b. Shari Watson, 10 October 1971, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. This urban vocalist grew up singing in the church and received opera and classical training. While still in her early teens, Watson began performing with her cousin's fusion band in her native St. Louis. After graduating from high school she relocated to Los Angeles, landing a recording contract with Giant Records as part of the hip-hop duo Shug And Dap. The collapse of Giant meant the duo split up after releasing a solitary single, 1994's "Anotha Man". Watson found work as a songwriter, teaming up with Mario Winans on tunes for Monifah and L.V., and also composing for Eric Ben‚t, Shanice and Ray-J. She joined Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records as a staff songwriter in the mid-90s, and after several years service was offered a recording contract. Dre also gave Watson her new recording moniker, inspired by her reputation for writing brutally honest lyrics based on her years of false starts and setbacks in the music business. Truthfully Speaking, a collection of edgy urban tracks in keeping with Watson's persona, was released in June 2002. The singer had already gained widespread exposure through minor acting roles in The Wash and Ali, and by the success of her debut single "Addictive". Featuring a backing track from DJ Quik and guest vocals from rap legend Rakim, the single broke into the US Top 10, but was later the subject of a successful copyright infringement lawsuit raised by Indian composer Bappi Lahiri.
In the aftermath of the lawsuit, Watson parted company with Aftermath and Interscope, signing a new recording contract with Raphael Saadiq's Pookie Entertainment. She made her debut for the label in June 2004 with Ready Now.
DISCOGRAPHY: Truthfully Speaking (Aftermath/Interscope 2002)****, Ready Now (Pookie 2004)***.
FILMOGRAPHY: The Wash (2001), Ali (2001).

Encyclopedia of Popular Music
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