Born: December 3, 1974
Birthplace: Miami, FL
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Katrina Laverne Taylor is an American rapper. She first gained notoriety in 1998 with her appearance on Trick Daddy's second studio album www.thug.com on the single "Nann Nigga". She has released five studio albums.
XXL Magazine calls her "the most consistent female rapper of all time". The Source celebrated Trina's career for the 2012 Women's History Month. In 2013, Complex ranked "Pull Over" #27 in their Top 50 Best Rap Songs by Women. In 2014, Trina was included in Billboard's list of the "31 Female Rappers Who Changed Hip-Hop".
Trina's father is from the Dominican Republic, and her mother is from The Bahamas. They were separated while she was growing up. She lived in Liberty City and in Pembroke Isle, Florida. Trina attended Miami Northwestern Senior High School, where she was a majorette, and graduated in 1992.
In her spare time, Trina wrote rap rhymes, which caught the attention of Miami rapper Trick Daddy, who approached her in 1998 to be featured on his song "Nann Nigga". The song later became the lead single from his second studio album, www.thug.com, which was released in September 1998. The single became a hit, reaching number 62 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Rap Songs chart. Thanks to the success of the single, Trina gained popularity and signed a record deal with Slip-n-Slide Records with distribution from Atlantic Records. She subsequently began work on her debut album.
In an online interview for Crusade magazine, Trina commented that on this album, much of the work was done for her; she did not have creative control, but simply delivered lyrics. "Everybody was like we got this beat, we got this, we got that, we want you to get in there and write to this track, write to this song, write to this topic." On March 21, 2000, Trina's debut album Da Baddest Bitch was released. The album debuted at number 33 on the US Billboard 200 and number 11 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Da Baddest Bitch was certified Gold in November 2000 by the RIAA. It stayed on the Billboard 200 chart for 39 weeks and on the Hip-Hop/R&B album chart for 49 consecutive weeks.
The album was preceded by the lead single "Da Baddest Bitch" in February 2000. It failed to chart on any but the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, on which it reached number 64. The second and final single from the album, "Pull Over", was released in June 2000 and became a mild hit as it reached number 83 on the Hot 100, number 46 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and number 41 on the Rap Songs chart.
After promotion for her debut album ended in mid-2000, Trina began recording music with Missy Elliott to create her second studio album. Recording sessions lasted from 2000 to 2002. Trina was able to choose her own production, name the songs, and write whatever she wanted to write. She told TheCrusade.net, "It's more what Trina's about, how Trina looks, how Trina feels, the things that Trina consists of."
On August 27, 2002, Trina released her second album Diamond Princess. It debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200 and number five on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It sold 67,000 units in its first week.
The album spawned three singles. The lead single, "Told Y'all", featuring Rick Ross, was released in July 2002 and reached number 64 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The second single, "No Panties", featuring Tweet, was released in January 2003 but only reached number 88 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. However, it became Trina's first single to chart outside of the US, as it reached number 45 on the UK Singles Chart. The third and final single from the album, "B R Right", featuring Ludacris, was also released in January 2003 and reached number 83 on the Hot 100, number 50 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and number 24 on the Rap Songs chart, becoming a fairly successful single.
Trina also started her own record label, Diva Enterprises (now DP Entertainment), and by September 2002 had signed an artist, Lil Brianna, who was nine years old and working on her first album. Lil Brianna had already appeared on the track "Kandi." Lil Brianna is now known as Brianna Perry and is now signed to Atlantic Records, Trina's former label.
Trina's third studio album, Glamorest Life, was released on October 4, 2005. It debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200, number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and number two on the Top Rap Albums chart. It sold 77,000 units in its first week.
The album was preceded by the lead single, "Don't Trip", featuring Lil Wayne, in June 2005. The single wasn't largely successful, as it only reached number 74 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The second and final single from the album, "Here We Go", featuring Kelly Rowland, was released in September 2005. The single reached 17 on the Hot 100, number eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and number three on the Hot Rap Songs chart. It also reached the Top 20 in most countries worldwide, becoming Trina's first majorly successful single. The single was certified Gold in the US in June 2006.
In 2007, Trina left Atlantic Records and signed to EMI in conjunction with her original label, Slip-n-Slide Records.
In December 2005, Trina appeared on the soundtrack of the film Boss'n Up with Snoop Dogg and Lil Jon.
In 2007, Trina began work on her fourth studio album. To give fans a preview, she released two mixtapes: Rockstarr Royalty and the Baddest Chick 2: Reloaded. Both were largely successful, with the first released in early 2007 and the latter released in the fall of 2007. Trina originally planned for her fourth studio album to be released in February 2008, but it was delayed by a few months in order for her to put finishing touches on the record.
Trina's fourth studio album, Still da Baddest was released on April 1, 2008. It reached number six on the Billboard 200, number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and number one on the Top Rap Albums chart, becoming her first album to top the charts. First-week sales were 47,000.
The album was preceded by the lead single "Single Again" in November 2007. It reached number 25 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100, number 59 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and number 19 on the Rap Songs chart, becoming a mild hit. The second single from the album, "I Got a Thang for You", featuring Keyshia Cole, was released in February 2008 and reached number 21 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 and number 59 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, making it a fairly successful single. The third and final single from the album, "Look Back at Me", featuring Killer Mike and produced by Hard Hat Productions, was a regional hit club record.
