#funkdafied

[todayinhiphophistory]

Today in Hip Hop History:

Da Brat released her debut album Funkdafied June 28, 1994

[tha-wrecka-stow]

[fourtwentybuds]

funkdafied by🌱 metimes 3🔥

[unicornery]

Da Brat - Funkdafied - #6 hit in the summer of 1994

The album of the same name sold over 1 million copies, making Da Brat the first solo female rapper to go platinum!

[holdenreviews]

Funkdafied - Da Brat

[panzycraze]

one thing abt me. if i have like a tiny snippet of a song stuck in my head but its impossible to google and i dont know any of the words. Im Gonna Find The Fuckin Song

[monstercangirlofficial]

Recommending some of my favorite rap songs. As a latin american trans woman, I didn't grow up with rap, but I learned to listen to and appreciate it. These are some great songs I think everyone should hear, and hopefully add to their playlists. These are Spotify links, but you can find these songs elsewhere too. My favorites are in blue:

Pop Rap: She's a Bitch by Missy Elliot (1999); Comfortable (ft. Babyface) by Lil Wayne (2003); Savage (ft. Beyoncé) by Megan Thee Stallion (2020); Too Many Nights (ft. Don Toliver & Future) by Metro Boomin (2022); Never Lose Me (ft. SZA & Cardi B) by Flo Mili (2024)

Classic Rap: My Mic Sounds Nice by Salt-N-Pepa (1986); South Bronx by Boogie Down Productions (1987); Welcome To The Terrordome by Public Enemy (1990); Born and Raised In Compton by DJ Quik (1991); When In Love by MC Lyte (1991)

Gangsta Rap: Gimme the Loot by The Notorious B.I.G. (1994); Cloverland (ft. Botany Boyz) by DJ Screw (1996); The Art of Peer Pressure by Kendrick Lamar (2012); Norf Norf by Vince Staples (2015); Tear Gas (ft. Rick Ross & Lil Wayne) by Conway the Machine (2022)

G-Funk: Nuthin' But A "G" Thang (ft. Snoop Dogg) by Dr. Dre (1992); Funkdafied by Da Brat (1994); It's Supposed to Bubble by UGK (1994); Dusted 'N' Disgusted (ft. 2Pac, Mac Mall & Spice 1) by E-40 (1995); Can't C Me by 2Pac (1996)

Conscious Rap: Proletariat Blues by Blue Scholars (2006); 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole (2016); Blood of the Fang by clipping. (2019); Iman (ft. SiR & JID) by Rapsody (2019); I Love You, I Hate You by Little Simz (2021)

Abstract Rap: Accordion by Madvillain (MF DOOM & Madlib) (2000); Mural by Lupe Fiasco (2015); The Punishment of Sisyphus by Hermit and the Recluse (Ka & Animoss) (2018); Magician (Suture) by Milo (2017); Arugula by Junglepussy (2020)

Jazz Rap: Jazz (We've Got) by A Tribe Called Quest (1991); 93 'Til Infinity by Souls Of Mischief (1993); The World Is Yours by Nas (1994); Yesterday by Noname (2016); Live! from the Kitchen Table (ft. Ghais Guevara) by McKinley Dixon (2023)

Trap: Ridin' N' Da Chevy by Three Six Mafia (1999); Love Don't Live (U Abandoned Me) by Gangsta Boo (2001); Kay Kay by Chief Keef (2012); Digits by Young Thug (2016); Poppin by Rico Nasty (2017)

Experimental Rap: Spiritual Healing by dälek (2002); Persistence by Lil Ugly Mane (2015); Ain't It Funny by Danny Brown (2016); Thug Tears by JPEGMAFIA (2018); Superman That by Injury Reserve (2021)

I strongly recommend checking out other songs by these artists, the albums these songs are from, more songs from these genres and others I didn't include, and to explore everything hip hop has to offer (especially hip hop made by women). Feel free to add any artists and songs I (obviously) missed, that you think deserve more love and recognition, particularly independent music. Enjoy!

[kuromi-hoemie]

they don't know about Da Brat's Funkdafied album

[moralesmilesanhour]

if you believe in me - 03

summary: Miles is hiding something from you. wc: ~1500 a/n: Writing this chapter was very enjoyable especially near the end! I think Imma start adding songs to listen to while you read if you want so: Crush on You - Lil' Kim Mrs. Postman - Black Pumas Funkdafied - Da Brat Hop Out the Van - Offset Enjoy <3

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"You do this math shit like it’s nothing," you muttered as you watched Miles solve one of the questions from your calculus homework, using his notebook as a flat surface. “What’s your secret?”

At no point did his pencil slow down as neat calculations flew from it like he was on autopilot. Miles even numbered the steps for you.

 "The numbers just agree with me," he shrugged, circling his answer on your worksheet for emphasis.

You sat behind him on his bed with pages of homework scattered everywhere. When you draped your arms around his shoulders to lean on him, you felt them tense. Your eyebrows creased in concern.

“You good, baby?”

Miles turned his head slightly, amusement playing on his face. 

“That’s a new one.”

“What?”

“ ‘Baby’.”

“You don’t like it?”

You pecked him on the cheek and felt the dimple forming as he smiled. Miles relaxed his shoulders.

“It’s…fine. Thought you’d be a little more creative, though.”

“How about…” you hummed in consideration before taking a glance at Miles’ glasses, which hung from the front of his shirt. “Arthur!”

Unfortunately, your genius was met with complete silence.

“...What?”

“You know, the lil’ aardvark from–”

“I know who Arthur is,” he interrupted. “But why am I him? I don’t follow.”

You fumbled for a moment, having assumed that he would automatically get it.

“Well–Cuz he wears glasses, and all his friends got on his ass for it.”

Miles blinked, remaining unimpressed. You gave up.

“Alright, what about Riley? Like, from ‘The Boondocks’.”

His blank stare remained.

“But what if I take my braids out? Then the joke doesn’t work.”

“Then you’ll be Huey.”

“Come up with somethin’ else.”

You sucked your teeth playfully. “You makin’ this real difficult for no reason. How ‘bout ‘Kilo’?”

His brows knit together. “Who’s ‘Kilo’?”

“Kilo as in kilometers. Because your name…” you trailed off.

You could see the gears turning in his eyes before it finally clicked, and the beginnings of a laugh flashed across his face.

“I’m good, right?” 

“You’re mad corny,” Miles said beneath a giggle, attempting to hide his face behind his palm. “Don’t ever say that shit again.”

“Come on, Kilo is cute!”

He shook his head good-naturedly and held up your worksheet. “Finish your homework.”

You tightened your arms around him and refused to move.

“Uh-uh, you gotta gimme a nickname too, now.”

His back deflated in a sigh. “If I give you one, will you focus?”

“Mhm.”

“Fine, I’ll call you…well, what do you wanna be called–? Ow!”

You pouted, and smacked his left shoulder.

“You gotta come up with it yourself, stupid.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll call you…” Miles turned to face you. His wide eyes scanned your features, searching for something to latch onto. “Elf.”

“Excuse me?”

“You got big ears.”

“Miles, stop playin’ with me–”

“What? There are cool elves. Like Zelda.”

“Call me Zelda, then. That's pretty!”

“That's why I asked you first,” Miles said with a lopsided grin. “I'm not good with nicknames, I rather call you your name name. Now, are you gonna finish this problem?”

You groaned in disappointment before taking the pencil and worksheet from him. 

“Fine. You’re no fun.”

Seeing the problem-solving process on paper at least made the math easier to get through. Soon you were quiet, brows knit together and lips pursed with focus. 

As you worked, Miles watched your twists fall in front of your face each time you tilted your head.

Back and forth. 

Back and forth. 

The warm light of his desk lamp fell on them at such an angle that the oil that had been used on the strands gave them a soft sheen. 

Without thinking, he reached over to brush one away from your face, making you flinch in surprise.

“What are you doing?”

“I-uh…” he stuttered, pulling his hand away, “I’m making sure you’re focused.”

You squint. “...Uh-huh.”

Miles looked away awkwardly. “Your hair’s nice.”

“Did ‘em myself,” you replied proudly, and a lightbulb goes off in your head. “Ooh, I could re-do your braids if you ever need fresh ones!”

The boy blinked again, and part of you expected him to outright refuse the offer. But a tiny smile spread across his lips instead.

“I’ll think about it.”

Miles stared at you for a moment, gnawing at his bottom lip like he was hesitating to do something when his phone lit up.

He unlocked it and his brows furrowed; he appeared to be reading something. 

Miles glanced at the time, and his stomach dropped:

9:50. How did it get so late? 

“Fuck,” he breathed, expression darkening. “Mami, I gotta go. It’s late.”

You sat up and checked your own phone with a wince. “Damn. Your mom left a half hour ago.”

Miles stood and took a deep breath, rubbing the back of his neck. He said his next words as if they pained him, “Guess we gon’ have to drop you off, then.”

You looked at him warily. “Wait a minute, who’s we?”

-

The worn leather of the car seat made you shift uncomfortably as you sat with your arms crossed. The woody, citrus scent of a cologne that was likely discontinued a decade ago overpowered your senses.

“You sure you don’t wanna sit in the passenger’s seat, Miles?” boomed Uncle Aaron’s deep voice over a Da Brat track turned up too loud.

“I’m good,” Miles called out next to you. “Let’s roll.”

As the engine of the vintage car revved beneath you, you glanced behind you at what was in the trunk. You raised an eyebrow at the tarp that covered…whatever the hell was in there.

Miles didn’t talk about his uncle often, but the murkiness that seeped into his voice and the hardness in his eyes every time he said “my uncle” didn’t exactly endear you to the man. 

“You live a couple blocks from here, right miss?” He addressed you politely.

“She has a name, tío,” his nephew interrupted with a laugh.

“My fault, my fault,” Aaron chuckled. “What’s your name? Maybe I know your folks.”

“Y/N L/N,” you answered. You kept the distaste out of your voice, raising it an octave.

The red traffic light illuminated the man’s long face when he turned to you. 

“L/N,” he pondered the surname, before nodding in recognition. “I went to high school with your momma! She doin’ alright?”

It’s too dark for Aaron to see you press your lips together before answering, “She’s doing fine, thanks for asking.”

“Did every adult within a ten-mile radius go to the same high school?” Miles asked.

“Wasn’t nowhere else to go without moving to Jersey, might as well have.”

Nowhere else to go that they could afford, you added mentally.

The image of the tall, bulky man that appeared on television to announce things once in a while materializes in your mind’s eye. 

His small, bald head is almost engulfed by his hulking boxy figure. Ever since he became mayor, you started seeing more fancy coffee shops pop up, all square and painted white. Nothing ever changed on your side of the pond, though. Your mother always shook her head solemnly when he announced some new project, or budget, or whatever.

Miles shifted in his seat, and the clank of metal from his backpack pulled you away from your thoughts. You turned to him with an amused look.

“What’s in your bag? It sure don’t sound like school books.”

He froze, and an oppressive silence suddenly descended upon the three of you as you quickly realized that you had said something you weren’t supposed to.

He and Aaron shared a quick glance, and you caught an eyebrow raise from the latter. Miles blurted out, “Robotics club stuff. I finish all our competition entries at Unc’s house ‘cuz it’s more space over there.”

You nodded slowly. When he scanned your face for a reaction, you knew you had just been lied to.

“That’s cool,” you replied pleasantly. “You should show me one of your projects sometime!”

Anger simmers in your chest watching him sigh quietly with relief. Barely a week, and he seemed to be proving Tianna right.

An automated voice chimed, “Your destination is on the right.”

The car slowed to a halt as Uncle Aaron pulled over.

“That’s me,” you announce, unbuckling your seatbelt and sliding your bag over your shoulders. 

“Get home safe, Y/N.”

“You too, Mr. Davis. G’night, Miles.”

You don’t look back at him before shutting the car door behind you.

And then there were two.

“I told you to make sure Rio takes her home,” Aaron sighed, massaging his temples.

“I know, I know,” Miles thrust his hands into his pockets. “I lost track of time.”

“Forget your head if it wasn’t attached to your neck.”

“You think she believe me?”

Aaron looked his nephew in the eye through the rear-view mirror.

“Imma be honest witchu, man, that girl ain’t stupid. She ain’t believe shit you just said.”

“I’m that bad of a liar?”

The man laughed heartily.

“It’s not even about that, man. Can’t lie to your girl. That’s rule number one.”

Miles frowned. “The hell was I supposed to tell her? I had to lie.”

“Exactly. You put yourself in a position to have to lie,” Aaron explained as he began to pull away from your house. “Don’t make it a habit. You ready?”

Miles pulled up the red mask he had on beneath his chin, concealing the lower half of his face. “Born ready.”

[jgrills]

⁺◦ะ ୧(𖦹﹏𖦹)୨ ೃ࿔

Before we start !! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و ♡

-Reader is ALWAYS gender neutral (gn), but it's mentioned that the reader has braids (tenderheaded, like me fr).

-written with a black reader in mind. <3

-Reader's the black cat, but NOT suggestive!!

-Reader has claws

-No warnings, unless you're allergic to fluff, and cussing.

It was a breezy London night, the gentle chatter of the citizens, the cars, the trains going by, and soft sounds of the birds singing. The moonlight shining through your curtains.Your alarm suddenly goes off, with a groan, you sling the covers off of you, your braids all in your face. You throw the clock off of the nightstand, the clock landing on the carpet. You're about to put your slippers on, but-

Slip.

You slip over your slipper, face planting into the carpet with a groan. Your braids are all undone and messy.

'I knew I should've re-braided them yesterday!'

"Hey I heard- Oh.." Your roommate, Etta stands there looking bewildered at the sight of your braids, with her bonnet still on.

"Hey Etta.." You mumble, still not attempting to get up from the carpeted floor.

"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOUR HAIR?! WE GOTTA GET THIS FIGURED OUT-"

"Etta, please, I'll just redo it-"

"No! You gotta look good for the street musician, what was his name again?" She looks at you for some sort of answer.

"Hobie Brown"

"And you like him right?"

"Yes- I mean..maybe?? I saw him yesterdayyyy"

"Yeah, so you gotta look good for him!" She starts taking out your braids, you occasionally letting out a 'ouch' or a grunt as she takes them out.

"Do you like him?"

This immediately makes your cheeks darker, and warmer, looking away from Etta's piercing brown eyes.

"I mean, I get nervous..and my heart beats faster? I don't know what it means though"

"It means you love him!"

"Okay, Etta, like you would know- Ow!" Etta pinches your cheek, then lets go.

"Let's just get your dumbass ready"

After a bunch of ows, and complaints from you, your braids are fresh, and your black cat costume is warm and cozy.

Perfect for the cold London night.

"I'll see you at-"

"Just get yo dumbass out before I jump you" She threatens in the mirror, clapping her flat iron playfully at you.

"Alright alright! I'm out!" You quickly jump out and claw down the walls, jumping to rooftops to get to the nearest bank, the cold wind running through your braids.

You see a couple of street musicians, one with an electric guitar, he makes gentle strums and raves on his electric guitar, people handing him money on the way to their location.

He looks so handsome..

His hair? Woah..

"No Y/N! No getting distracted!" You whisper shout to yourself, lightly smacking your head.

You get on the London Bank's rooftop, the moon in the cityscape distracting you by the yellow hue. Relaxing first before you do anything. Crawling into the bank's ceiling, your claws gripping onto the pearly ceiling, looking down at the people in their overpriced clothes.

"We should buy Prada later!"

"Oh my God! Yes we should!"

"Let's just hope Andrew has an eye on the vault, his bitchass has the night shift!" The woman laughs, lusciously holding her jaguar print bag.

You groan quietly, continuing to get lost in the ceilings' floral patterns, you make eye contact with a girl with some butterfly braids, she ends up running away, dropping a key.

The key reflects off the ceiling..

You grab the key, and leap back onto the ceiling, making your way to the banks vault. There, you see a young man, presumably with some dreads, liking a girls Instagram post on his phone.

You quickly kick him in the neck, knocking him out, his phone dropping beside him, you move his head with your heel, making sure he's out.

Yep, out cold.

You snicker, unlocking the vault slowly, red glowing lines await as you open it.

'Really?!'

You manage to dodge the lines, having to do limbo with some of them..

oh shit.

One line is extremely close to your nose, you move slowly past it, letting out a sigh of relief.

'Fucking security' you think, rolling your eyes, getting out a bag, you stuff various stacks of money in the bag, grabbing about 80-120 stacks, you hoist the bag on your shoulders, once again avoiding the cameras and security lasers.

Running out into the cold London air, your braids flying behind you, jumping to several buildings, passing some stacks to the homeless, small businesses, and the local artists around London.

'Oh, I need to save some for Ho-'

You run into a figure, you both fall to the ground, you rubbing your head.

"Oh my gosh! I'm sorry!" You help him pick his electric guitar up, giving him the case back, putting some money in there also.

"It's okay, no problem" He takes his guitar, putting it on his back again. He walks away, humming.

You stand there for a second, looking dumb as hell as you think about the handsome man you saw. Your heart starts beating faster, butterflies flying around your stomach as you climb another building.

You're gonna have a bunch to tell Etta once you get back.

@chessbox

Man, this took so long, this was my first time doing something off of a prompt (by @undobutton's one post on a street musician au Hobie)

Thank you to @forevayafavv for the help writing a black cat reader

honk mimimimi

[itsmyfriendisaac]

♈ April 14th: Funkdafied Lyricist, Da Brat.

[todayinhiphophistory]

Today in Hip Hop History:

Da Brat released her debut album Funkdafied June 28, 1994

[tha-wrecka-stow]

The Album

The Single(s)

[brooklynrwhitegrier]

funkdafied.

[fourtwentybuds]

funk in da trunk (funkdafied X gas guzzler)

[albumcoversthatmatter]

Da Brat - Funkdafied