January 23, 2006 @ 3:28 pm

Shareefa - No Sweat

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While Ludacris effortlessly goes through his sound check, and Bobby Valentino casually strolls the back lot of Sony Studios in California, it’s clear the old pro and young vet have their preshow routines locked. On the flip side, the newest member of the DTP set, Shareefa Cooper, 22, has a case of the rookie jitters. She fidgets in her chair, antsy with the thought of singing in front of a national audience at the VIBE Awards. Even though she’s not as seasoned as her counterparts, the wide-eyed songstress ("I can’t wait to meet Mary J. Blige and see Keyshia Cole") is game for the moment. "I like to show off," she says. "I’ve always had an infatuation with cameras, so I just knew I wanted to be in the limelight, whether it was acting, singing, or whatever."

Shareefa wasn’t always as clear in her ambitions, nor was her road to stardom smooth. Let’s just say she took a New Jersey drive to end up where she is today. At 14, she relocated to Charlotte, N.C., with her mother, and subsequently joined a local car-theft ring. The fast times slowed down when she got busted for auto theft. She ended up doing four months in jail after her codefendant turned on her. "She put everything on me," says Shareefa. The experience forced Shareefa to ditch the chop shops and focus on her musical chops instead. New jack swing architect Teddy Riley was the first to take an interest in her untapped street appeal. "There came a turning point in my life where I realized what I wanted to do."

With the forthcoming release of Shareefa’s untitled debut, the throaty vocalist will attempt to stand out among other R&B darlings. Her brash, horn-driven lead single, "I’ll Be Around," also featured on Ludacris Presents...Disturbing tha Peace, sets the tone with lyrics like: "Prissy chicks don’t want me in the place...I might punch a silly chick in the face."

Shareefa shakes her jitters and nails her performance during Ludacris and Field Mob’s rousing rendition of "Georgia." And you can’t blame the upstart for wanting to upstage her more experienced crew. "I ain’t stepping on nobody’s toes," she says. "But being onstage with Luda, and watching Bobby do his thing, really soups me up. It’s a rush." Which makes stealing the spotlight no big deal.

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Article tags: ShareefaDef JamField MobLudacris 

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Comments

1.

Chief84 says:

Yo got REEFA she's hott!!!!

2.

datruth23 says:

yo shareefa is da truth!!!

3.

Shae says:

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I like her cd. Cool stuff. No disrespect though, but she is not from East Orange, NJ! I know her family personally! Especially her brother. She is not from E.O! She was first from N.C, then from Newark, NJ(which is where I first met them). I would really like to know where she is really from. Really from.

4.

honey says:

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Hey how are you?? I'm fine just wondering how the jail time express you feeling the way that they do!!! I'm only 17 but i really love you c.d. it helps me alone my way with life. Well i would love for you to visit my myspace page at least to check it out1! BYE AND LIVE LIFE LIKE IT'S NO TOMORROW

5.

kaykay says:

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i saw shareefas cd at walmart i was going too buy it for my sister i figured i wait i thought shareefa was all rap,buts shes not she r&b like mary so ill buy the disc i thought rap because of Ludacris.she good with me kk from sac,ca

6.

Khyanna says:

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yo shareefa you are so damn gangstar to it aint even funny it about damn time someone see how damn gangstar girls are and your are show them with music and I thank you for that right there.

7.

Toya says:

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Wus gud mrs. Sha(reefa?) yea das a hot name fareal, but n-e-ways jus wanted 2 stop threw an show sumlove cumin 4rm ur gurl Toya representin dat Charlotte Quenn city my nigga u kno how we do here but uh get at me win u geda chance home gurl u kno wut du deal is, Ima big as fan but u kno 2 hit me up win u can. T_MuneyG@yahoo.com

8.

Patricia says:

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i really like da way shareefa sings!!! he shows that she has a strong voice!!!! And if she like to stand in the spot light then thats good because that means that she has confidence in herself!!!!!!!! i really love the songs "I need a boss" and "Cry no more"!!! and i like that she likes Mary J. Blige

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