Phat Kat

Born and raised on Detroit's east side, Ronnie Watts knew he wanted to be a rapper after hearing Kurtis Blow's "Christmas Rappin'." In 2000, Phat Kat (a name given to him by a local mechanic) met Detroit DJ/producer House Shoes, who helped him put together a 12”. Impressed by what they heard, Virgin U.K. signed the rapper, but just before the release of what would have been his debut full-length, the label's staff was fired, and Phat Kat was dropped. Finally, after joining Barak Records, the Undeniable LP came out in 2004. By the next year, Phat Kat had left Barak for Look Records, and his sophomore effort, Carte Blanche, was released in 2007. ~ Marisa Brown