Born and raised in Washington DC, YahZarah studied music at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and attended North Carolina Central University on a full scholarship in the jazz program. Her break into the industry was singing back-up vocals for Erykah Badu, on the Mama's Gun album and tour.
Later, Williams took on the YahZarah moniker and went solo. She released two albums, Hear Me and Blackstar. Her music video "Wishing" was shown on BET. Blackstar reached number 44 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
YahZarah is featured on the albums Connected and Leave It All Behind by The Foreign Exchange and the Little Brother album The Minstrel Show.
Re-introducing herself by the new stage name Purple St. James, she released an eight-song EP, The Prelude, in September 2008.
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