Mashonda on the cover of her debut January Joy (2005)

Mashonda Tifrere-Dean, professionally known just as Mashonda, is an R&B singer signed to Full Surface/J Records, which her husband of 4 years, Swizz Beatz, has a partnership with. She was born in Massachusetts and raised in Harlem, New York. She is a labelmate of Cassidy (her husband runs the label; Full Surface Records) and is featured in his song "Get No Better" from his 2004 album Split Personality. She is also featured on Fat Joe's song "Listen Baby" from his 2005 album All Or Nothing. Image File history File links Januaryjoy. ... Image File history File links Januaryjoy. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... J Records is a major record label, it is a part of the Sony BMG music conglomerate. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq mi (27,360 km²)  - Width 183 miles (295 km)  - Length 113 miles (182 km)  - % water 13. ... This article is about the Harlem neighborhood in New York City. ... Barry Adrian Reese (born July 7, 1982), better known by his rap name Cassidy, is a popular American rapper from Philadelphia. ... Full Surface Records is a record label founded by hip-hop producer Swizz Beatz. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the album by Cassidy. ... Joseph Antonio Cartagena (born August 19, 1970), better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but raised in Harlem, N.Y., Mashonda's vocal coaching began at the tender age of 7, in church, where most legendary voices are honed. Urged by her godmother, who saw in her a precocious love for music, Mashonda dedicated a substantial amount of her time as a teen to piano lessons and poetry writing. She gained some exposure in high school from joining a few different singing groups, but it wasn't until a meeting with renowned hip hop/R&B writing team Full Force (Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears) that her music career truly took off. Under Full Force's tutelage, Mashonda co-wrote songs for artists Yvette Michelle and Monifah, which, in turn, led to a publishing deal. Soon after, the budding singer/songwriter partnered with rapper Lady May to form Desert Rose, and signed a short-lived deal with Deric "D Dot" Angeletti's Crazy Cat/Columbia Records. The duo split from the label before releasing an album, and Mashonda soon realized her destiny was to go her own way, much like her idols Mary J. Blige, Sade, Faith Evans, and Toni Braxton.

In 1998, one of hip-hop's most influential beatmakers, Swizz Beatz, recognized Mashonda's talent and took her under his wing, giving her the opportunity to write some of the catchiest hooks in recent urban music history (Eve's "Gotta Man;" Jay-Z's "Girl's Best Friend"). He also featured her on chart-topping hits like Mya's "Best Of Me" and Cassidy's "Get No Better." The key to their relationship? The most fundamental of elements: chemistry-both personal and professional. "We were able to create a very distinct sound," says Mashonda. "He made gritty tracks and I would get on them and make them pretty, bringing out the melodies. Once we did that, everybody wanted one of those. So that's where it all started." Ever since, the two have been conceptualizing January Joy, her long-awaited debut on Swizz Beatz's Full Surface/J Records imprint.

January Joy is a perfectionist's work of art mélange of up-tempos, mid-tempos, and ballads that marry hip-hop's street tendencies with R&B's softer sensibilities. "I didn't have a timeline or deadline, so I was really able to get into it and be extra picky with every track and every lyric that I wrote," says Mashonda.

The lead single, "Blackout" featuring Snoop Dogg, is a bouncy, dance floor-rattling track in pure Swizz Beatz tradition (hard drums, bass, whistles). And that's just a sneak preview of January Joy's star power. Expect additional cameos by hip hop heavyweights like Kanye West ("Hold Me") and Jadakiss ("Leave The Block Alone"). Rounding the album out on the R&B production tip are Mike City and Raphael Saadiq, among others.

"January to me is the genesis of music for myself and for all my listeners," says Mashonda of the album's title. "It's the first month of the year and it's when everyone makes their resolutions. It's a fresh start, a new feeling, and that's what my music is. I'm also a January baby," she adds with a smile. Here's to new beginnings, and re-introductions.

Her debut album, January Joy, was released in Japan only. Scheduled for a U.S. release in early 2005, the project was postponed, due to a lack of strong radio response to her first two singles, "Back of The Club" and "Blackout" featuring Snoop Dogg. Mashonda is currently in the studio, working with A-List producers. Confirmed producers on the project are Swizz Beatz, Scott Storch and Rich Harrison. Calvin Broadus (born October 20, 1971, in Long Beach, California), better known as Snoop Dogg (other nicknames include Snoop Doggy Dogg, Tha Doggfather, The Bigg Boss Dogg, Bigg Snoop Dogg, and The D-O Double G) is a rapper, record producer and actor from the United States. ... Swizz Beatz (born Kasseem Dean on August 30, 1978) is a New York-based American hip hop record producer/rapper of African American, Jamaican & Puerto Rican descent, and founder of the music label Full Surface Records. ... Scott Spencer Storch (born December 16, 1973 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada) is a Canadian entertainment mogul, hip-hop record producer, arranger, keyboardist, and instrumentalist. ... Rich Harrison is a Grammy winning record producer and song writer from Washington, D.C. // Biograhy Early life A classically trained pianist and trumpet player, from an early age Harrison demonstrated an exceptional ability to play anything he heard on the radio. ...

She is married to famed hip hop and R&B producer Swizz Beatz. On a statement released to SOHH http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/9964 on October 11,2006 Swizz Beatz and his wife Mashonda are expecting their first child together. She is reportedly due in 1 month. Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... Swizz Beatz (born Kasseem Dean on August 30, 1978) is a New York-based American hip hop record producer/rapper of African American, Jamaican & Puerto Rican descent, and founder of the music label Full Surface Records. ...

Discography

Albums

• 2005: January Joy [Japan-Only Release]
• 2006/7: Back To Business

2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January Joy is the debut album by American singer Mashonda, released international in November 2005 (see 2005 in music) via J Records. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Singles

• 2004: Get No Better (with Cassidy)
• 2005: Hold Me (featuring Kanye West) *Promo*
• 2005: Back Of The Club (featuring The Game)
• 2005: Blackout (featuring Snoop Dogg) ((Nas))