Patra (singer)

Dorothy Smith (born 22 November 1972),[1][2] better known by her stage name Patra, is a Jamaican reggae/dancehall singer.

Patra
Birth nameDorothy Smith
Born (1972-11-22) 22 November 1972
Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • Deejay
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1991–present
LabelsEpic
Associated acts

Career

In her beginnings as a female dancehall deejay in the late 1980s, she used the stage name Lady Patra. Patra first made an impression on the US charts as a featured singer on the Shabba Ranks song, "Family Affair", which hit No. 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1994.[3][4] In 1993, Patra released her debut album Queen of The Pack (#1 on the Reggae albums chart[5]). It was led by the single "Think (About It)" in 1993, which peaked at #21 on the Billboard Rap Singles chart[6] and #89 on R&B. Her follow-up single "Worker Man" became a bigger hit, reaching #53 on the Hot 100,[7] the Top 20 on the R&B chart[8] and #1 on the U.S. Dance chart.[9] The album's third and final single, "Romantic Call" (#55 U.S.,[7] #21 U.S. Dance[9]), was a collaboration with emcee Yo-Yo.

In 1995, Patra released her single "Pull Up to the Bumper" which was a remake of the Grace Jones song and peaked at #60 on the Hot 100,[7] #21 R&B,[8] and #15 on the Dance chart.[9] Her second album, Scent of Attraction followed later that year, and peaked at #151 on the Billboard 200,[10] #28 on the R&B/Hip Hop Albums,[11] and #2 on the Reggae charts.[5] The set's single, "Scent of Attraction" featuring R&B musician Aaron Hall peaked at #82 on the Hot 100, and became her fourth Top 40 (peak: #31) R&B hit. "Dip and Fall Back" was also released as a single off the album but failed to chart.

Patra also performed on the 1995 Panther movie soundtrack with the song "Freedom (Theme from Panther)", a collaboration between the American music industry's leading urban female vocalists. She also performed on C+C Music Factory's remix of its hit single "Take a Toke" that same year. After a few years to spend time with family, she released her third studio album The Great Escape in 2003, preceded by the single "Pressure Me." The following year, she appeared on the Two Culture Clash project, where she was featured on the album's lead single, "How Do You Love" featuring fellow reggae artist, Danny English. Her fourth studio album, Where I've Been, was released in 2005, preceded by the single "Man Dem Thriller" and released through the independent record label, Wall Street Entertainment. A follow-up single, "Black Cinderella" was also released.

Soon after, Patra took some time off once again from the music industry, becoming more spiritually connected to God and completing a Bachelor degree in history and political science.[12] In 2012, she signed with Veal-Steen Music. That year, she did a series of shows and interviews, and began work on her fifth studio album with a 12-track set planned with A&R executive/producer, Rich Nice.[12] She released a buzz track "Bad Inna Bed" ahead of the album's first single, "Come Ova" (featuring Delus) which premiered in June 2012. The music video premiered on August 24, 2012 on YouTube.[13] In 2013, she announced a new single off the album (now titled Patra: The Continuation), "Sweet Reggae Music," which premiered in April.[14] The album Patra: The Continuation" was released on February 18, 2014.[15][16]

Personal

In April 2005, Patra was arrested for charges of fraud, but was shortly released on bail.[17]

Discography

Albums
  • Queen of the Pack (1993) – US #103[10]
  • Scent of Attraction (1995) – US #151[10]
  • The Great Escape (2003)
  • Where I've Been (2005)
  • Patra: The Continuation (2014)

Singles
Year Title Chart positions Album
AUS
[18]		 NZ
[19]		 UK
[20]		 US Billboard Hot 100
[7]		 US R&B
[8]		 US Rap
[6]		 US Dance
[9]
1993 "Think (About It)" (featuring Lyn Collins) – – – – 89 21 – Queen of the Pack
1994 "Worker Man" – – 84 53 20 5 1
"Romantic Call" (featuring Yo-Yo) – – – 55 35 9 21
1995 "Pull Up to the Bumper" 78 12 50 60 21 – 15 Scent of Attraction
"Dip and Fall Back" – – – – – – –
1996 "Scent of Attraction" (featuring Aaron Hall) – – – 82 31 – –
"Work Mi Body" (Monkey Mafia featuring Patra) – – 75 – – – – Non-album single
2003 "Pressure Me" – – – – – – – The Great Escape
2005 "Man Dem Thriller" – – – – – – – Where I've Been
"Black Cinderella" – – – – – – –
2012 "Come Ova" (featuring Delus) – – – – – – – Patra: The Continuation
2013 "Sweet Reggae Music" – – – – – – –

See also

References
  1. John Bush (22 November 1972). "Patra | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  2. "Patra – Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at". Last.fm. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  3. Lucy O'Brien. She Bop II: the definitive history of women in rock, pop and soul. ISBN 0-14-025155-3.
  4. The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Guinness Publications. 1995. p. 4991. ISBN 1-56159-176-9.
  5. "Billboard > Artists / Patra > Chart History > Reggae Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  6. "Billboard > Artists / Patra > Chart History > Hot Rap Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  7. "Billboard > Artists / Patra > Chart History > The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  8. "Billboard > Artists / Patra > Chart History > Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  9. "Billboard > Artists / Patra > Chart History > Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  10. "Billboard > Artists / Patra > Chart History > Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  11. "Billboard > Artists / Patra > Chart History > Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  12. "Dancehall Artiste Patra targets summer return, to unveil new album". OutAroad.com. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  13. ""Come Ova" by Patra ft. Delus [Official Video". YouTube. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  14. "New Patra Song "Sweet Reggae Music" Okayplayer". Okayplayer.com. 28 December 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  15. "Patra the Continuation - Patra | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  16. "V Exclusive: Patra on Her Absence, New Music, & Female Sexuality in Reggae". Vibe.com. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  17. "Patra on fraud charge ::". The Jamaica Star. 29 April 2005. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  18. Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
  19. "charts.nz > Patra in New Zealand Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  20. "Official Charts > Patra". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
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