Sharaya J
| Sharaya J | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sharaya Howell |
| Born | January 17, 1984 |
| Origin |
Jersey City, New Jersey, United States |
| Genres | East Coast hip hop, rap, contemporary R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, choreographer, screenplay writer, executive producer |
| Years active | 2001-present |
| Labels | The Goldmind (2010–present) |
| Associated acts | Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Ciara, Alja Jackson, Diddy, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Hi-Hat, Jamaica Craft, Fatima Robinson, Laurieann Gibson, The-Dream, Jay-Z, Soul Diggaz, DJ Jayhood |
| Website | SharayaJ.com |
Sharaya Howell, better known by her stage name Sharaya J, is a Hawaiian-born American female rapper and choreographer.
She is best known for her latest singles, "BANJI" and "Smash Up the Place", as well as being the latest artist signed to Missy Elliott's label The Goldmind Inc. Prior to her work as a musician, she worked as a hip-hop choreographer and urban screenplay writer.
Born on January 17, 1984 to a working mother and a father who served as one-fifth of hip-hop group Double XX Posse, Sharaya began her career as a hip-hop choreographer. She was featured as a dancer in French singer Mylène Farmer's 2006 tour, Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy. Her work caught the attention of high-profiled musicians, Diddy, Ciara, Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, The-Dream, Rihanna, and earned her cameo spots on each artists' music videos (Alicia Keys' "Teenage Love Affair", The-Dream's "Shawty Is a 10"). Sharaya later went on to work with other top choreographers, Laurieann Gibson, Tanisha Scott, Fatima Robinson, Hi-Hat, and Jamaica Craft (formerly one-third of The Goldmind's act So Def).
Sharaya served as a dancer for Step Up 2 the Streets and Step Up 3D. In addition, Sharaya worked as a screenplay writer and executive producer for the short, The Real T.
In January 2010, Sharaya signed to Missy Elliott's label The Goldmind Inc. and was introduced by Elliott at the New York venue Crash Mansion. Later that year, Sharaya would release the Souldiggaz–produced "Green Light", featuring vocals by Elliott, and become part of Elliott's sold-out European tour. Throughout the tour, Sharaya performed the Alja Jackson–assisted "What Is Love?" On March 2, 2013, Sharaya's single, "BANJI" was released via iTunes. The song features additional vocals by Missy Elliott and production by DJ Jayhood. A promotional music video for the single was released via Sharaya's official YouTube channel two days following its official release.
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