In 1998, Mashonda signed a publishing deal with Warner Chapel Music. She subsequently wrote for singer Monifah and worked with Full Force. The following year, she signed a recording contract with Columbia Records.[3]
Mashonda's debut album January Joy, produced by Beatz, Kanye West, and Raphael Saadiq, was released in November 2005 in Japan. The album was supported by two singles, co-written by Beatz: "Back of da Club", featuring Beatz, and "Blackout" featuring Snoop Dogg.[citation needed] In March 2009, she released a mixtape titled The Renovation Series.[citation needed]. Mashonda took time off from her music career to raise her son.
Other ventures
Mashonda was the author of a column, "Pandora's Box", on Vibe Vixen.[5]
Mashonda authored a book on co-parenting, titled Blend: The Secret to Co-Parenting and Creating a Balanced Family (2018), with contributions from co-parents Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.[6][7]
Personal life
Mashonda began dating the record producer Kasseem Dean, known as Swizz Beatz, in 1998. She became pregnant, but suffered a miscarriage in 2000. She was the stepmother to Dean's son from a previous relationship, Prince Nasir;[8] he was born during her pregnancy and she named him.[9] Mashonda and Dean married in 2004.[10] Their son, Kasseem Dean, Jr., was born in 2006.[19] In 2008, the couple announced their break up. According to Dean, they had already been separated for nine or ten months by June of that year. The divorce was finalized in May 2010, with the couple citing irreconcilable differences.[20][10][21]
