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Da Brat has joined a distinct group of black female rappers imprisoned.
Today, the rambunctious hip-hop lyricist and reality TV fixture was sentenced to three years in prison for striking a woman with a rum bottle at an Atlanta-area nightclub.
The Atlanta-Journal Constitution' reports that a DeKalb County judge also sentenced the 'That's What I'm Looking For' rapper, whose real name is Shawntae Harris, to seven years probation and 200 hours of community service.
The fateful incident occurred during a Jermaine Dupri-hosted Halloween party at Georgia-area nightclub Studio 72 on Oct. 31, 2007. The victim, a waitress at the club, had to be hospitalized after being struck by the rapstress, and Superior Court Judge Gail Flake said the woman suffered permanent facial scarring.
Da Brat and the victim had reportedly gotten into an altercation prior to the assault, police said at the time.
This sentence follows a string of other female rappers who have been imprisoned for assault and attempted manslaughter, including Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown and most recently Remy Ma.
Black Music Notes June 26
6/26/08: Jill Scott
Jill Scott's latest album 'The Real Thing' is coming to a television screen near you. And it's going to be a sight for your eyes and a pleasure to your ears. On June 29, TV One will premiere an original music concert special featuring the neo-soul high priestess in all of her glory. Titled 'Jill Scott: The Real Thing Tour (Live in Philly),' the one-hour special features the two-time Grammy Award winning wunderkind performing a mix of her classic hits such as 'A Long Walk' and 'The Way,' juxtaposed with material from her newer projects, including the inspirational anthem 'Golden' and the tell-it-like-it-is, take-no-prisoners 'Hate On Me.' The special (Scott's very first) was filmed in March 2008 at the Liacouris Center in Philadelphia. Encore airings of the show are scheduled to air on July 3, July 5, and July 11.
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6/26/08: D'Angelo
Despite going through legal woes over the past few years, neo-soul originator D'Angelo is back in the studio working on a new album. According to 'Billboard,' the singer is expected to release his new as-yet-untitled album next year on J Records. The company bought out his contract in 2005 from Virgin Records (who released his first two albums). Fans can expect the man legally known as Michael D'Angelo Archer to hook up with Raphael Saadiq once again, the two previously worked together on Saadiq's 2002 hit 'Be Here.' Although the album is still in its early stages, the 'Brown Sugar' crooner has plans to also land John Mayer on the opus, with a single to hit the airwaves by the end of the year. Until that time comes, fans can catch some of D'Angelo in his former glory with the recently released compilation, 'The Best So Far,' featuring hits, rarities and previously unreleased videos.
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6/26/08: Gerald Albright
This week, one of the most sought after saxophonists in contemporary jazz, Gerald Albright, will release his eleventh solo project titled, 'Sax for Stax.' The set features eight covers from the Stax Records catalog , in addition to three originals written by Albright. The multi-talented sax player reached out to vocalists Will Downing, Ledisi, and Philip Bailey to help recapture classic music such as Issac Hayes' top five hit 'Never Can Say Goodbye' and the Staple Singers' hit 'Respect Yourself.' "I went through two box sets with over 20 CDs to pick songs that felt good and would work well melodically for the saxophone," Albright said.
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6/26/08: Swizz Beatz
Just last year super-producer Swizz Beatz was hospitalized for exhaustion, and by the looks of it hasn't slowed him down a bit. The hip-hop hit-maker has been in the studio crafting hits for Jay-Z, G-Unit, Ludacris, T.I. , Alicia Keys, and surprisingly the icon himself Michael Jackson. The Bronx native (legally known as Kasseem Dean) recently revealed his plans to not only produce some music for the King of Pop, but produce his tour as well. "I'm probably gonna be producing his tour and everything," he explained to 'MTV.' "I'm designing planes for Gulf Stream and everything. They called me. I'm around different people. I'm around billionaires. I'm around people like that." This October Swizz Beatz plans to release his new studio opus entitled, 'Life After the Party.'
