Interview: Da Brat and Missy Elliott Talk the 2014 Soul Train Awards

The two hip-hop veterans on their platinum hit “Ladies Night” and much more.

In 1997, Lil’ Kim, Da Brat, Missy Elliot, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes and Angie Martinez recorded “Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix),” which became a platinum hit. The video was the epitome of unity and camaraderie between women in hip-hop and R&B. What makes it even more special is that 17 years later, a strong bond between the women still exists. During the 2014 Soul Train Awards, Lil’ Kim, Da Brat, Missy Elliott and Total reunited on stage to perform the track, which had became a “ladies” anthem. We spoke with Da Brat and Missy Elliott about the exciting performance, recording the track, working with Lopes and being in the music industry for over two decades.

EBONY: What was it like reuniting on stage for the performance at the 2014 Soul Train Music Awards?

Da Brat: It was amazing. I hadn’t performed that song with them since the MTV Awards. It was just a great feeling. It was great to be reunited with them. They’re legends, along with myself. So I appreciated the opportunity to be back on stage. The crowd went crazy. It was everything.

Missy Elliot: It was a beautiful moment performing with my sisters Kim and Brat because it took me back to the time we did the video and we had so much fun!

EBONY: The other person missing from the performance besides Left Eye is Angie Martinez. Do you know why she wasn’t involved?

DB: No, I’m not sure why she wasn’t a part of the performance. I just knew when I spoke to Missy, she told me that they want me, you and Kim to do Soul Train and do you want to do it. I said yes. I didn’t know anything about Angie not doing it, but when I found out she wasn’t, I didn’t question anybody. I just figured they probably had their own reason. But I love Angie.

ME: I don’t know why Angie couldn’t make it, but of course we missed her being there too.

EBONY: What was it like in the studio while recording the track?

DB: When we recorded the track we weren’t all together. [Lance] Un Rivera , the president of the label Undeas. It was his idea, I believe and he called everybody up. He had a relationship with Left Eye and I. We all started calling each other. I believe Missy called Mary [Mary J. Blige] and I called Total. Everybody just started calling their friends. It became a great song and a great video. As far as the video, that’s when we all got together. We actually recorded it in separate studios. I recorded mine in Atlanta. Missy recorded hers in Virginia, I believe and Kim recorded her part in New York. Left Eye recorded hers in Atlanta as well.

ME: When Undeas, who was Kim’s manager asked me to do a hook on the record I was like,” Okay.” I went in the studio and said instead of doing a rap hook, I’m going to flip it and sing the hook and flip the original Kool & the Gang hook. I was scared because I said, “I can’t hit notes like Patti Labelle. So when they hear it, they may clown me.” But they loved it. Then the track was so hot that I said I’m gonna sneak in a verse at the end. Maybe they won’t notice but they kept it. It was fun!

EBONY: The video had cameos from everyone such as Queen Latifah, Mary. J. Blige, Xscape, Blaque and more. What was it like on that set?

DB: When we did the video. It was like a big reunion. It was so much unity. We had a ball. It lasted almost all day and all night, but it was amazing. You don’t get that these days. It’s sad because we don’t have Left Eye and Natina from Blaque anymore. Maia Campbell was in the video and she’s been through her own struggles. So it’s amazing to be reunited with some of those people and to see that they’re okay. And rest in peace to Left Eye because she was part of the reason that this video and song did as well as it did.

EBONY: What was it like working with Left Eye?

DB: I didn’t actually get to work with her on a one on one basis, but I knew her and she was a great person. She was fun. T-Boz and I are super close, closer than Left Eye and I were, but I always looked up to her. When TLC came out with “Ain’t 2 Proud To Beg,” I wasn’t signed yet and I wanted to be like TLC so bad. It was a coincidence that I ended up signing with Jermaine Dupri. TLC was his group at first. I’m just very honored to even have been able to be around her.

ME: Left Eye is a a rare gem. She brought a new energy to the track because we always heard her kill it on TLC records. After she laid her verse, I said,”Dang. She kilt that! She held it down solo!”

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