Trina

Biography

Katrina Laverne Kearse (née Taylor; born c. 1974 or 1975) is an American rapper. She gained recognition for her collaborations on fellow Florida-based rapper Trick Daddy's 1998-2001 singles "Nann Nigga", "Shut Up", and "Take It to da House". She signed with the Miami-based label Slip-N-Slide Records to release her debut album Da Baddest Bitch (2000), which spawned her first Billboard Hot 100 entry as a lead artist, "Pull Over". Her second album, Diamond Princess (2002), spawned the single "B R Right" (featuring Ludacris) and peaked at number 14 on the Billboard 200. Trina's third album Glamorest Life (2005), spawned the single "Here We Go" (featuring Kelly Rowland), which was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her fourth album Still da Baddest (2008), peaked within the top ten on the Billboard 200, while her fifth album, Amazin' (2010), peaked within the top 15. She was described by XXL as "the most consistent female rapper of all time". In 2014, Trina was included in Billboard's list of the "31 Female Rappers Who Changed Hip-Hop".'

== Early life == Katrina Laverne Taylor was born in Miami and she grew up in the Liberty City area of the city. Her father is Dominican, while her mother, Vernessa Taylor, was Bahamian. They separated when Trina was a child. She attended Miami Northwestern Senior High School, where she was a majorette, and where she graduated in 1992. Taylor initially educated herself towards becoming a real estate agent, before switching her career path to music.

== Career ==

=== Breakthrough, Da Baddest Bitch (1998–2000) === In 1998, Trina was studying to get her real estate license, when she caught the attention of Miami rapper Trick Daddy, who asked her to appear on his track "Nann Nigga". The song was released as the lead single from Trick's second studio album, www.thug.com on July 14, 1998, reaching No. 62 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Rap Songs chart. This kickstarted Trina's rap career, leading to a record deal with Slip-n-Slide Records with distribution from Atlantic Records. On March 21, 2000, Trina released her debut album Da Baddest Bitch, which debuted at No. 33 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 11 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It stayed on the Billboard 200 chart for 39 weeks and on the Hip-Hop/R&B album chart for 49 consecutive weeks and was certified Gold by the RIAA by November of that year. The album was preceded by the singles "Da Baddest Bitch" on December 22, 1999, and "Pull Over" on February 13, 2000, which reached No. 93 on the Hot 100, No. 46 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and No. 41 on the Rap Songs chart.

=== Diamond Princess (2001–2003) === Trina began working on her second studio album in 2001 with Missy Elliott, enjoying more creative control than ever before, saying in interviews that the album was "more what Trina's about, how Trina looks, how Trina feels, the things that Trina consists of." During this time, she started her own record label imprint, Diva Enterprises. In September 2002, she signed 9-year-old recording artist Lil' Brianna, who would appear on her track "Kandi" and later be known as Brianna Perry. On August 27, 2002, Trina released her second studio album Diamond Princess, which debut at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and No. 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 67,000 units in its first week. The album was preceded by "Told Y'all", featuring Rick Ross, which reached No. 64 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and appeared on the soundtrack to the action comedy All About the Benjamins, and "No Panties", featuring Tweet, which reached No. 88 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and No. 45 on the UK Singles Chart. On October 22, 2002, Trina released the album's third and final single, "B R Right", featuring Ludacris, which reached No. 83 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 50 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and No. 24 on the Rap Songs chart.

=== Glamorest Life (2004–2005) === On October 4, 2005, Trina released her third studio album, Glamorest Life, which debut at No. 11 on the Billboard 200, No. 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and No. 2 on the Top Rap Albums chart, selling 77,000 units in its first week. The album was preceded by the single, "Don't Trip", featuring Lil Wayne on April 28, 2005, which reached No. 74 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and "Here We Go", featuring Kelly Rowland, on September 23, 2005, which became one of Trina's most successful singles, reaching No. 17 on the Hot 100, No. 8 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and No. 3 on the Hot Rap Songs chart and Top 20 in most countries worldwide. The single was certified Gold in the US in June 2006. The album's third and final single, "Da Club", featuring Mannie Fresh, was released on November 22, 2005.

=== Still Da Baddest (2006–2008) ===

On May 18, 2007, it was announced that Trina had left Atlantic Records and signed to EMI in conjunction with her original label, Slip-n-Slide Records. On April 1, 2008, Trina released her fourth studio album, Still da Baddest, which reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200, No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and No. 1 on the Top Rap Albums chart, becoming her first album to top the charts. Its first-week sales were 47,000. The album was preceded by the singles "Single Again", which reached No. 25 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100, No. 59 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and No. 19 on the Rap Songs chart, and "I Got a Thang for You", featuring Keyshia Cole, which reached No. 21 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 and No. 59 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The third and final single from the album, "Look Back at Me", featuring Killer Mike, hit No. 1 in Denmark.