- Sarai (rapper)
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Sarai Birth name Sarai Howard Also known as Miss Eighty 6, Miss 86, 86 Born January 23, 1981 Origin Kingston, New York Genres Hip-hop Occupations Emcee, Songwriter, Actress Years active 2001–present Labels Epic/SME Records/DeeTown Entertainment Sarai Marie Howard[1] (born January 23, 1981) is a female rapper.
Contents
Biography
Early life
Born and raised in upstate New York, Sarai Howard didn't exactly imagine herself as a rapper. While her single mother played Fleetwood Mac records, Sarai's older brother exposed his kid sister to the heavy, hard-knock world of hip-hop. Seminal albums by the likes of N.W.A., Public Enemy, and Run-D.M.C. impacted Sarai so much, she wrote her first rhyme at age 15. Two years later, she and a friend took a trip to Atlanta. It was there that Sarai would get her lucky break. She was introduced to producer L.J. Sutton (aka Chocolate Starr), leaving a quick impression as a slick Yankee girl whose rhymes were just as tight as those on the streets. In 2000, Sarai left her college jaunt behind to re-join Sutton down South.[2]
2001 – 2004: Music
Shortly after relocating to Atlanta, Sarai signed a record deal with Epic Records. Making her the first, white female rapper to be represented by a major U.S. label.[3] In 2001, she was prominently featured on the single "Same Ol' Same Ol' (remix)" by label-mate P.Y.T., and appeared in the group’s music video[4] as well as a 2nd remix on their album.[5] "It's Official," a track from her debut The Original, also appeared as a hidden snippet track on their debut album.
In 2002, "Pack Ya Bags" was released to radio and as a single. Debuted on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts at No. 90.[6] Her record label briefly dubbed her Feminem in an attempt to draw comparisons between her and fellow artist Eminem.
In 2003, "Ladies" was released as a single to radio stations, which landed on the Billboard Hot 100 charts at No. 28. Peaking at No. 19, staying on the charts for 11 weeks.[7] A video was also shot and released.[8] The Original was released on July 29, 2003. The album entered the Billboard 200 chart at No. 187.[9] The album featured production from Ali Dee Theodore, Scott Storch, Beau Dozier, and many others. The album lacked promotion by Epic Records, causing it to go under the radar of many.
In 2004, Sarai began filming National Lampoon's Pledge This! starring Paris Hilton. Portraying a character named Tonya.[10] The film was pushed back many times before releasing in 2006.
2005 – present: Music
After leaving Epic, Sarai (now under the pseudonym Miss Eighty 6) joined Ali Dee Theodore and his company DeeTown Entertainment and has gone to write and perform music and soundtracks for movies and television, including Gossip Girl, Melrose Place, Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane, Bones, Supernatural, Numb3rs, Chuck, The Nine Lives of Chloe King,[11] MTV's Cribs, Dismissed, Pimp My Ride, My Super Sweet 16, High School Stories and Date My Mom. Box office & straight to video films – Alvin and the Chipmunks, Fantastic Four, Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, In the Mix, Aquamarine, American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile & Beta House, spoof films Meet the Spartans, Disaster Movie, Vampires Suck, Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?, For Colored Girls and most recently Little Fockers and Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son.[12]
Sarai was featured on the The Baldwin Brothers Return of the Golden Rhodes on the track, "A Matter Of Time" credited under her name.[13] A video was also shot and released.[14] The song was featured in Double Down, an episode of Numb3rs.
Filmography
National Lampoon's Pledge This! – played a character named Tonya
Shocked Jock – played a character named Lisa
Discography
Albums
- 2003 The Original (Epic)
Soundtracks
- 2001 Epic Records: A Season Of Soul And Sounds[15]
- Here Comes Christmas
- 2008 DeeTown Presents: Music from Chicks Shows (Vol. 1)[16] (DeeTown Entertainment)
- Candy Store, Inside Outside, Ring a Ling and Till the Sun Comes Up.
- 2009 DeeTown Presents: Music from Chicks Shows (Vol. 2)[17] (DeeTown Entertainment)
- Bounce Back, Release, Ridin' and We Keeps It Real.
Singles
- 2002 Pack Ya Bags
- 2003 Ladies
As Miss Eighty 6
- "Cold (Remix)" (Crossfade featuring Miss Eighty 6)
- "A Matter of Time" (The Baldwin Brothers featuring Sarai aka Miss Eighty 6)
- Featured in: Numb3rs
- "Now You Know"
- Featured in: Fantastic Four
- "Candy Store"
- Featured in: American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile, Beta House
- "Till The Sun Comes Up"
- Featured in: Gossip Girl
- "Inside Outside"
- Featured in: Beta House
- "Ring-a-Ling"
- Featured in: Supernatural, Gossip Girl, Spring Breakdown, Something Borrowed
- "Release"
- Featured in: Gossip Girl
- "Drive Me Crazy"
- Featured in: Aquamarine, For Colored Girls, Beta House
- "Rebound"
- Featured in: Beta House
- "Horror Story"
- Featured in: Gossip Girl, Something Borrowed
- "What They Talkin' Bout"
- Featured in: Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son
- "My First Wish"
- Featured in: Vampires Suck, Something Borrowed
- "What Is It"
- Featured in: Army Wives
- "Goodie Bag"
- Featured in: Fighting
- "Murder"
- Featured in: Why Did I Get Married Too?
- "Ridin'" (Classic & 86)
- Featured in: Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, In the Mix
- "Bounce Back"
- Featured in: Marmaduke, Beta House, Meet the Spartans
- "We Keeps It Real" (The Deekompressors Feat. Classic & Miss Eighty6)
- Featured in: Fighting
- "Get Up" (The Deekompressors Feat Miss Eighty6)
- Featured in: Spring Breakdown
- "My Girlz"
- Featured in: Spring Breakdown
- "I Rock Hard"
- Featured in: Aquamarine
- "Came To Party" (Sarai aka Miss Eighty 6 Feat. D-Major)
- Featured in: Something Borrowed, Gossip Girl
Notes
- ^ http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&page=1&fromrow=1&torow=25&querytype=WriterID&keyid=774676&keyname=HOWARD%20SARAI%20MARIE&CAE=356085158&Affiliation=BMI
- ^ http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/sarai_rap_/artist.jhtml
- ^ http://www.askmen.com/celebs/women/singer_300/310_sarai.html
- ^ http://www.metacafe.com/watch/sy-45618832001/pyt_same_ol_same_ol_featuring_sarai_official_music_video/
- ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005KJSX
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/sarai/chart-history/510960?f=367&g=Singles
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/sarai/chart-history/510960?f=367&g=Singles
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/user/SaraiVEVO
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/sarai/chart-history/510960
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417056/
- ^ http://www.tunefind.com/artist/miss-eighty-6
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1712008/#Soundtrack
- ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0059388XE
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcvEylXMFT4
- ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013AZQ5U
- ^ http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/deetown2
- ^ http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/deetown3
External links
- Sarai at Allmusic
- AskMen.com – Sarai
- IMDB Profile at IMDB
- VH1 Profile at VH1.com
Categories:- American rappers
- Female rappers
- 1981 births
- Living people
- Musicians from New York
- People from Ulster County, New York
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