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.
May Da Funk Be Wit 'Cha
Da Brat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Untypical is that bad ass ho
B to the R to the A to the T
Ain't no bitch is this industry that can see me
The city of C-H-I is where I'm from
The 3rd motherfucker to drop the bomb on the bomb
And here I come steady breakin bustas off
Up to bat is Da Brat and ain't a damn thing soft
Is all up in that ass for the motherfuckin ninety's
So funkdafied who can be this lady
Brat westside bustin like a 380
From the top of my head to the sole of my feet
Broke down smoked out locced out is she
That bitch that'll hit ya get ya
And when you bumpin up my shit may da funk be wit 'cha
Fall into the groove of the waxin
Let my music take you high-e-i
Lay back kick it and enjoy the ride
And move that body from side to side
Fall into the groove of the waxin
Let my music take you high-e-i
Lay back kick it and enjoy the ride
And move that body from side to side
A real fresh voice over top of low frequency
Is the chain like connection between you and me
Why? Cause I got that bump de de bump
And baby you got them humps in your trunk
So it's on (Shit)
Lay back nigga we fin to ride
I gotta get high I gotta get mine
Baptized all up in this funky shit
Fired up is that bitch that you just can't with
I got what you need do you wanna fly?
This is your brain on drugs and I
Have been captured taken over by
The captivating strength of the most funkdafied high
It's like fire locked in my bones
Get smoked the fuck out it's the funk bring it on (oh yeah)
And that's how I hit ya
And when you bumpin up my shit may da funk be wit 'cha
Fall into the groove of the waxin
Let my music take you high-e-i
Lay back kick it and enjoy the ride
And move that body from side to side
Hypnotized by a motherfucker puttin it down
It's Da Brat watch your back when I'm in your town
Cause I gotta be funky I gotta be me
I gotta be that same bitch from the streets
A woman of my clad
Commin up with the motherfucking funk so I know my track
Right, can you feel it do you hear what I hear
Nothin but the funk bumpin up in your ear
Double S-O definitely
So locced out that it's just so s-o crazy
Brat on that ass fallin back once more
Getting filled on full with that shit from the ghetto
You better ask somebody if you don't know
I'm from Chicago and you can't fade this ho
And that's how I get ya
And when you bumpin up my shit nigga take the funk wit 'cha
Fall into the groove of the waxin
Let my music take you high-e-i
Lay back kick it and enjoy the ride
And move that body from side to side
In the song "May Da Funk Be Wit 'Cha," Da Brat starts by describing her home city of Chicago, boasting about being the third person to drop "the bomb on the bomb." She then introduces herself as a "bad ass ho" that no other woman in the music industry can take on. She talks about her love for funk music and how it can take you high and make you want to move your body. Throughout the song, Da Brat's lyrics emphasize her strong personality and individuality, encouraging listeners to embrace their own unique selves.
Line by Line Meaning
Now back from the 6-o-6-4-4 full of indo
I'm back from the neighborhood 60644, with weed.
Untypical is that bad ass ho
I'm not like any other rapper out there.
B to the R to the A to the T
That's me, Da Brat.
Ain't no bitch is this industry that can see me
No female rapper can match up to me.
The city of C-H-I is where I'm from
I'm from Chicago.
The 3rd motherfucker to drop the bomb on the bomb
I'm a pioneer in the music industry.
And here I come steady breakin bustas off
I'm here to take down my competition.
Up to bat is Da Brat and ain't a damn thing soft
I'm a strong and tough competitor.
About me, no doubt the B-R-A-T
It's all about me, Da Brat, no questions asked.
Is all up in that ass for the motherfuckin ninety's
I'm going to dominate the rap scene in the 90s.
So funkdafied who can be this lady
I'm a unique and funky artist.
Brat westside bustin like a 380
I'm representing the Westside of Chicago and making a big impact.
From the top of my head to the sole of my feet
I'm all about that bass.
Broke down smoked out locced out is she
I'm from the streets and I'm real.
That bitch that'll hit ya get ya
I'm a tough rapper who will take you down.
And when you bumpin up my shit may da funk be wit 'cha
Listen to my music and let the funk take over.
Fall into the groove of the waxin
Get lost in the music.
Let my music take you high-e-i
My music will take you to new heights.
Lay back kick it and enjoy the ride
Relax and enjoy the music.
And move that body from side to side
Dance to the music.
A real fresh voice over top of low frequency
My unique and fresh voice pairs well with this low-frequency beat.
Is the chain like connection between you and me
My music connects me to my fans.
Cause I got that bump de de bump
My music has a strong bass line.
And baby you got them humps in your trunk
My fans have amazing dance moves.
So it's on (Shit)
Let's get things started.
Lay back nigga we fin to ride
Relax, we're about to start this musical journey.
I gotta get high I gotta get mine
I need to get in the right headspace to perform at my best.
Baptized all up in this funky shit
I'm fully immersed in this funky music.
Fired up is that bitch that you just can't with
I've got an intense energy that my competition can't match.
I got what you need do you wanna fly?
My music has what it takes to take you to new heights.
This is your brain on drugs and I
My music is like a drug for your brain.
Have been captured taken over by
I'm fully immersed in this music.
The captivating strength of the most funkdafied high
The strength of my music is like no other.
It's like fire locked in my bones
I'm on fire when I'm performing.
Get smoked the fuck out it's the funk bring it on (oh yeah)
Let's get lost in the music and have a good time (oh yeah).
And that's how I hit ya
That's how I make an impact on my fans.
Hypnotized by a motherfucker puttin it down
My fans are entranced by my music.
It's Da Brat watch your back when I'm in your town
I'm a force to be reckoned with and people need to watch out for me.
Cause I gotta be funky I gotta be me
I need to stay true to myself and be funky.
I gotta be that same bitch from the streets
I need to stay authentic and represent where I came from.
A woman of my clad
I am a strong and confident woman.
Commin up with the motherfucking funk so I know my track
I'm making sure my music is funky and unique to stand out.
Right, can you feel it do you hear what I hear
Can you feel the music and hear the depth of it?
Nothin but the funk bumpin up in your ear
My music is giving you nothing but funk.
Double S-O definitely
I'm real and authentic, no doubt about it.
So locced out that it's just so s-o crazy
I'm crazy and wild when I perform.
Brat on that ass fallin back once more
I'm taking down my competition again and again.
Getting filled on full with that shit from the ghetto
I'm getting inspired by my environment and incorporating that into my music.
You better ask somebody if you don't know
If you don't know about me, you better ask somebody who does.
And that's how I get ya
That's how I hook my fans.
And when you bumpin up my shit nigga take the funk wit 'cha
Keep the funk alive even when you're not listening to my music.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JERMAINE DUPRI, SHAWNTAE HARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind