Chyna Whyte

Stephanie Christine Lewis,[1] better known as Chyna Whyte, is a former American rapper, songwriter and author. She is best known for her appearance in the Lil Jon & The Eastside Boys song "Bia' Bia'" in 2002. Stephanie also co-wrote Erykah Badu's Grammy Nominated hit song "Bag Lady" in 2000 under her former married name Stephanie Martin.[2]

Chyna Whyte was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, started rapping when she was a child, and later pursued her rap career in 1992.[3] She got her first break in 1998, a year before she decided to send her demo tapes and mail them to various record labels.[3] She spoke to Dr. Dre and got a call from Roc-A-Fella Records but neither of those labels worked out.[3] Later on, she received a call from Lil Jon when he was working at Jermaine Dupri's label So So Def Records as in A&R. He got her demo tape and wanted her to come to Atlanta and record a clean version of Bia Bia in the studio.[3][4] In 2005, she released a single entitled "Chynalude" which was on TVT Certified Records PROMO CD for her forthcoming self-titled debut album "Chyna Whyte," however the single did not make it on the charts and her album was never released. Instead, the single was put on Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz's album Put Yo Hood Up as an outro.[5]

In 2001, Whyte was released from prison. She only served five months in federal prison and served the remainder of the year on house arrest but her probation officer let her travel and do shows.[3][6] She left Atlanta at that time and came back at the end of 2005 after the effects of Hurricane Katrina.[3] In 2002, she had planned to release her solo project but it was never released due to her pregnancy the same year thus having to put her career on hold.[3][6]

Whyte contributed for various artists albums such as Erykah Badu Mama's Gun, Jay-Z Bring It On: The Best of Jay-Z, Chingy Jackpot & Hoodstar, DMX Grand Champ and Drag-On Hell and Back as a songwriter.[2] She also received her Multi Platinum and Gold RIAA plaque for her work on Lil Jon & The East Boyz's album Kings of Crunk and Put Yo Hood Up and also received another Gold plaque from Too Short You Nasty album.[7][8]

Whyte started her own publishing company, Ching Chong Publishing, and a BMI writer since 1997.[7][9]