The group signed with Sean "Diddy" Combs's Bad Boy Records to release three studio albums until their temporary disbandment in 2009.

In July of that same year, Richard formed the musical trio Diddy – Dirty Money with label boss Combs and fellow R&B singer Kalenna Harper.

The group released their only album, Last Train to Paris (2010) to critical and commercial success; it was preceded and followed by two mixtapes until their 2012 disbandment.

In 2011, following her departure from Bad Boy Records, Richard re-emerged as a soloist performing as DΔWN, later to be stylized as DAWN.

Brother records, along with platinum awarded production team The NexMen, Rochad Holiday and Curtis "Sauce" Wilson, crafted a studio solo album called Been a While, featuring the single "So What" which was co-produced by Ne-Yo.

Although it had no releases and did not chart, the studio album Been a While was still good enough to secure her a spot as the opening act for Anthony Hamilton in Tallahassee, Florida.

[5][non-primary source needed] Richard's significant opportunity arose in 2004 at the age of 21 when she auditioned for the MTV series Making the Band 3 in Orlando, ultimately being selected to vie for a position in Combs' upcoming girl group.

She beat out numerous contestants to secure herself a spot, along with Aubrey O'Day, Aundrea Fimbres, Wanita Woodgett (now known as "D. Woods"), and Shannon Bex.

An avid fan of manga, while Danity Kane was in the studio, Richard drew a female superhero which caught the attention of Combs.

[citation needed] Early in 2008, a song called "Phase" was leaked onto the Internet and featured Lil Wayne.

Although it was buzzed as a Danity Kane track, only Richard's voice was featured on the song, which caused speculation that it was a solo demo.

[8] In the same interview, she said that she still considered herself a member of Danity Kane (along with Aundrea Fimbres), and had hopes that each girl would be willing to work as a group again.

[10] However, on the April 23, 2009, finale of the series, Combs stated that all five original members would be returning if he ever decides to reunite the group.

She is the first member of Danity Kane to have released professional music under a major label after their split, with the Dirty Money album.

[15][17] It was called "the prelude to..." because there will also be an official debut studio album by Dawn Richard entitled A-Tell Tale Heart, which she has been working on for three years.

Richard announced that her major solo debut project will be a trilogy of albums entitled Goldenheart, BlackHeart, and RedemptionHeart.

In celebration of her one million Twitter followers, Richard introduced the set-up for her album GoldenHeart on July 17, 2012, with a track entitled "Pretty Wicked Things".

During the 2013 MTV VMAs pre-show, the four remaining members of Danity Kane announced that they were reuniting and returning on their own terms, without Diddy.

The single was produced by the Stereotypes, and features rapper Tyga over a production sampled from "Grindin'", the 2002 hit song by Clipse.

On August 4, 2014, while in a Los Angeles recording studio, a fight ensued in which Richard allegedly punched O'Day.

About the single she said: "I wanted to create a vibrant atmosphere, The Red Era is about moving on, redeeming yourself, and finding redemption.

[34] On August 10, 2016, Richard made a cameo appearance on Season 2 of the TV series Rosewood with Morris Chestnut and Gabrielle Dennis.

On September 15, 2016, Richard began filming the lead role, Joyce, in the 2017 movie Kinky, written by Jean-Claude Lamarre and starring Robert Ri'chard, Gary Dourdan and Vivica A.

On November 10, 2016 Redemption, Richard's fourth album, was made available to stream exclusively on NPR one week ahead of its release.

Richard provided guest vocals on the song "Cool Your Heart" from Dirty Projectors' self-titled album, which was released February 21, 2017.

In September 2020 according to Deadline Hollywood, Richard joined the cast of the Indie thriller Issac alongside Dove Cameron and RJ Mitte.

In 2014 she launched a capsule collection of women's shoes via Lust for Life, and a new addition of shades to accompany the Blackheart album release.

In 2016 Richard released a limited edition sterling silver and red USB necklace to accompany the trilogy finale REDEMPTION.

In July 2020 she announced a partnership with Adult Swim as a creative consultant, seeking out black animators and artists to create content for the channel.