Bio
TV: Catch Brat in the movie Glitter with Mariah Carey. Check your local listings. Also, catch up with Brat in Twista's new video "So Sexy"
MTVkitty: Da Brat is here too, send your q's!
MTVixen: Julz311 asks: Hey Missy! I wanna know who influenced you to start singingMissy Elliot: kim is featured on it. my mother.
MTVixen: Click Interact to send in a Q for DaBrat!MTVixen: Neal479 asks DaBrat: da brat: who inspires you most? da brat u gonna be duoin with puffy sooN?
Da Brat : Jermaine DuPri. No not soon.MTVixen: HOWDY8P asks Missy: WERE DID U MEET THE BRAT
Missy Elliot: we met at the lady of soul awards.MTVixen: MzTommyGr asks DaBrat: Hey Brat!!! How did you get your big break?
Da Brat : Through Kris Kross. They heard me rap. they told their producer bout me.MTVixen: Angel 762 asks: R U Really the supa dupa fly, Missy? And, why don't ya like da rain?
MissyElliot : cuz it makes my finger waves fall like humptyMTVixen: GOLDY120 asks Missy: Was it fun hanging out with the other female singers making the "Not Tonight" video?
MissyElliot : I loved it.Da Brat : Yes, it was.
MTVkitty: Ok folks, Da Brat wants to get OUT of her gladiator outfit!MTVkitty: Da Brat says thanks and goodbye..
MTVixen: Thanks DaBrat!
AOLiveMC6: Welcome, Da Brat. It is a pleasure to have you here this evening. Let's get right to the questions.
Question: Hey, Da Brat! How did you choose the title for your new album?
Da Brat: Whatever I'm thinking about gets put down on paper for my songs, but for the title, I got it from Millie Jackson, from her album. And that word -- "no restrictions" explains me perfectly.Question: Brat, did you have fun working with Tyrese? I would.
Da Brat: Yes, I love working with Tyrese. He's like sexy, sweet, dark chocolate, with abs out of this world, pretty white teeth. And in the video, he was bumpin' his thang up against me. Guess that would say I had a ball.
Question: Hello, can you tell me when you go on tour?Da Brat: I start a promotional tour at the beginning of May, all through the end of May. Not sure what cities yet, but I'm sure coming somewhere near you.
Question: How have things changed since you became a star?Da Brat: I can buy anything I want. I sign autographs, and I'm able to take care of my family and the people who supported me up until the time I became a star. And hey... I live plush. No roaches!
Question: How long have you been singing?Da Brat: I've been rappin' and writing rhymes for about 10 or 11 years.
Question: What's the idea of the title “Unrestricted”?Da Brat: To have no restrictions. To do everything I want to do without someone telling me I can't. So since it's my album, I'm unrestricted. I'm unrestricted period, in life. I really don't like people telling me what to do unless it's good advice or something.
Question: What'd you do for your birthday?
Da Brat: I had a surprise party in Atlanta the day before my birthday. And on my birthday I signed autographs at Sam Goody in Evergreen Plaza in Chicago, where like 2000 fans showed up, and then I partied till the morning.Question: "Getto Love" was one of your best cuts. Do you plan to do any more songs with T-Boz?
Da Brat: Well, I think T-Boz is pregnant right now, and I think she's going to get married soon, but later, if she'd like to do something with me, I'd love to.Question: Do you think you will work with any other rap stars in any other videos?
Da Brat: Well, of course I'd like to work with Jay-Z, with Missy. Whoever calls me and asks me. As long as the beat is nice, I'm willing to work with anyone. There's anyone I'm not really dying to rap with, and if there is, I'm probably cool with them anyway, so sure, I'm planning on more collaborations.Question: Can you tell us who you admire as a musical artist?
Da Brat: As a musical artist I admire... wow... Jermaine Dupri, even though he's a producer. He's my idol. I admire Mariah, I just got off tour with her. There's so many I admire. Basically, I admire people that are talented and assert themselves.
Question: Do you interact with your fans online? And if so, how?
