Funkdafied

“Funkdafied” is the debut studio album by Chicago rapper Da Brat, released on June 28, 1994, through So So Def and Columbia Records.

The story

Raised mainly on Chicago’s West Side, Da Brat won a local rap contest tied to Yo! MTV Raps in 1992. The prize put her in front of Kris Kross and their producer Jermaine Dupri, who signed her to his Atlanta-based So So Def label. The album was recorded across 1993 and 1994, and its title track was released as the lead single in May 1994, followed by “Fa All Y’all” and “Give It 2 You.”

Sound and production

Jermaine Dupri produced the album, with Manuel Seal as co-producer. The record leans on familiar samples, drawing from sources such as the Isley Brothers’ “Between the Sheets,” Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under the Bridge” and Lenny Kravitz’s “Fear.” Some critics at the time felt it relied too heavily on borrowed material.

Legacy

The single “Funkdafied” reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Hot Rap Singles chart, and went platinum. The album peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Its platinum certification in January 1995 made Da Brat the first solo female rapper to reach that mark, a milestone that secures the album’s place in hip hop history.