Raised in the Bronx and the Dominican Republic, Kat DeLuna grew up with a love for singing and, at the age of 14, began attending the New Jersey School of the Performing Arts. She formed an all-Latina R&B group called Coquette, which once opened for rapper Cassidy, but it wasn't long before she signed with GMB Music Group through the Sony-distributed Epic label. Her debut album (9 Lives), released in August 2007, was preceded by the club track "Whine Up," featuring Elephant Man.