Trina Biography

The American rapper known as Trina was born Katrina Laverne Taylor in 1978. Trina grew up in Florida, and graduated from high school in Miami. Throughout her teenage years, Trina enjoyed writing raps; eventually her talents caught the attention of Miami rapper Trick Daddy who took the aspiring rapper under his wing and helped her get her career started.

Trick Daddy featured Trina on his hit rap single “Nann Nigg” in 1998. With the success of the song, Trina’s popularity grew and eventually garnered a deal with Atlantic Records. She made her major-label album debut in 2000, with Da Baddest Bitch rising into the top twenty on the R&B/hip-hop albums charts and into the top forty on the mainstream charts in the United States. The title track also charted on the R&B/hip-hop charts, as did the follow-up single, “Pull Over.”

For her next album, Trina teamed up with legendary recording artist Miss Elliot, collaborating for a two year period between 2000 and 2002. The result, Diamond Princess, was even more successful than Da Baddest Bitch, rising into the top twenty on the mainstream charts and reaching all the way to number five on the R&B/hip-hop charts.

Since Diamond Princess, Trina has also released the additional albums: Glamorest Life (2005), Still da Baddest (2008), and Amazin’ (2010), all of which rose to the top of the R&B/hip-hop and rap charts and into the top forty on the mainstream charts. Notable singles from Trina include: “Here We Go” (featuring Kelly Rowland); “I Got a Thang for You” (featuring Keyshia Cole); and “Million Dollar Girl” (featuring Diddy.) In addition, Trina has appeared as a feature artist on a number of chart-topping hits by other musicians, including: “What’s Your Fantasy” (with Ludacris); “One Minute Man” (with Missy Elliot); “Right Thurr” (with Chingy.)

For her work so far, Trina has been recognized with nearly a dozen BET Award nominations, an American Music Award nomination, and multiple Soul Train Award nominations. Trina most recently participated in the VH1 tribute, Hip Hop Honors: All Hail The Queens, alongside Missy Elliott. Her latest EP, Dynasty 6, released on her birthday in 2016.