Film Magic
6/26/08: Erykah Badu
This fall, Erykah Badu is planning on bringing some of her voodoo experiences on the road the neo-soul diva was recently added to the tenth annual "Voodoo Experience Festival," held October 24-26 in New Orleans. In addition to Badu, Wyclef Jean, Joss Stone, and Lupe Fiasco are among the other acts on board to join alternative rock headliners R.E.M. , Nine Inch Nails and Stone Temple Pilots. Tickets are priced at $115, while a three-day VIP pass will available for a whopping $450.
AP
6/26/08: Ludacris
Trying to maintain a successful career in the music industry as well as Hollywood can be a bit strenuous for some rappers. But not Ludacris! Luda (as he is also known as) not only has his new album, 'Theater of the Mind' slated to hit stores in September, he's also in the process of filming a few movies. On Halloween, the actor/rapper will be appearing in Guy Ritchie's new film 'RocknRolla.' He also recently finished shooting 'Max Payne,' a crime thriller fronted by Mark Wahlberg. When asked which profession he likes most, he simply replied: "Music is still my number-one love. I just balance a lot of different things now." Hollywood is still calling him, though. To date, Ludacris has starred in the Academy Award winning movie 'Crash,' the John Singleton-produced 'Hustle & Flow' and 'Fred Clause,' alongside Vince Vaughan.
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6/26/08: Ne-Yo/Keyshia Cole
The 2008 Reggae Sumfest is guaranteed to kick off with a bang! On July 18, new-school R&B superstars Ne-Yo and Keyshia Cole are tapped to headline this year's international night at the Montego Bay festival, which takes place from July 13-19. Reggae Sumfest will also showcase the best of the best in Dancehall and Reggae music including Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man, and Lady Saw, among many others.
Film Magic
6/26/08: Will.I.Am
Crafting hit music for The Black Eyed Peas and Justin Timberlake can only inspire an artist/producer such as Will.I.Am (born William James Adams Jr.)to go beyond the music industry. Fans can expect to see the Black Eyed Peas front-man in the forthcoming X-Men movie, 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine,' playing a role opposite of Hugh Jackman. Will.I.Am recently revealed to 'MTV News' that the character he'll be playing is a teleporter by the name of John Wraith. In addition to 'X-Men,' the producer also landed a role in the 'Madagascar' sequel. "With 'Madagascar 2,' I think there has to be an angel or something or my grandma's prayers guiding that," he says. "It's pretty, pretty dope. And I'm grateful and happy about it all." 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' is expected to hit theaters in May 2009.
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6/26/08: Mashonda
After releasing her debut album 'January Joy' internationally, Mashonda returns with two new singles 'All or Nothing' and 'No Panties' from her forthcoming untitled album. The Harlem reared singer describes her first single 'No Panties' as being "all about giving your man whatever he desires; no limits." In addition to her new music hitting the radio airwaves, the ex Mrs. Swizz Beatz (real name: Mashonda Tifrere-Dean) is the creative director and model for an upcoming coffee table book entitled, 'Alter Ego Revealed.' Mashonda's new album is set to drop in early next year.
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6/26/08: Lauryn Hill/Kanye West
'Entertainment Weekly' magazine recently unveiled its 'New Classics' list in which they ranked the best in music, movies, TV shows, and books from over the past 25 years. Lauryn Hill's mega-selling solo debut 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill' landed at number two slot behind Prince's timeless classic 'Purple Rain,' which held down the top spot. Other artist that made the list included Kanye West (No. 4), Jay-Z (No. 7), Outkast (No. 12), Beyonce (No. 19), Mariah Carey (No. 21), Nas (No. 28), and The Notorious B.I.G (No. 40), among many others.
