3D Na'Tee
3D Na'Tee | |
|---|---|
| Born | Samantha Davon James December 18, 1986 United States |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, songwriter, music video director |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Known for | Rap music, mixtapes, albums, music videos |
Samantha Davon James (born December 18, 1986), professionally recognized as 3D Na'Tee, is an American rapper, songwriter, and director of music videos. Her work has been showcased across prominent national platforms such as MTV, The Source, XXL, The Fader, RapRadar, and RapRehab. Moreover, she has received coverage from various Louisiana-based newspapers and music publications.
Career
James began her music career in 1999 by recording with the local label Clientell Records, contributing to mixtapes alongside the group "Snypa Squad" and participating in multiple projects. After Clientell Records ceased operations in 2006, shortly after Hurricane Katrina, 3D Na'Tee independently released her debut mixtape titled 3's Company Vol.1: The Rapper, The Hustler, the Diva, followed by a second volume in 2007. She also featured on The Kush 2 DVD, a project produced by YMCMB president Mack Maine that included appearances by artists such as Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Birdman, and Curren$y from Warner Bros. Records.
Building on her regional acclaim, she put out her third mixtape, Heavy Is the Head That Wears The Crown, accompanied by the music video "Guess Who's Coming 2 Dinner." This project caught the attention of Nelson Gomez—a G-Unit affiliate and Shade 45 host—resulting in interviews on his XM radio show and exposure on 50 Cent’s platform ThisIs50.com. Additionally, she was featured in HipHop Weekly Magazine under Benzino's editorial.
Her provocative video for "Guess Who's Coming 2 Dinner," which served as the lead track for her 2010 mixtape, earned her five nominations at the Nola HipHop Awards and secured wins in three categories: Lyricist of the Year, Mixtape of the Year, and Female Artist of the Year. Notable collaborators on this project included Curren$y (Warner Bros.), Ebony Eyez, and Babs Bunny (formerly affiliated with Sean "Diddy" Combs' Da Band).
In early 2011, James made an appearance on MTV’s SuckerFree Freestyle, hosted by DJ Envy, and teamed up with Syleena Johnson for the track "Go Head." On July 27 of that year, she independently produced the video for "Switch," which featured instrumentals crafted by producer Timbaland. The video's success prompted Timbaland to invite her to Miami’s Hit Factory Studio to collaborate on her subsequent project, The Coronation. Despite spending several months working alongside Timbaland’s team, she ultimately declined a contract offer due to unfavorable terms but maintained positive relations with them.
Two years later, she unveiled the street album The Coronation, showcasing features from Keri Hilson, Young Fletcher, Lyrica Anderson and production contributions from Mizay Entertainment’s Lex Luger, Maybach Music Group’s Yung Shun, Heartbeatz, Casa Di, Versive Manhattan, Serious Beats, and Da Smokestarz.
In August 2012, DJ Skee revealed that "NO LOVE," produced by MMG’s Young Shun from The Coronation, was ranked as the ninth most requested song nationwide. The album’s follow-up single "Lil Kim," produced by Casa Di and highlighted on both The Source and The Fader websites, attracted considerable attention. The song narrates a cautionary story about a young woman impacted by an absent father. Directed by Charley Mac, its music video received acclaim from hip hop figures such as Trina, Missy Elliott, and Chamillionaire—who also promoted it through his platform chamillionaire.com.
Albums
- The Coronation (2012)
- The Regime (2016)
- Songs That Didn't Make the Tape, Vol. 1 (2017)
- Uptown Butterfly (2023)
Mixtapes
- Heavy Is The Head That Wears The Crown (2008)
- Guess Who's Coming 2 Dinner (2010)
- The Coronation (2012)