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 (2005). In 2011, Dean joined the first season of VH1's reality show .
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 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. 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.
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.
+ As featured artist ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album | |||||||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or receive certification. |
+ List of non-single songs with guest appearances by Mashonda ! scope="col" style="width:16em;" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Album ! scope="col" | Other artist(s) |
2011 | Herself | Supporting Role (Season 1) |
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