In 2008, Trina created the Miami-based female rap duo Pretty Money, with members Nisha and An-G. The group was to be featured on Trina's fifth studio album, but this never came about. The duo has yet to release any music. Following the creation of the group, Trina began work on her fifth studio album in 2009 and 2010.
The lead single from Trina's fifth studio album, "That's My Attitude", was released in August 2009. It was dubbed a buzz single. A mixtape, Amazin' (The Mixtape), was released in November 2009 in promotion of her fifth studio album. Another mixtape, The Definition Of A Million Dollar Girl, was released in January 2010 following the release of her fifth studio album's second single.
Nude pictures of Trina leaked in February 2010, and she appeared on The Mo'Nique Show in March 2010 to address this.
Trina's fifth studio album, Amazin', was released on May 4, 2010. It debuted at number thirteen on the Billboard 200, number four on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, number two on the Top Rap Albums chart, and number one on the Billboard Independent Albums chart. The album sold over 32,000 copies in its first week. Despite its low sales, the album received near positive reviews from critics. The album was preceded by the second single, "Million Dollar Girl", featuring Diddy and Keri Hilson, in January 2010. The single was very successful, as it reached number 61 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number 20 on the Rap Songs chart. "My Bitches" was going to be released as the album's third single in July 2010, but its release was canceled. The album's third single, "Always", featuring Monica, was released in April 20, 2010 and reached number 42 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. A fourth single, "White Girl", featuring Flo Rida and Git Fresh, was released in June 2010 but failed to chart.
In preparation for her upcoming sixth studio album, Trina released a mixtape entitled Diamonds Are Forever on March 28, 2011. Prior to the full release, she released three singles from the mixtape: "Ghetto", featuring T-Pain; "Waist So Skinny", featuring Rick Ross; and "Can I", featuring Mýa. The mixtape was successful, receiving 4.8 million views in two days.
In an interview with MTVuk, Trina said that her sixth album was expected to be out by the end of the year and that there would be more pop/crossover music on the album.
On November 9, 2011, Trina announced on MTV RAPFIX Live that she was no longer signed to Slip-N-Slide Records; she had been with Slip-the label since the beginning of her career.
On July 4, 2012, Trina released "Beam" via Twitter featuring GunPlay from Rick Ross' label Maybach Music Group and Ice Berg, as well as a remix from her mixtape Diamonds Are Forever, "Bad Bitch", featuring Lola Monroe and Shawnna. Trina stated that her highly anticipated mixtape Back2Business would be released on September 28, 2012. However, on September 28 she announced that she had decided to release it on December 3, for unknown reasons.
Trina is a co-host on Tameka Cottle's late night talk show Tiny Tonight alongside Cottle, singer/reality star Tamar Braxton, Claudia Jordan. The show premiered December 17, 2012 on VH1.
Trina is set to be featured on Brianna Perry's upcoming vlog series, Girl Talk.
Trina released the new single for her sixth studio album on September 15, 2014, "Fuck Love", which peaked at #1 on "Billboard's Trending 140" and #34 on iTunes Hip-Hop/R&B charts.
On March 3, 2015, she released "Real One" featuring Rico Love, which later peaked at #1 on "Billboard's Trending 140."
On March 9, 2015, Trina revealed that she was signed to Penalty Entertainment, and would release her new album in December. In late June 2015, Rico Love announced during a behind-the-scenes trailer for Trina's "Real One" music video that he would be the executive producer for her sixth studio album. Trina previewed the video on Love and Hip Hop Afterparty on July 21, 2015. The following day, it was released officially on VEVO. "Real One" peaked at #98 on iTunes Hip-Hop/R&B chart.
On September 22, 2015, Funkmaster Flex announced Trina's upcoming sixth album via InFlexWeTrust.com. The album is entitled 6, representing the number of albums she had released. On October 25, 2015, Trina's upcoming album 6 was announced for 2016 via Twitter.
On October 29, 2015, Wolfgang Gartner announced that his record Turn Up, featuring Trina and Wiley, would be featured on the upcoming soundtrack for the video game Need For Speed.
On November 13, 2015, Trina released her single "Fuck Boy" along with a remix of One Direction's "Perfect"; both spawned positive reviews.
On March 21, 2016, the 16th anniversary of her debut album Da Baddest Bitch, Trina released a single entitled "Overnight", which discusses the ups and downs of her career including lawsuits, label issues, and people only viewing her as a pretty face.
Trina released her video for "Forget That", featuring Steph Lecor, from the Meet the Blacks soundtrack on April 1, 2016. Within one hour the video peaked at #13 on iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap charts.
On July 11, 2016, Trina participated in Missy Elliott's tribute for VH1's Hip Hop Honors: All Hail The Queens.
On December 3, 2016 Trina celebrated her 38th birthday by unveiling a surprise EP, Dynasty 6, at a private Art Basel event. The EP peaked at #3 on iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap charts. A video for 'Watch This' accompanied the EP the following morning on VEVO.
On July 7, 2017, Trina announced that her sixth studio album, The One, would be released on September 8, 2017.
On August 25, 2017, Trina was announced as one of the main cast members of the first season of Love & Hip Hop: Miami.
Trina started the Diamond Doll Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps younger girls with their life struggles. The organization is partnered with the Florida Entertainment Summit to organize the Jingle Bell Toy Drive for children in South Florida.