Vita (rapper)
American rapper
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
LaVita Gwendolyn Raynor[2] (born January 27,[3] 1976), known simply as Vita, is an American rapper and actress. Raynor is perhaps best known for her role as Kionna, the mistress of Tommy "Buns" Bundy (portrayed by DMX), in the 1998 crime drama film Belly.[1] As a rapper, Raynor is known for her appearances on the songs "Lapdance" by N.E.R.D., "Put It on Me" by Ja Rule, and "Down 4 U" by Irv Gotti. In 2014, Raynor was included in Billboard's list of the "31 Female Rappers Who Changed Hip-Hop".[4]
January 27, 1976
- Rapper
- songwriter
- actress
Vita | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | LaVita Gwendolyn Raynor January 27, 1976 |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels |
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Biography
Career
Raynor had a minor role in the 1998 crime drama film Belly as 16-year-old girl Kionna (who is one of Tommy "Buns" Bundy's girlfriends).[5] In the same year, Raynor also appeared in the video of the song "Break Ups 2 Make Ups" by Method Man and D'Angelo, playing the former's girlfriend. By 2000, Raynor was signed to Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. In 2001, Raynor appeared on the hook of “The Learning (Burn),” the first single released from the Mobb Deep album Infamy.[6] Raynor contributed vocals and appeared in the official music video for the remix to Ja Rule's "Holla Holla", and made a cameo appearance in the video for Ja Rule's "6 Feet Underground". In 2002, Raynor contributed to the Irv Gotti-produced hit single "Down 4 U" with Ja Rule, Ashanti, and Charli Baltimore from the Murder Inc. compilation album Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc.. The song was another hit for Vita, peaking within the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100.
In July 2002, Vita parted ways with Irv Gotti and Murder Inc.[7] Consequently, Vita's debut album on Murder Inc., La Dolce Vita, which was originally scheduled to be released on December 11, 2001 then delayed to Fall 2002, was ultimately shelved.[8] With the first single "Justify My Love" not gaining attention, Madonna shut her down from making her re-make original, as she recorded a version with her rapping, but Madonna did not clear the version with the rap.[9][10] Her debut album was later released on DatPiff. Raynor made a comeback in 2012 with the mixtape, Pre-cumm, a title given for "pure shock value"; she has also worked on producing a lingerie line.[11][12][13]
Personal life
Raynor is the younger sister of singer Kima Raynor.[1]
Discography
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [14] |
US R&B /HH [15] |
US Rap [16] |
GER [17] |
IRE [18] |
NLD [19] |
NZ [20] |
SCO [21] |
SWI [22] |
UK [23] | |||
| "Vita, Vita, Vita" | 2000 | — | — | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Irv Gotti Presents: The Murderers |
| "Down 4 U" (Irv Gotti presents Ja Rule, Ashanti, Charli Baltimore, and Vita) |
2002 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 54 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 14 | 43 | 4 | Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc. |
| "Hold That" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N/a |
| "Water Falls" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Can't Nobody" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [14] |
US R&B /HH [15] |
US Rap [16] |
NLD [19] |
NZ [20] |
SCO [21] |
SWE [24] |
SWI [22] |
UK [23] | ||||
| "Put It on Me" (Ja Rule featuring Lil' Mo and Vita) |
2000 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | The Fast and the Furious: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
| "Goodlife" (Funkmaster Flex presents Faith Evans featuring Ja Rule, Vita) |
2001 | — | 42 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Lapdance" (N*E*R*D featuring Lee Harvey and Vita) |
— | 85 | 29 | 56 | — | 43 | 47 | — | 33 |
|
Kiss of the Dragon OST and In Search of... | |
| "Rock Em" (Boobakaw & the Wild Younginz featuring Vita) |
— | 81 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N/a | ||
| "Burn" (Mobb Deep featuring Vita and Big Noyd) |
99 | 56 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Infamy | ||
| "Distraction" (Kima featuring Vita) |
2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N/a | |
| "Guerrilla" (CHG featuring Vita) |
2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Lifestyle | |
| "Murda Babe" (CHG featuring Vita) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
Promotional singles
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Pop, Pop, Pop" (featuring Black Child, Tah Murdah And Wiz Dinero)[28] |
2001 | N/a |
| "Justify My Love" (featuring Ashanti)[29] |
The Fast and the Furious: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
Mixtapes
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Pre-cumm |
|
Guest appearances
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Two Sides" | 1998 | N/a | Belly (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | [30] |
| "Dem Niggaz" | 2000 | Ja Rule, Black Child, Tah Murdah | Irv Gotti Presents: The Murderers | [31] |
| "We Don't Give a Fuck" | Ja Rule, Black Child, Tah Murdah | |||
| "Shit Gets Ugly" | Ja Rule, Black Child, Tah Murdah | |||
| "We Murderers Baby" | Ja Rule | |||
| "Interview With Vita" (Skit) | N/a | |||
| "Rebels Symphony" | Ja Rule,Tah Murdah, O-1, BJ, Black Child | |||
| "Holla Holla (Remix)" | Ja Rule, Jay-Z, Black Child, Tah Murdah, Memphis Bleek, Busta Rhymes | |||
| "Big Momma's Theme" | Da Brat, Destiny’s Child | Big Momma's House: Music from the Motion Picture | [32] | |
| "Put It on Me" | Ja Rule | Rule 3:36 | [33] | |
| "Furious" | 2001 | Ja Rule, O1 | The Fast and the Furious: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | [34] |
| "Justify My Love" | Ashanti | |||
| "Here We Come" | 2002 | Irv Gotti, Ronnie Bumps | Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc. | [35] |
| "Walk a Mile" | Shade Sheist, Barbara Wilson, Nate Dogg, N.U.N.E. | Informal Introduction | [36] | |
| "We Fly" | 2003 | DJ Envy, Ja Rule, Lil' Mo | The Desert Storm Mixtape: Blok Party, Vol. 1 | [37] |
| "Seven Deadly Sins" | DJ Kay Slay, Angie Martinez, Duchess, Lady May, Amil, Sonja Blade, Remy Martin | The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1 | [38] | |
| "Shimmy Slide" | 2010 | Dame Grease, Tanya T6 | Dame Grease Presents the Wave Series Vol. 6 | [39] |
| "Keep Investing in Yourself" | 2025 | Christenelle Diroc, Jadakiss, Tim Hardaway Sr | The Cancer They Found 722 | [40] |
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Belly | Kionna |
| 2005 | Blue Sombrero | Angelina |