Gripsta

{{Short description|American rapper}} {{More footnotes needed|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Gripsta | image = Gripsta Picture 017.jpg | alt = | caption = Gripsta in 1999 | image_size = | birth_name = Brandi Younger | alias = {{hlist|Grip|Gripsta}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|08|20}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |title=Joel Whitburn Presents Top R & B/hip-hop Singles, 1942-2004 |date=2004 |publisher=Record Research Incorporated |isbn=978-0-89820-160-4 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Joel_Whitburn_Presents_Top_R_B_hip_hop_S/bZozAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Brandi+Younger+Gripsta+1979&dq=Brandi+Younger+Gripsta+1979&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref> | birth_place = | origin = Oakland, Ca | death_date =  | death_place = | genre = Hip hop music | occupation = Rapper/ Actor | instrument = | years_active = 1993–present | label = Rhyme Syndicate productions, Tuff Break-A&M Records | associated_acts = {{hlist|Ice-T|Sh'killa|T.W.D.Y.}} | url = }}

'''Brandi Younger''', professionally known by her stage name '''Gripsta''', is an Oakland-born female rapper. Discovered by Ice-T at the age of 13, she was featured on song titled "Funky Gripsta" off of his 1993 album ''Home Invasion'' and later signed to Tuff Break/A&M Records in the 1990s. Her debut single "Pop Goz the 9" <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Gripsta-Pop-Goz-The-9-Cant-Fade-This/release/393747|title=Gripsta - Pop Goz The 9 / Can't Fade This|website=Discogs}}</ref> was partially leaked in January 1994, its music video was directed by Ice-T. However Gripsta's debut single was never officially released. The Tuff Break label on A&M Records was dropped before her scheduled release date. She was later featured on Ice-T's seventh solo studio album ''The Seventh Deadly Sin'', as well as numerous features on record label Def Jam's ''The Murder Squad'' album. She worked with many artists under that association. She was featured on song "Knock on Wood" alongside Grammy award winning L.V. of South Central Cartel (who won a Grammy in 1995 for his feature on Coolio’s “Gangsta's Paradise”) South Central Cartel, B.G. Knocc Out, Dresta, Jayo Felony, Young Murder Squad and Sh’killa.

Gripsta was also featured in a principal role in the movie ''Dangerous Minds'' in which she played one of the many troubled teens that actress Michelle Pfeiffer sought to reform. Other acting credits include a guest star appearance in the "Leaving the Life" episode of the CBS television show ''Promised Land'', a semi popular spin-off of CBS more successful show ''Touched by an Angel''.'.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tQsEAAAAMBAJ|title=Billboard|date=14 January 1995|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|via=Google Books}}</ref> As of June 2023 Gripsta released a video on YouTube. This video “This is Cali” is an answer to new female rapper Scarlip “This is New York”. This song details the harsh realities of gang life and dangers of California.

==Discography== ===Singles=== *"Pop Goz the 9"/"Can't Fade This" (1994)

===Guest appearances=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Title ! scope="col"| Release ! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Other artist(s) ! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Album |- ! scope="row"| "Funky Gripsta" | 1993 | Ice-T | ''Home Invasion'' |- ! scope="row"| "Knock on Wood" |rowspan="2"| 1995 | South Central Cartel, Sh'Killa | ''Murder Squad Nationwide'' |- ! scope="row"| "Knock on Wood (Video Version)" | The Evil Side G's, Sh'Killa, B.G. Knocc Out, Dresta, Jayo Felony, L.V. | {{N/A|non-album single}} |- ! scope="row"| "Female Rydaz" |rowspan="3"| 1996 |rowspan="2"| Sh'Killa |rowspan="3"| ''Gangstrez From Da Bay'' |- ! scope="row"| "Now U Wanna Come Back (Reunited We're Not)" |- ! scope="row"| "Whatever It Takes" | Sh'Killa, Young Murder Squad |- ! scope="row"| "Hardcore" |rowspan="4"| 1999 | Ice-T | ''Seventh Deadly Sin'' |- ! scope="row"| "Squeeze On'em" |rowspan="2"| T.W.D.Y. |rowspan="2"| ''Derty Werk'' |- ! scope="row"| "Gameless Mortals" |- ! scope="row"| "Livin" | Factor | ''Tha Bomb Connect'' |- ! scope="row"| "Nasty" |rowspan="2"| 2000 | Celly Cel | ''Deep Conversation'' |- ! scope="row"| "Boss Bitches" | T.W.D.Y., Sylk-E. Fyne, Conscious Daughters | ''Lead the Way'' |- ! scope="row"| "Hot Shit" | 2002 | Skant | ''Bread and Born'' |}

==Videography== ;Music videos {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Title ! scope="col"| Release ! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Other artist(s) ! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Album |- ! scope="row"| "Pop Goz the 9" | 1994 | | {{N/A|non-album single}} |- ! scope="row"| "Knock on Wood (Video Version)" | 1995 | The Evil Side G's, Sh'Killa, B.G. Knocc Out, Dresta, Jayo Felony, L.V. | ''Murder Squad Nationwide'' |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gripsta}} Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:Gangsta rappers Category:Rappers from Oakland, California Category:21st-century American rappers Category:21st-century American women rappers Category:Actresses from Oakland, California