Mashonda

Mashonda Karima Dean (née Tifrere; born January 9, 1978) is an American R&B singer from Boston, Massachusetts. In 2004, she married record producer Swizz Beatz and signed with his record label Full Surface Records, an imprint of J Records to release her debut studio album, January Joy. In 2011, Dean joined the first season of VH1's reality show Love & Hip Hop: New York.

Musical career In 1998, Mashonda signed a publishing deal with Warner Chapel Music. She subsequently wrote for singer Monifah and worked with Full Force. The following year, she signed a recording contract with Columbia Records.

In 1999, she was featured on American rapper Jay-Z's single "Girl's Best Friend", for the soundtrack to the film Blue Streak. The song, produced by Swizz Beatz, was also included as a hidden track on Jay-Z's fourth studio album Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter (1999). Mashonda's vocals also featured on American rapper Eve's song "Gotta Man", produced by Beatz, from her debut studio album Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady (1999). Mashonda went on to make guest appearances on American rapper Cassidy's "Get No Better", produced by Beatz, from his album Split Personality (2004), American rapper Fat Joe's Beatz-produced song "Listen Baby", from his 2005 album All or Nothing and guest appeared on Triple Seis' debut studio album Only Time'll Tell, featuring on the song "Skully".

Mashonda's debut album January Joy, produced by Beatz, Kanye West, and Raphael Saadiq, was released in November 2005 in Japan and United States. The album was supported by two singles, co-written by Beatz: "Back of da Club", featuring Beatz, and "Blackout" featuring Snoop Dogg. In March 2009, she released a mixtape titled The Renovation Series.. Mashonda took time off from her music career to raise her son.

Other ventures Mashonda was the author of a column, "Pandora's Box", on Vibe Vixen.

Mashonda authored a book on co-parenting, titled Blend: The Secret to Co-Parenting and Creating a Balanced Family (2018), with contributions from co-parents Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.

Personal life Mashonda began dating the record producer Kasseem Dean, known as Swizz Beatz, in 1998. She became pregnant, but suffered a miscarriage in 2000. She was the stepmother to Dean's son from a previous relationship, Prince Nasir; he was born during her pregnancy and she named him. In 2008, the couple announced their break up. According to Dean, they had already been separated for nine or ten months by June of that year. The divorce was finalized in May 2010, with the couple citing irreconcilable differences.

Discography

Studio albums January Joy (2005) Note To Self (2022)

Mixtapes The Renovation Series (2009) Love, Mashonda (2012)

Singles As lead artist 2005: Back Of Da Club 2006: Black Out (feat. Snoop Dogg) 2006: Used To (Promo Only) 2009: Dirty Laundry (feat. Eve) 2009: No Panties (Buzz Single) 2011: Intrigued (Buzz Single) 2011: Juicy Fruit 2012: Touch Me 2012: Mystery (feat. Lil Mo) 2020: King 2021: Honey, I See You 2022: Forbidden Fruit 2022: Positive Distraction 2022: Complicated + As featured artist Title Year Peak chart positions Album U.S. U.S. R&B "Girl's Best Friend" (Jay-Z featuring Mashonda) 1999 52 19 Blue Streak: The Album and Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter "Get No Better" (Cassidy featuring Mashonda) 2003 79 51 Split Personality "—" denotes releases that did not chart or receive certification.

Guest appearances + List of non-single songs with guest appearances by Mashonda Title Year Album Other artist(s) "Crazy Girl" 2001 Rush Hour 2 (soundtrack) LL Cool J "Kiss Is Spittin'" Kiss tha Game Goodbye Jadakiss, Nate Dogg "You Could Be Blind" The Great Depression DMX "Be Me" Scorpion Eve "S.H.Y.N.E." 2002 Swizz Beatz Presents G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories Shyne "Ghetto Love" LL Cool J "Wanna Be Like Him" God's Favorite N.O.R.E. "Party in the Rain" Eve-Olution Eve "This Is Who I Am" 2003 La Bella Mafia Lil' Kim, Swizz Beatz "Skully" 2004 Only Time'll Tell Triple Seis, 24K "S.H.Y.N.E." Godfather Buried Alive Shyne "So Long" 2005 I'm a Hustla Cassidy, Raekwon "Listen Baby" All or Nothing Fat Joe "Take a Trip" 2007 B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story Cassidy "Luv Me Tomorrow" 2012 Black Hero Theme Musik Omen, Karina Pasian, Amanda Seales, The Force

Filmography