Rapper Da Brat has been sentenced to three years in prison for striking a waitress with a rum bottle at a nightclub last year.

A Superior Court Judge ruled on Friday the hip-hop hitmaker - real name Shawntae Harris - will also serve seven years probation and 200 hours of community service for the incident in addition to her jail time.

Harris, 34, was involved in the altercation at a Halloween party at Studio 72 nightclub in Atlanta, Georgia, on 31 October 2007.

The pair were reported by police to have gotten into an altercation prior to the assault - resulting in the victim's hospitalisation and permanent facial scarring.

Harris entered a guilty plea to aggravated assault in the case.

According to reports, the rapper pleaded to her weeping family as she was led out of the courtroom, saying: "I love y'all."

Harris was previously convicted in 2000 for misdemeanor reckless conduct.