“Look, this came out of my stomach,”
“I cry every day. I just look at him and boo-hoo, because I’m so grateful.”
As a part of PEOPLE’s fresh “My Extraordinary Family” feature available in this week’s upcoming issue, the iconic rapper, radio personality, and WE TV’s Brat Loves Judy star is unveiling the inaugural images of her newborn son, True Legend. She and Harris-Dupart welcomed him on July 6.
One month into her experience as a new mother, she finds herself constantly amazed by her journey.
“I’m 49, I’m high-risk, I have high blood pressure. So many women so much younger than me want kids and can’t have them, and I had a successful pregnancy, It’s just an honor. He’s such a blessing.” she says, tears welling in her eye.
The past few years have brought a series of blessings to Shawntae Harris, the Chicago native renowned for her ’90s hip-hop hits like “Funkdafied” and her iconic street style. She crossed paths with Harris-Dupart, 41, in 2017, and their connection prompted her to share her journey about her sexuality.
“I was stuck in the closet for so many years, I thought I would never come out,” she mentioned, “but I met somebody that gave me the courage to live in my own truth. Now I’m happily married.”
Undoubtedly, the couple celebrated their wedding in grand style on February 22, 2022. Shortly after, they decided to grow their family, with Harris-Dupart, who is already a mother to three adult children from a prior relationship, encouraging Da Brat to be the one to carry their child.
Though her wife was initially wary, Harris-Dupart says she “knew the pregnancy itself was going to be something she really appreciated.”
Da Brat went through in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures utilizing eggs provided by Harris-Dupart and sperm from an anonymous donor. Following a devastating miscarriage, she became pregnant with their son.
“I think God plans out our journey,” she stated. “I’m very happy He saw fit for me to have him.”
She delivered her baby through a scheduled cesarean section and didn’t experience any contractions. Her pain was limited to the moment when she received the epidural.
She said “I never want to do that again but for him it was worth it.” While giving birth, the rapper acknowledges that she experienced a moment of panic.
During that moment, Harris-Dupart was there to help Da Brat de-stress and even took on the role of a DJ.
Da Brat recalled, “I asked her to play Biggie [Smalls], but that wasn’t helping, so she played our love playlist. I was able to relax and not think.”
The family of three is spending quality time together at home, and they’re gearing up to introduce a new Kaleidoscope Kids haircare line. Da Brat and Harris-Dupart embrace the shared responsibilities of motherhood and, as Da Brat explains, “He made us closer.”
She goes on to mention that they take turns tending to True Legend at night, and they even change his diaper together.
Moreover, she acknowledges that her life has taken a vastly different turn than she had ever envisioned. “Who would have imagined this? Da Brat-a-tat-tat from 1994!”
She reflects, alluding to her tough hip-hop persona. “I’m with a beautiful, successful woman who complements me and motivates me to be a better person.
I’m overjoyed to be a mother. I never thought I would experience it, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I don’t need anything else in life.”