Da Brat: By doing this chat and other chats that are soon to come. We also have DaBrat.com.Question: Would you say you have gained a lot more respect since you became famous?
Da Brat: Well, I don't really know how to answer that question. More people love me and know me, but I wasn't too disrespected before. I think I've earned my place in the rap game, in the business, so yes, I've earned my place, though I wasn't really disrespected before.
Question: When did you figure that rapping would be your job for your life?
Da Brat: When I was sitting down and I was probably about 13 or 14, Queen Latifah... her video came, and I saw that. When I was a kid, I always wanted to be Penny on “Good Times.” But I had a godmother that was a manager, she was in the industry and took me along locally, and it all kind of started from there.Question: Was the song “Runnin' Out of Time” based on a personal experience?
Da Brat: Yes. An ex-boyfriend was cheating, and he was basically wasting my time because we were both getting older and he was basically not being committed. And the end of the song talks about when I came in the house and caught them in bed, and I had my gun and they were dodging bullet holes, so yes... it's a personal experience. :)
Question: What's up, Brat? If you weren't a rapper right now, what would you want to be?
Da Brat: An architect. I always wanted to like build my own house, and in high school I was always going around to schools to see which had good architectural classes. But the rap thing worked out. Though one day I'd like to participate in a major way in building my own house.Question: What is the wildest thing you done in your video?
Da Brat: Wear a thong in the last video with Tyrese, in "What you Like." That was definitely the wildest thing.Question: What kinds of music do you listen to?
Da Brat: I listen to R. Kelly, Mariah, Jay-Z, Biggie's old stuff, Dr. Dre. I just go on all day. I just got D'Angelo's new one. Prince.Question: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Da Brat: Very rich. A million or billionaire with my own company, my own record label, my own modeling agency and clothing line. I plan on making a lot of good investments, like apartment complexes, so I can have something to support me if I ever do stop.Question: Da Brat, how did the name “Da Brat” come about?
Da Brat: Well I got called a brat all my life, ever since I was a kid, because I was always spoiled. We weren't rich or anything, but one of my relatives always got me what I wanted. So people always called me a spoiled brat. And it doesn't bother me, because I think everyone in the world wants to get what they want. You don't want to have to wait 10 years -- hell, you want it today! So the name just stuck.
Question: Hey! How long did it take you to make this CD?
Da Brat: Oh man, we worked on this CD off and on for at least two years. We threw away a lot of songs, but we kept a lot of them too. Everyone was involved in a lot of collaborations, so it took time. But I'm not mad about it, because during the waiting process I learned a lot.Question: Outta all the countries around the world which you have visited, where has been your favorite place, and why?
Da Brat: I'd have to say Japan, because all of my Japanese fans were really cool. I mean they really gave me so much love and support, and they knew all the words to the songs, and they don't even speak English. And so many of them had braids and wore clothes like me, so besides not being able to speak Japanese, I really felt at home.
Question: You look good in your new video. Are you keeping you new look?
Da Brat: Well, to me, I don't have a new look. That's just a side of Brat that people haven't seen yet. It's always been there. I used to wear skirts all the time. I used to be in a group called Simply Nasty in Chicago where we used to wear tight clothes and shake our asses all the time. Am I going to be like this all the time? No... but I want to show the different sides of Da Brat so people can see all the assets.
AOLiveMC6: Looks like we have time for only one more question.
Question: How do feel about the long-awaited reunion of NWA?
Da Brat: I think it's the bomb. I think they're going to have some amazing songs. It's a favorite for me because I like to cuss, and they brought it to the world. Dre make hot, hot, hot beats. And all of them together will make it better.
AOLiveMC6: Thank you, Da Brat, for joining us this evening.
Da Brat: This CD is the best CD that Da Brat has ever done. I wrote all the lyrics, and if you don't have it, I hope you get it. I love all my fans, and when I start my promotional tour in May, if you were one of the fans at this chat who were paying attention, let me know and I'll give you some direct love. And help me go triple platinum because that's my new goal. Thank you for coming tonight!