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Comments: (746)
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By: Randolley on 9/29/2008 3:46AM
#14, you did what you were charged with. You should have had your wisdom before you went to prison. Only poor people go to jail. You did not have the money to buy yourself a lesser sentence. Does the "day" you speak of mean you served a year? If so, good. Cause you deserve ten(10). If you do the crime and get caught you go to jail. And all these people backing Brat don't understand the law. You can't hit a living thing in the head with a Rum bottle. Rapper or not. Dupree could have paid her way out of jail, but he did not. And people, this is not the Brat's first offence of beating up women. What is it you don't understand? Oh and before I forget, yall claim Atlanta is Black. Well what happened to Whitney and Bobby, the two preacher people fighting,Hoyfield,Left Eye,the star football player who was involved in the murder of two men? They are all Negro and all guilty. So color means nothing in DA ATL if you are Negro. Atlanta is a bunch of crabs in a barrel. Everytime a Negro gets to the top of the barrel, the bottom feeding Negroes bring that person back down. Yeah, I lived over 20 years in Atlanta and Negro on Negro crime is still high. What's up Auburn Avenue and Greenbriar and Old National Highway. I was there when these places were all White(to include Buckhead and Peachtree St and Piedmont Park).
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By: Pat on 10/03/2008 1:06PM
I don't understand how hitting someone with a bottle can land you in prison for three years. I know people who got seven years for murder and only served three years. What's up with these three years? Da Brat ought to move to California when she gets out. We have good lawyers here.
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By: shenequia baker on 10/12/2008 10:40AM
Forget what all yall saying i think da brat is a great rapper and they only gave her that long sentence because they where trying to make an example out of her. i agree with the other comment it takes two to tangle. she didn't hit her with bottle for nothing dumd asses, it was a reason. im not say that she sould have did it but you got to look at both sides of the story. yall all jumping to the other ladies side and dont know the whole story.
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By: mel on 12/12/2008 10:26AM
She should be very comfortable with her surroundings in jail...being that prison is 70% lesbians. Enjoy your retreat...Lets see if you threaten to kick ass there. You will get your a$# whipped.
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By: kratom high on 10/19/2009 5:31PM
kratom from http://www.kratomhigh.com
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By: A.J. on 2/21/2010 2:05PM
OK white America lets really collect ourselves before we completely lose track. We cause this... Do you own a business? How many blacks do you employ? How many blacks do you associate with? And let's not forget exactly how long ago was it that a black person could drink water from our fountains... like 50 years ago... 2 or 3 generations and only 6 or so before you find slavery...we need to accept what is happening as a fact but then we must do something to change this that doesn't involve storing frustrated minorities who really don't have as good of a chance as some of you affluent folks out there. Stop trying to push them further away and stop pushing yourself... Rap is a culture based out of a living condition... And as any map needs a legend allow me to inform you that MOST rappers who talk about murder and mayhem are talking from a third person perspective as in they are retelling a memory of people they have know and seen AROUND THEM or as part of their environment... I can only picture the morbidly obese white person who is petrified of "colored" people. Get a grip. Rap didn't tell noreaga it was cool to ship coke to us your ex commander in chiefs father who was also a commander in chief did in conjunction with ronald regan. Ronnie was telling us how bad drugs were and having it flooded to the inner cities so that they could imprison the black people with their laws on narcotics. Tricky stuff but America needs to realize it's real and we need to open our eyes... it's the POLITICIANS who tend to be PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNERS or SHARE HOLDERS OF COMPANIES OR CEO'S OF COMPANIES THEY PASS LEGISLATION FOR. Don't you ever blame rap... blame your fat ass for not paying attention. By the way I am a white boy (I'm Irish from Detroit and polish from Buffalo) and grew up from the projects of Niagara Falls to the lower west side of Buffalo to Downtown Rochester - the city with the highest murder rate per capita in NY. Very mixed populous and for the most part EVERYBODY gets along great despite those statistics. The hood accounts for all of that... it's in trouble and needs help not confinement for it's citizens. Just a thought.
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