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.
Gotta Thing For You
Da Brat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You do not know me but I know you very well
So let me tell about Da Brat-ta-ta ta
I'm light skin, redbone, peanut butter complexion
Very affectionate, very direct when I'm expressing myself
I'm 5.5', my astrology sign is Aries
Thick in my thighs, 36Bs
Put it down with these luscious sa-sa-suckable lips
Making you wanna reach out and touch 'em
Come on and give me a kiss
Could it be those hips just pokin' out of my jeans
I showed them once or twice
And some niggers have become feems
I'm a javouci rocking, hat cockin'
Blunt smoking, no stopping, weave cocking
With constant heat dropping
Bombs on non-believers charming all the people
They call it the life of leisure
I'm preaching what I'm speaking
You said that you still seeing
So please believe it you needin'
The B to the muthafucking R A T
I guess you wonder where I've been
I search to find the love within
I came back to let you know
I gotta thing for you and I can't let it go
I'm steppin' in the club, y'all, hey now
Niggers showing me love, y'all, hey now
I wrap for my thugs, y'all, hey now
Especially my niggers, they got the ooh
I'd be sitting in my car waiting on you
To drop off my package
A big zipped locked baggy to support my habit
We'll go together like Roger and Jessica Rabbit
I'm spoiled rotten, I'm rocking pink
Silk panties at the moment but I'm sport cotton
But Jeanie's dreamin' of Jeanie will blink me to Scotty
So he can beam me pump adrenaline onto my blood stream
Proceed extremely with caution, I'm probably gleaming
'Cause my bling bling is worth a fortune
It seems things will never change
So I puffed often 'cause these dayz, niggers is crazy
You can't pay me to roll without my AK
I guess you wonder where I've been
I search to find the love within
I came back to let you know
I gotta thing for you and I can't let it go
I can't let go off this game
I can't let go off this fame
But for sure before I go
You niggers gonna know my name
I'm in the shit, 'cause I'm so doogie, one in a million
Cop a Brazzillion for the coochie that rides smoothly
Pass the doobie, the dutchie, rudely interrupted
Your regularly scheduled program, I throw down and bust it
And there ain't no hoe around touching me
I'm sharper than cutlery, I slice niggers to itty bitty pieces
Dice them to (?)
I'm steppin' in the club now y'all, hey now
Niggers showing me love y'all, hey now
I wrap for my thugs, y'all, hey now
Especially my niggers, they got the ooh
I guess you wonder where I've been
I search to find the love within
I came back to let you know
I gotta thing for you and I can't let it go
You know, you know
You know, you know
You know, you know
You know, you know
And I can't let it go
In Gotta Thing For You, Da Brat introduces herself to the listener, detailing her physical traits, personality, and ambitions. She starts by addressing someone she knows but who doesn't know her. She then talks about her appearance, including her light skin, redbone, peanut butter complexion, and 5.5' height. She also mentions being an Aries and having thick thighs, 36Bs, pretty brown eyes, and luscious lips. She later talks about the attention her hips draw and how some men have become infatuated with her. Da Brat then talks about her music career and how she's been preaching and charming all the people, living the life of leisure. She also makes a reference to her past hiatus and how she came back to let someone know she's got a thing for them that she can't let go.
She then switches the focus of the song to her experiences at the club, where she commands attention and support from her niggers. Da Brat also mentions her drug habit and how she waits for her dealers to drop off her big zipped locked baggy to support her addiction. She reveals that she's spoiled rotten and rocks pink silk panties, but she'd switch to cotton if Jeanie would dream of blinking her to Scotty so he could beam her adrenaline. She then raps about her sharpness and how nothing can come close to touching her. She finally ends the song with a chant confirming that she's unable to let go of the love she has for the intended recipient.
Line by Line Meaning
My dear, my dear, my dear
I address you with affection love and care
You do not know me but I know you very well
I know who you are, but you have no idea who I am
So let me tell about Da Brat-ta-ta ta
Allow me to introduce myself as Da Brat
I'm light skin, redbone, peanut butter complexion
I have a light, reddish-brown skin with a smooth texture similar to creamy peanut butter
Very affectionate, very direct when I'm expressing myself
I am very loving and open when I speak my mind
I'm 5.5', my astrology sign is Aries
I am 5 ft 5 in height and my astrological sign is Aries
Thick in my thighs, 36Bs
I have thick thighs and wear a size 36B bra
Pretty brown eyes, no hair weaves
I have beautiful brown eyes and do not wear hair extensions
Put it down with these luscious sa-sa-suckable lips
I kiss passionately and my lips are irresistible
Making you wanna reach out and touch 'em
My lips are so tempting that they make you want to touch them
Come on and give me a kiss
Let's kiss
Could it be those hips just pokin' out of my jeans
Do my hips look attractive in these jeans?
