Da Brat Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Da Brat’s Net Worth?

Da Brat, an American rapper and actress, holds a net worth of $100 thousand. Emerging in the ’90s, she is recognized as one of the pioneering female MCs in hip-hop. Her debut album, “Funkdafied,” achieved sales of one million copies by 2004, earning her the title of the first female rapper with a platinum-selling album.

However, some legal challenges later in her career have led to financial difficulties for Da Brat, including a bankruptcy filing in 2018 where she reported debts nearing $8 million against assets totaling just $100,000.

Legal Problems/Incarceration

In October 2007, Da Brat found herself embroiled in an assault during a Halloween party at Atlanta’s Studio 72 nightclub. An argument with a hostess escalated, and when the hostess attempted to seek the manager’s help, Da Brat assaulted her from behind with a rum bottle, resulting in permanent scars and nerve damage. Subsequently arrested, Da Brat pleaded guilty to aggravated assault charges in court. As a consequence, she received a sentence of three years in prison, seven years probation, and 200 hours of community service. She was granted temporary release in May 2010 for work purposes and was officially freed from prison on February 28, 2011. The victim of the assault filed a civil lawsuit, and by February 2014, she was awarded $6.4 million to compensate for her injuries and loss of earnings.

Financial Problems

In August 2018, Da Brat sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Her filing detailed assets of $108,700 against liabilities totaling $7.8 million, which included the $6.4 million judgment to her assault victim. Other debts reported include $1.255 million owed to Sony Music, $12,000 to Ally Bank, and several thousand to the IRS and Georgia Department of Revenue. Her listed assets featured a 1999 Mercedes 238i valued at $5,000, a 2014 BMW 328i worth $15,000, and a $23,000 Jeep Wrangler. Her reporting indicated an average monthly income of $9,300 against average monthly expenses of $10,500. By mid-2018, she had reported earnings of $75,000, with a total income of $92,000 for 2016.

A few months following the bankruptcy filing, her assault victim launched a lawsuit, insisting that the $6.4 million judgment be preserved despite the bankruptcy. The victim also indicated that, due to accruing interest, the original $6.4 million debt had escalated to $8 million and claimed to have yet to receive any payment from Da Brat.

Early Life

Born Shawntae Harris on April 14, 1974, in Chicago, Illinois, Da Brat began her rapping journey at the tender age of eleven. As the daughter of a Chicago city bus driver, her parents were never married, which led her to be raised in two different households. She lived part-time with her mother and grandmother while attending an Apostolic church, where she sang in the choir four times weekly. For high school, she attended Kenwood Academy in Chicago, participating in basketball and track, and graduated in 1992 from the Academy of Scholastic Achievement, a charter school designed for at-risk youth.

Career

In 1992, while still a teenager, Da Brat was discovered by producer Jermaine Dupri after winning an amateur rap contest hosted by “Yo! MTV Raps.” As part of her winnings, she met the rap duo Kris Kross, who helped introduce her to Dupri, leading to her signing with his So So Def label.

Her first album, “Funkdafied,” was released under Dupri’s production by Da Brat, achieving platinum success and reaching number two on the R&B charts, remaining at the top of the rap singles chart for nearly three months. The album’s title track hit #1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart and #6 on “Billboard” Hot 100. The second single, “Give It 2 You,” peaked at #26 on the Hot 100.

In 1996, Da Brat took a more significant role in her music and persona with her follow-up album, “Anuthatantrum,” which became another commercial hit. She achieved R&B Top Five and pop Top 20 success with singles like “Sittin’ on Top of the World” and “Ghetto Love” (featuring T-Boz from TLC). At the same time, she made notable cameo appearances on tracks by artists such as Mariah Carey (for a remix of her hit “Always Be My Baby”), Missy Elliot, Dru Hill, and Lil’ Kim, among others. Throughout the latter half of the ’90s, Da Brat was increasingly recognized for her collaborations on other rappers’ albums rather than her solo work. Notably, she was featured alongside Kris Kross on the title tracks for their albums “Da Bomb” and “Young, Rich and Dangerous.” In 1996, she debuted in the feature film “Kazaam,” acting alongside Shaq. The following year, she appeared with Dupri on another remix for Carey, “Honey (So So Def mix).” In 1997, Da Brat recorded the hit remix of “Ladies Night (Not Tonight)” alongside Lil’ Kim, Left Eye from TLC, Angie Martinez, and Missy Elliot. Later that year, she featured on “Sock It 2 Me,” a song from Elliot’s debut album “Supa Dupa Fly.” Additionally, in 1999, Da Brat made an appearance on a remix of Destiny’s Child’s single “Jumpin’ Jumpin’.”

Next, in the spring of 2000, Da Brat released her third album, “Unrestricted,” in which she adopted a more seductive image. Not only did the album top the R&B charts, but it also became her most successful album on the pop charts, climbing into the Top Five. Da Brat found success with singles like “That’s What I’m Looking For” and “What’Chu Like,” featuring soul singer Tyrese. However, in comparison to her first two albums, it received a less favorable response. In 2001, along with Ludacris, she hit #1 on the “Billboard” Hot R&B/Hip Hop singles chart with a remix of Mariah Carey’s “Loverboy.” That year, she also contributed to a remix of Destiny’s Child’s “Survivor.” In 2002, Da Brat returned to film in Mariah Carey’s unsuccessful movie “Glitter.” In 2003, she released her fourth album, “Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz,” which reached #17 on the “Billboard” Hot 200 and #6 on the Top R&B Albums chart. Additionally, she appeared on season four of VH1’s “The Surreal Life” that year.

Making a comeback in 2005, Da Brat reunited with Jermaine Dupri and contributed to the remix of “I Think They Like Me” by Dem Franchize Boyz. This song achieved #1 on the Hot R&B chart and #15 on the “Billboard” Hot 100. In 2006, she toured with Mariah Carey, performing in cities such as Atlanta, New York, Long Island, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Los Angeles, rapping her verses on “Heartbreaker” and “Honey.” The following year, Da Brat collaborated with Kelly Rowland on the bonus track “Gotsta Go” from her album “Ms. Kelly.” Later in 2007, she participated in season five of VH1’s “Celebrity Fit Club.”

Afterwards,Following her release from prison, Da Brat initiated a YouTube web series named “Brat Chronicles: In Transition,” which discusses life after her experiences. In 2011, she teamed up with Kelly Rowland and Lil Wayne for a remix titled “Motivation.” On July 2, 2013, she unveiled a new single named “Is It Chu?” Since July 2015, she has been co-hosting the Rickey Smiley Morning radio show and is a member of the Atlanta cast for “Dish Nation.” Additionally, she has served as a mentor to young artists on the reality TV series “The Rap Game.” Since 2017, Da Brat has also been featured in “Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta” and has starred in various shows including “Envy: Seven Deadly Sins,” “The Chi,” “Brat Loves Judy,” “Step Up: High Water,” and “Saturdays,” along with the film “Canal Street” released in 2018.

Personal Life

For many years, Da Brat maintained complete privacy regarding her sexuality and relationships, but in March 2020, she publicly came out on Instagram, disclosing her relationship with entrepreneur Jesseca Dupart. Jesseca, a successful businesswoman, is the founder and CEO of Kaleidoscope Hair Products, generating millions in revenues annually. In February, Da Brat and Dupart tied the knot in Georgia, and in July 2023, the couple welcomed a son.