Da Brat's Friends Injured in Shooting Rapper's friends shot in possible retaliation for last week's brawl

A group of friends and family of Da Brat, aka Shawntae Harris, were shot early Sunday morning in what is believed to be an act of retaliation for a nightclub skirmish involving the rapper last week. The victims were returning to Harris' apartment in a Lexus limousine around 3:40 a.m. on Sunday morning when two men in a silver Ford Thunderbird followed them through the security gate of the apartment complex and opened fire. The car's four passengers and driver were wounded. Two of the victims were treated and released from a local hospital while the other three were held longer, though none sustained life-threatening injuries. Hospital and police spokespersons refused to give the names of any of the victims. No arrests have been made with regards to the shooting. Da Brat's friends told police they believed she may have been the shooter's target, but the rapper was in Cancun, Mexico, filming a music video. Last Wednesday Da Brat was involved in an altercation with Reszue Robateau at Club Chilli Pepper, a nightclub in the Buckhead district of Atlanta. She told police that she asked Robateau to move away from a VIP rail, initiating a verbal dispute between the two, which escalated into hurled drinks and ultimately fisticuffs. What followed is still unclear: Robateau left the club with a gash over her right eye and told police that "the Brat shot me." No weapon was found and club security presumed she was struck in the head with a shot glass. Both women were arrested following the dispute. Da Brat is scheduled to open for Mariah Carey on her North American tour, which launches this week. Her next album, Unrestricted, is set for release on April 11, five days before she is to appear in court to face charges of aggravated battery from the nightclub incident. ANDREW DANSBY (March 14, 2000)

FROM ROLLINGSTONE:

Ghetto Super-stars Rappers deflect criticism of Eddie Murphy's "The PJs"

Even before its Jan. 10 debut on Fox, the cartoon sitcom drew ire from Southern California's Project Islamic H.O.P.E., which claims The PJs endorses negative stereotypes of the black community through insulting portrayals of Haitians, Rastafarians and residents of public housing in general. Late last month, acclaimed director Spike Lee joined the protest march, calling the sitcom "really hateful" and "very demeaning."

Regardless of the well-publicized dissent, a team of hip-hop, funk and R&B artists has stepped forward to support Murphy's most recent undertaking -- the satirical story of building superintendent Thurgood Stubbs and his tenants. Due out next month on Hollywood Records, The PJs soundtrack includes a roster of the nation's top urban music performers, like Snoop Dogg, George Clinton, Krayzie and Bizzy Bone, Timbaland, Raekwon, Wyclef Jean and Da Brat, among others.

"I don't find anything offensive about the show at all," says Da Brat, who collaborated with Jermaine Dupri for a new track titled "It's Nothing." "Most black entertainers were less fortunate, and experienced public aid. I did. A lot of my friends did. And some of my family members still do ... I can relate to a lot of the things I saw [on The PJs]. Every character reminded me of someone I knew."