Quick Facts
Biography
Mashonda Tifrere (born January 9, 1979), is an American R&B recording artist from Harlem, New York City, New York. Tifrere has appeared on several songs from hip hop artists in the early 2000s. In 2003, she married American record producer Swizz Beatz and was once signed to their label Full Surface, under the aegis of J Records. Tifrere released her debut studio album January Joy, in 2005. Tifrere was also a part of the VH1 reality show Love & Hip Hop: New York, for the first season. She also is the author of "Pandora’s Box", a column on VIBE Vixen.
On February 14, 2012, Mashonda released her second mixtape Love, Mashonda.
Early life
Tifrere was born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Harlem, New York.
Musical career
In 1998, Tifrere signed a publishing deal with Warner Chapel Music. Tifrere subsequently began penning and ghost wrote songs, for singers such as Monifah and Yvette Michelle, alongside pop group Full Force. Later in 1998, she signed a recording contract with Columbia Records.
In 1999, she collaborated with Brooklyn-bred rapper Jay-Z on "Girl's Best Friend", for the soundtrack to the film Blue Streak. The song was also featured as a bonus track on his fourth studio album Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter. Tifrere's vocals also appeared on Ruff Ryders Entertainment artist Eve's debut studio album Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady. She was also featured on the tracks "Gotta Man" and "Love Is Blind", by Eve.
In 2004, Tifrere started work on her debut album January Joy. While at work on her album she made guest appearances on Cassidy's "Get No Better" as well Fat Joe's song "Listen Baby", from his 2005 album All or Nothing. In November 2005, the album was released in Japan. The album was supported by two singles, "Blackout" featuring Snoop Dogg and "Back of da Club".
In March 2009, Mashonda released a mixtape titled The Renovation Series. On February 14, 2011, Tifrere launched her own website MashondaLoyal.com and released a new song titled "Intrigued". The next day she released another new song titled "Catastrophe".
Personal life
Mashonda Tifrere began dating music producer Kasseem Dean, known as Swizz Beatz, in 1998. In 2004, the pair married. In December 2006 their son, Kaseem David Dean, Jr. was born. Their first child died as a result of a miscarriage. In April 2008, after four years of marriage, they announced their separation. Their divorce was finalized on May 7, 2010.
Discography
Studio albums
- January Joy (2005)
Mixtapes
- The Renovation Series (2009)
- Love, Mashonda (2012)
EPs
- Mashonda Loyal (2012)
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | ||||||||||||
| "Back of da Club" | 2005 | – | 86 | January Joy | |||||||||
| "Blackout" (featuring Snoop Dogg or Nas) | – | 96 | |||||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or receive certification. | |||||||||||||
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
| 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 |
| "S.H.Y.N.E." | 2004 | 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
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Love & Hip Hop: New York | Herself | Supporting Role (Season 1) |