what she's capable of
You better ask some-motherfucking-body
Asserting her influence and impact on the scene
La di da di, I came to party, bitch
Quoting an iconic line and setting the tone for the night
Ayy JD, sing this shit with me, boy (I'm gonna give it to you)
Including her collaborator and acknowledging his contribution
Right here
Confirming her presence and readiness to perform
Word up, hey, word up, hey
Expressing approval and enthusiasm
Word up, hey, for real though, shit
Affirming her sincerity and authenticity
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Chris Kelly, Jermaine Dupri
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind