Following years of speculation, Da Brat came out as a lesbian in March, confirming her relationship with Kaleidoscope Hair Products CEO Jesseca Dupart with an emotional Instagram post celebrating an early birthday gift (ahem, just a Bentley).
At the beginning of her career, Brat never felt comfortable revealing her sexuality. In a new interview with Variety, she explained why she not only kept it a secret for almost 20 years but also why she ultimately decided now was the right time.
“Both misogyny and homophobia created a culture where coming out would have been career suicide for a black woman in Hip Hop,” she said. “I’ve always felt like being private is the better way to go, because then you don’t have so many people in your business.
“I was fine staying quiet, but my partner is a social media mogul — that’s how she became who she is. And when you get with somebody, you have to meet in the middle. So to me, the middle was just letting everybody know: ‘Hey, she’s the one.'”
Disclosing her relationship with Dupart wasn’t planned — in fact, Brat didn’t even tell her longtime manager. But now that she has, she wonders why she waited so long.
“Oh, my God, the reaction made me feel like, ‘Why didn’t I do this shit years ago?’” she said. “I got so many positive messages, phone calls, and I had at least 1,500 texts. My DMs were flooded too. Granted, some of the comments were served with a side of snark.
“There were some people saying, ‘We knew it.’ Well, good for you! Now I know it, and I’m able to say it. I did this on my own terms.”
With the proverbial cat out of the bag, the So So Def vet has more space to be herself. Simply put, she feels free.
“If I can inspire someone or help somebody to deal with their issues and their sexuality, then I’m here for it,” she said. “It feels like a weight has been lifted.”
Da Brat’s Girlfriend Surprises Her With A Bentley For Her Birthday
Despite some of the progress made in the LGBTQ community, Brat knows there’s still a long way to go. Her “tomboy femininity” — as Rapsody calls it — isn’t exactly a “big sell” in the music industry.
“It’s still tough for female MCs, producers and writers if you don’t have the support of a major male artist backing you — or if you’re not super-duper sexy and have some big titties and a nice ass and can twerk.
“You can’t go in there looking [tough] like I did [back in the day] and be like: ‘I’m a rapper.’ They’re going to say, ‘Let’s get you out of those tomboy clothes and dress you up in a teddy.’ But that changes who you are — and then your rhymes start changing because you look different. Then you’re not so relatable because you’re not being yourself anymore. Now you’re somebody else.”
If it’s any cats out there like me shit i was distraught when I heard this shit lmao I wanted that to be a possibility…nah, it’s all good…she’s still da brat. much respect to her and hers
I’ve never gotten this either. I never saw her as super sexy. She’s a cute woman, but some dudes are like she was the finest chick on the planet. Maybe it was the tomboy thing on a woman with a body? I don’t know.
Who gaf? Gay ppl seem like their only identity is their sexuality now adays. Not her shes accomplished but in general. Bring more 2 the table than being gay and ill respect you
The country in an uproar, CV-19 fucking us up, we dying…. music is bad. People sad and upset and a 50 year old rapper comes out as gay. Who cares?…, who didn’t know… what importance is it to anyone…. gay folks / str8 folks all in some shit… brat not relevant anymore. Stay gay & be happy…
Please raise your hand if you didnt know Brat was gay? I have some land to sell you?
Wasn’t necessary. We already knew sis
Explanation: A lot of females dressed like Brat does back in the 90’s. Some went on to begin dressing more feminine, as opposed to Brat, however, Brat softened her image up (I am guessing due to age). So, it’s definitely possible to wonder if Brat was gay or straight, UNTIL, she NEVER showed signs of having a boyfriend, EVER. Even then, if your’re kind of green, like me, you’ll still wonder lol. Anyways, some of us don’t tend to say a person is gay if they’ve not shown some real concrete evidence of being gay.
Nobody wondered. Like you said, she never was with a man ever. She didn’t even get in one of those fake relationships like most of them do. Every time you heard of her, she was with other women. I know when I lived in Atlanta back in the day, they said she had a pretty girl click she was always with, and none of them had men. If you’ve ever lived in Atlanta, you know it’s got a vibrant gay scene rivaling San Francisco.
I’m wondering why. That was a see-through closet that everybody was looking in.
it’s not like mfs didnt know about her sexuality back in the days lol…she had been suspect when she first came out around 94….by coming out it just made it formal thats all…wasn’t no surprise here….now if LL comes out n says he is gay then it’d be a surprise
Anybody chick hanging out with jermaine dupri for that long is liable to go lesbo.
I think we already knew
lmao i think everybody knew that she a dyke
Da Brat is in it for the money… lol she has to be. Ol’ gurl shake ground like thunda