Blackout

Background:

“My writing skills have gotten better because I’ve experienced so much more and have more to write about. Vocally, I’m 100 percent better, I’ve been training and touring, so I have more confidence and swag.” Mashonda

R&B singer/songwriter Mashonda is one of rappers signed to Full Surface/J Records. Discovered by Swizz Beatz in 1998, she contributed to other artists' songs like Eve's “Gotta Man,” Jay-Z's “Girls Best Friend,” Mya's “Best of Me” and Cassidy's “Get No Better” before releasing her debut album, “January Joy,” in 2005. Released only in Japan, the album spawned two singles with the song “Back Of Da Club” and “Blackout.”

“'The Renovation Series' –it’s me, a renovation of my life. Meaning I’ve been in one situation for ten years and feel like it was time.. I want people to be not afraid of change, because I know I was. Living any other way than how I was living didn’t seem realistic. I want people to know change is possible, and sometimes for the best.” Mashonda

Mashonda's second and new album, “The Renovation Series,” is expected to be released in 2008. It contains several tracks, including the two singles: “No Panties” and “All or Nothing.”

Mashonda is now separated from her five-year husband, rapper and founder/CEO of Full Surface Records Swizz Beatz. The couple has a son named Kaseem Jr. (born December 2007). Describing about their relationship, she stated, “Our relationship, compared to others, was the most sacred, private relationship. We weren’t the paparazzi type couple, we more normal than anything else, but in any relationship, shit happens. We’ve been together for ten years and got together really young. I don’t blame him per se’ for what happened, because it’s life and people make mistakes and people regret their mistakes.”

Apart from music, Mashonda has announced that she would launch a self-indulgence swimwear line called January Joy Intimates. She is also starting an arts based school for children placed in her hometown of Harlem.

Harlem Girl

Childhood and Family:

Mashonda Tifrere-Dean was born in Massachusetts and grew up in Harlem, New York. She started vocal training in church at age 7 and wrote poetry as a teenager.

On February 15, 2003, Mashonda married record producer Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean, whom she had met five years before. Recalling when she first met him, Mashonda said, “I had a picture hanging on the wall in the studio, and he had the guy that owned the studio call me. We talked for a whole month before we met up for a semi-blind date. When I met him he looked like he was 15, but he was so sweet and charming he won me over. We moved in together, got our first apartment together, and became a support system for each other.”

In December 2007, Mashonda and her husband welcomed a son named Kaseem Jr. Four months after the birth, on April 23, 2008, it was reported that Mashonda and her husband became estranged. Swizz Beatz mentioned the cause of the break up is irreconcilable differences, a confession which subsequently ended the rumors that the disintegrate was caused by an extra marital affair and celebrity drama.

No Panties

Career:

In 1998, Mashonda was spotted by one of hip-hop's most powerful beatmakers and future husband, Swizz Beatz. Shortly thereafter, under his direction, she began her journey in the music industry.

Mashonda penned hooks for tracks like Eve's “Gotta Man” (1998) and Jay-Z's “Girl's Best Friend” (1999). Besides she made guest appearances in Mýa's “Best Of Me” (2000), Eve's “Be Me” (2001) and “Party In The Rain” (2002), DMX's “You Could Be Blind” (2001) and Cassidy's “Get No Better.” It was not until 2005 that Mashonda made her debut as a recording artist on her own.

“January to me is the genesis of music for myself and for all my listeners. It's the first month of the year and it's when everyone makes their resolutions. It's a fresh start, a new feeling, and that's what my music is. I'm also a January baby.” Mashonda

Signed to Full Surface/J Records, Mashonda released the first album “January Joy” in November 2005. Produced by Swizz Beatz and Kanye West, it features tracks like the singles “Back Of Da Club,” featuring The Game, and “Blackout” (featuring Snoop Dogg), which reached No. 86 and and No. 96 on the U.S. R&B Charts, respectively. Because of poor radio response to the singles, “January Joy” was released in Japan only.

2007 saw Mashonda reunite with Full Surface label mates Eve in “Dance Floor” and Cassidy in “Take A Trip.”

Currently, the singer-songwriter is promoting the two singles “No Panties” and “All or Nothing,” featuring Lady Saw, from her new album, “The Renovation Series” (2008). Talking about the singles, she said, “ I feel people expect me to do a lot of scorned man hating songs, but “No Panties” is my man loving song. “All or Nothing,” is a polite but sarcastic tell off. It’s when a man wants all from a woman, and when she needs something it’s task, so you begin to do you and let them do them. Honestly when I wrote that song, I did not have Swizz in mind. Even when he listened to it he thought the song was about him. It really wasn’t, but maybe it was subliminally coming out on the paper. “

Awards:
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