You probably know LisaRaye McCoy as the queen of the South Side of Chicago or the star of The Player’s Club. She’s got that signature white outfit, a sharp tongue, and a career that’s lasted decades. But when it comes to her family, things get a little more complex than a Hollywood script. People are always asking who is LisaRaye siblings, and honestly, the answer usually starts and ends with a very famous rapper.
But that’s not the whole picture.
The Bond with Da Brat
If you’ve spent any time on social media or watching reality TV, you know that LisaRaye’s most famous sibling is Shawntae Harris-Dupart, better known to the world as Da Brat. They are paternal half-sisters. They share the same father, David Ray McCoy, a well-known Chicago businessman who was tragically murdered in the late 1980s.
Even though they didn't grow up in the same house 24/7—Brat lived with her mother, Beverly Calloway—they were tight. LisaRaye is seven years older, and she has always played that protective "big sister" role. Sometimes, maybe a little too protective.
They’ve had some very public ups and downs. Remember that viral moment on Cocktails with Queens? It was LisaRaye’s birthday, and Da Brat tried to surprise her. Instead of a happy reunion, things got awkward. Fast. LisaRaye was hurt because she felt like she was the last to know about big life updates in Brat’s life, specifically her relationship with Jesseca "BB Judy" Dupart.
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It was raw. It was uncomfortable. It was very "real sisters."
The irony is that LisaRaye actually played a part in them meeting. She had worked with Jesseca on some marketing for Kaleidoscope hair products before the rapper ever did. Despite the friction, they’ve since patched things up. You’ll see them together now, cooking Juneteenth meals or celebrating milestones, proving that blood is usually thicker than a reality TV plotline.
Are There Other Siblings?
This is where the Google searches get a bit murky. Most people think it's just the two of them because they are both famous. However, David Ray McCoy was a man of status in Chicago, and the family tree has a few more branches.
- Cynthia McCoy Scott: She is another paternal half-sister. Cynthia doesn't live her life in front of the cameras like LisaRaye and Brat, but she is part of the McCoy legacy.
- Jelahn McCoy: Often mentioned in deeper dives of the family history, Jelahn is also a paternal half-sister.
LisaRaye has occasionally talked about being the "only child" of her mother, Katie McCoy. This is a big reason why people get confused. From her mother’s side, she didn't have brothers and sisters running around the house. All of her siblings come from her father’s side.
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Why the Relationship with Da Brat Dominates the Headlines
The fascination with who is LisaRaye siblings really boils down to the contrast between the two sisters. You have LisaRaye: the polished, "Life in the Fab Lane" actress who almost always wears white and carries herself like royalty. Then you have Da Brat: the tomboyish, platinum-selling rap legend who broke barriers for women in hip-hop.
They are total opposites.
But if you listen to them talk, they have the same Chicago grit. They both credit their father for their work ethic. David McCoy was a millionaire who ran several businesses, and he clearly passed that "hustle" gene down to all his daughters.
Navigating the "Half-Sibling" Dynamic
In some families, "half" means a lot. In the McCoy family, it seems to fluctuate depending on the season. LisaRaye has been very vocal about how her father’s death impacted the family structure. When he died, it wasn't just a loss of a parent; it was a shift in how all the siblings interacted with the businesses and the estate.
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There’s been drama. There’s been lawsuits over the years regarding the McCoy estate. But through it all, the connection between LisaRaye and Shawntae has remained the centerpiece.
What You Should Take Away
If you're trying to keep the facts straight, here’s the breakdown:
- Da Brat (Shawntae Harris) is her most famous sibling (paternal half-sister).
- Cynthia McCoy Scott and Jelahn McCoy are her other paternal half-sisters.
- LisaRaye is the only child of her mother, Katie McCoy.
- Their father, David Ray McCoy, is the link that connects them all.
Family dynamics are messy. When you add fame, money, and public opinions into the mix, it gets even messier. But at the end of the day, when LisaRaye talks about her "punk" (her nickname for Da Brat), you can tell the love is there, even if they go months without speaking.
If you want to keep up with the McCoy sisters, the best place is actually their social media. They tend to bypass the publicists and go straight to their fans when they have something to say—for better or worse.
Check out LisaRaye's recent interviews on Fox Soul or Da Brat’s reality show Brat Loves Judy if you want to see how they’re handling their sisterhood these days. Understanding the McCoy family tree helps make sense of why these two women are so fierce, so protective, and so unapologetically themselves.
Next Steps for You
- Verify the Timeline: If you're researching the family for a project, look into the 1988 news reports regarding David Ray McCoy to understand the foundation of the family's public history.
- Watch the Interactions: View the Cocktails with Queens surprise segment to see the nuance of their relationship firsthand—it's a masterclass in sibling psychology.
- Follow the Careers: Both sisters are still active; following their current business ventures (like LisaRaye's jewelry or Brat's hair care collaborations) gives a better picture of their current "thriving" status.