I showed them once or twice
I displayed my hips once or twice to see people's reaction
And some niggers have become feems
Some guys become weak or overpowered by my body
I'm a javouci rocking, hat cockin'
I wear fashionable clothes and tilted hats
Blunt smoking, no stopping, weave cocking
I smoke marijuana, change my hairstyle often and keep moving forward
With constant heat dropping
I am always releasing hot, fresh music
Bombs on non-believers charming all the people
I create great music and win over all the fans, even the skeptics
They call it the life of leisure
They associate my career with a fancy and luxurious lifestyle
I'm preaching what I'm speaking
I am promoting my beliefs and values through my music
You said that you still seeing
You mentioned that you are still interested
So please believe it you needin'
So believe me, you need me
The B to the muthafucking R A T
I am Da Brat, spelled B-R-A-T, and no one can ever replace me
I guess you wonder where I've been
You may be curious about my whereabouts
I search to find the love within
I look for love and happiness within myself
I came back to let you know
I am returning to tell you something important
I gotta thing for you and I can't let it go
I am deeply infatuated with you, and I can't help it
I'm steppin' in the club, y'all, hey now
I am entering the club filled with excitement
Niggers showing me love, y'all, hey now
People are friendly and greeting me with love
I wrap for my thugs, y'all, hey now
I rap for my fans, especially those who grew up in difficult circumstances
Especially my niggers, they got the ooh
My fans, particularly those from urban areas, are very excited and supportive
I'd be sitting in my car waiting on you
I spend time waiting for you in my car
To drop off my package
To deliver my drugs
A big zipped locked baggy to support my habit
A large zipped bag of drugs to fuel my addiction
We'll go together like Roger and Jessica Rabbit
We will be inseparable and have an amazing relationship like Roger and Jessica Rabbit from the movie 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?'
I'm spoiled rotten, I'm rocking pink
I am very privileged and wealthy, and I wear pink clothing
Silk panties at the moment but I'm sport cotton
I wear luxurious silk panties today, but I can also wear comfortable cotton underwear
But Jeanie's dreamin' of Jeanie will blink me to Scotty
A reference to the 1960s TV show 'I Dream of Jeannie,' where Jeannie, a blonde genie, blinks and transports objects and people upon request. I wish I could have that kind of power to teleport with the blink of an eye.
So he can beam me pump adrenaline onto my blood stream
I want Scotty to teleport me a shot of adrenaline to my bloodstream to make me feel energized and motivated
Proceed extremely with caution, I'm probably gleaming
Be very careful around me because I might be shining or glowing with success
'Cause my bling bling is worth a fortune
My jewelry is very valuable
It seems things will never change
I think things will never get better
So I puffed often 'cause these dayz, niggers is crazy
I smoke marijuana frequently because life is not easy, and some people may act irrationally
You can't pay me to roll without my AK
I will not go out without my assault rifle for protection
I can't let go off this game
I can't quit the music industry
I can't let go off this fame
I can't walk away from my celebrity status
But for sure before I go
Before I leave this world
You niggers gonna know my name
Everybody will remember my name and know who I am before I die
I'm in the shit, 'cause I'm so doogie, one in a million
I put myself in risky situations because I am unique, one-of-a-kind and brave
Cop a Brazzillion for the coochie that rides smoothly
I am willing to spend a lot of money on a car that runs smoothly
Pass the doobie, the dutchie, rudely interrupted
I was rudely interrupted while smoking marijuana
Your regularly scheduled program, I throw down and bust it
I will interrupt your normal programming to perform my music and rap with passion and energy
And there ain't no hoe around touching me
No one can distract me or bring me down
I'm sharper than cutlery, I slice niggers to itty bitty pieces
I am a skilled lyricist and can destroy my opponents with my rhymes
Dice them to (?)
The last word is not clear, but it may mean to cut them up like diced vegetables
You know, you know
You already know what I am capable of
And I can't let it go
I am addicted to the music, fame, and lifestyle and cannot give it up
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Alfons Kettner, Lenton Tereill Hutton, Robert Caldwell, Shawntae Harris, Unknown Splits
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind