Foxy Brown (rapper)

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Foxy Brown
Background information
Birth name	Inga Marchand
Born	September 6, 1979 (1979-09-06) (age 28)
Origin	Park Slope, Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States
Genre(s)	Hip hop, East Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper
Years active	1995-present
Label(s)	Def Jam (1996–2003) Roc-A-Fella (2004–2007) Koch Records (2007–Present)
Website	http://www.myspace.com/foxboogiebrown

Inga Fung Marchand^[1], born September 6, 1979^[2][1] (a 2006 police report cites her birth year as 1978^[3]), better known as Foxy Brown, is an American rapper known for her solo work as well and numerous collaborations with other artists, and her brief stint as part of hip-hop music group The Firm. She is of mixed Afro-Trinidadian and Asian descent.^[4] Albums released under her name have included Ill Na Na in 1996, followed by Chyna Doll in 1999, and Broken Silence in 2001. She performed also in the 1997 self-titled album by the Firm, the only album to be released by that group to date.^[5]

After 2002, she continued recording verses for herself and other artists but did not release any albums. In April 2003, she announced on the Wendy Williams radio program on radio station WBLS that she would leave Def Jam Recordings, thus leaving her album Ill Na Na 2 unreleased; it was initially to be released in May 2003.^[6] However, she returned to the label in January 2005 after Jay-Z signed her back to begin work on her new album Black Roses.^[7] In December 2005, she began suffering from hearing loss, which put her career on hiatus until the next summer, a few months after surgery.^[8]

In August 2007, she was signed to Koch Records.^[9] Her fourth album was released in May 2008 following many delays.^[2]

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 1994-1998 1.2 1999-2000 1.3 2001-2003 1.4 2004–Present 2 Controversies 2.1 Legal issues 2.2 Power 105.1 controversy 3 Discography 3.1 Albums 3.2 Singles 3.3 Featured Singles 3.4 Features/Collaborations 4 Filmography[63] 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] 1994-1998

While still a teenager, Brown won a talent contest in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. At the time, production team Trackmasters were working on LL Cool J's Mr. Smith album, the pair were in attendance that night and being impressed, they decided to let her rap over "I Shot Ya." ^[2]

Brown followed her debut with appearances on several RIAA platinum and gold singles from other artists, including remixes of songs "You're Makin' Me High" by Toni Braxton.^[2] Brown was also featured on the soundtrack to the 1996 film The Nutty Professor, on the songs "Touch Me Tease Me" by Case and "Ain't No Nigga" by Jay-Z.^[10]The immediate success led to a label bidding war at the beginning of 1996, and in March, Def Jam Records won as they added the then 16-year old talent to their roster.^[2]

In 1996 Brown released her debut album Ill Na Na to mixed reviews but strong sales. The album sold over 109,000 copies in the first week, and debuted at #7 on the Billboard 200 album charts.^[2] The album was heavily produced by Trackmasters, and featured guest appearances from Jay-Z, Blackstreet, Method Man, and Kid Capri.^[11] The album went on to go platinum selling over 3 million records in the US, 6 million world wide and launched two hit singles: "Get Me Home" (featuring Blackstreet) and "I'll Be" (featuring Jay-Z).^[12]

Following the release of Ill Na Na, Brown joined fellow New York based hip hop artists, Nas, AZ and Nature to form the supergroup known as The Firm. The album was released via Aftermath Records and was produced and recorded by the collective team of Dr. Dre, The Trackmasters, and Steve "Comissioner" Stout of Violator Entertainment. An early form of The Firm appeared on "Affirmative Action," from Nas' second album, It Was Written. A remix of the song, and several group freestyles were in the album, Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Nature Present The Firm: The Album.^[5] The album entered the Billboard 200 album chart at #1 and sold over 1 million records and is RIAA certified platinum.^[13]

On January 25, 1997, Brown spat on two hotel workers in Raleigh, North Carolina when they told her they didn't have an iron available. When she missed a court appearance, an arrest warrant was issued and she finally turned herself in on April 30, 1997. She eventually received a 30-day suspended sentence and was ordered to perform 80 hours of community service.^[14]

In March 1997, she joined the spring break festivities hosted by the MTV cable television network in Panama City, Florida, among other performers including rapper Snoop Dogg, pop group The Spice Girls, and rock band Stone Temple Pilots.^[15] Later, she joined the Smokin' Grooves tour hosted by the House of Blues with the headlining rap group Cypress Hill, along with other performers like Erykah Badu, The Roots, OutKast, and The Pharcyde, the tour set to begin in Boston, Massachusetts in the summer of 1997.^[16] However, after missing several dates in the tour, she left it.^[17]

[edit] 1999-2000

On January 26, 1999 Foxy Brown released her second album Chyna Doll, delayed from its original November 1998 release date.^[18] It entered the Billboard 200 charts at number one, selling 173,000 copies in its opening week.^[19] However, its sales quickly declined in later weeks.^[20] The album's lead single "Hot Spot" failed to enter the top 50 of the Billboard pop charts, as did the follow-up single, "I Can't" (featuring Total). Chyna Doll has been certified platinum after surpassing one million copies in sales^[21].

On July 3, 1999, Brown was escorted off the stage by Police at a concert in Trinidad and Tobago for using obscene language. However, no criminal charges were laid nor was she arrested. ^[22]

In 2000, she announced she was suffering from depression and entered rehab at Cornell University Medical College for an addiction to prescription painkillers, in particular, morphine, even stating that she couldn't perform or make records unless she was on the illegal drug.^[23]

[edit] 2001-2003

In 2001, Brown released Broken Silence. Its first single was "BK Anthem" showcased Brown changing to a "street" image and giving a tribute to her hometown Brooklyn and famous rappers such as The Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z. The second single from the album was "Oh Yeah", which featured her then-boyfriend, Jamaican dancehall artist Spragga Benz.^[24] The album debuted on the Billboard Charts at #5, selling 131,000 units its first week. Like previous albums, Broken Silence also sold over 1 million records and is certified platinum by the RIAA.

In 2002, Brown returned to the music scene briefly with her single "Stylin'", whose remix featured rappers Birdman, Gavin (brother of Brown), Loon, and N.O.R.E. was to be the first single off of her upcoming album Ill Na Na 2: The Fever.^[25] The next year, she was featured on DJ Kayslay's single "Too Much For Me" from his Street Sweeper's Volume One Mixtape.^[26] She also appeared on Luther Vandross' final studio album Dance with My Father.^[27] That April, Brown appeared on popular New York radio jock Wendy Williams' radio show, and revealed the details of her relationships with Lyor Cohen, president of Def Jam Recordings at the time, and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. Brown accused both of illegally trading her recording masters. She also announced that Cohen shelved her long awaited fourth album Ill Na Na 2: The Fever over personal disagreements.^[28] Therefore, "Stylin'" was released on the compilation album The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits Vol. 6 in December 2002.^[29]

[edit] 2004–Present

In 2004, Brown reunited with her old friend and mentor Jay-Z, when he became the president of Def Jam and signed her to its subsidiary, Roc-A-Fella Records. Later that year, Brown joined Jay-Z and several other hip-hop acts on his Jay-Z and Friends tour. Brown began recording her fourth solo album, Black Roses.^[30] Its first single was "Come Fly With Me" featuring Sizzla.^[31] Other tracks Brown recorded included a remix of the song "You Already Know" by the R&B group 112.^[32]

Controversy continued to follow Brown in April 2005, first when Brown pled not guilty to assault charges over a dispute over a manicure.^[33] Later that month, female rapper Jacki-O alleged that she and Brown got into a physical altercation at a recording studio in Miami, Florida, saying that Brown came into the studio during her session and expected her to "bow down" to her. ^[34] The next month, Brown denied any such altercation in an interview with the Miami, Florida hip-hop radio station WEDR.^[35]

On December 5, 2005, outside of Manhattan criminal court, Brown's attorney Joseph Tacopina stated he wanted to confirm rumors that Brown was almost totally deaf and claimed that he could no longer communicate with her verbally. Brown told reporters on December 15 that she was diagnosed with sudden hearing loss in May while she was recording her upcoming album. Shortly after Tacopina spoke to the public about her hearing condition, news spread that Brown had fired him. According to reports, Tacopina was never given permission by Brown or her agent to discuss her medical condition to reporters.^[36]

In October 2006, Foxy Brown was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to undergo anger management classes for the physical altercation in a nail salon in 2004. "This is only the first time in two years that I'm pleased with Judge Jackson," Brown told the Associated Press. Brown was reported to have received an excellent report from probation.^[37]

In May 2007, Black Hand Entertainment announced that they signed a management deal with Foxy Brown ^[38]. The release of her album Black Roses has been scheduled for September 6, 2007 ^[39]

On July 22, 2007, MTV News reported that there were plans for Brooklyn's Don Diva, a "mixtape", to be released before Black Roses ^[40]. Foxy left Def Jam Recordings on August 14, 2007, establishing her own label, Black Rose Entertainment, with distribution by independent record label Koch Records. ^[9]

On September 7, 2007, New York Criminal Court Judge Melissa Jackson sentenced Foxy Brown to one year in jail for violating her probation that stemmed from the 2004 fight with two manicurists in a New York City nail salon. ^[41]She was eventually released from prison on April 18, 2008. No mention was made during the trial by anyone about Brown expecting a baby. On September 12, 2007, her representatives stated the rapper was not pregnant in response to claims by her lawyer that she was.^[42]

Brooklyn's Don Diva, cut just before she went to prison^[43], was released on May 13, 2008.

[edit] Controversies

It has been suggested that some of the information in this article's Criticism or Controversy section(s) be merged into other sections to achieve a more neutral presentation. (Discuss)

[edit] Legal issues

• On March 6, 2000, Brown crashed her Range Rover in Flatbush, Brooklyn. She was charged with driving without a license, since her license had been suspended for not paying two parking tickets.^[44]
• On July 26, 2002, Brown was arrested in Kingston, Jamaica for an altercation with a policewoman at Norman Manley International Airport. When she missed a court appearance two days later, Jamaican authorities announced that she would be arrested if she returned to the country. ^[45]
• On August 29, 2004, Brown allegedly attacked two manicurists in Chelsea, Manhattan during a dispute over a $20 bill that she refused to pay. She was not charged for the incident until March 7, 2005. She has denied the charges and initially rejected misdemeanor plea deals on May 6 and August 9, 2005. On October 25, 2006, Brown was sentenced to three years probation and anger management counseling. Orders of protection were authorized by the court for the manicurists ^[46].
• On December 23, 2005, Brown was handcuffed in a Manhattan, New York courtroom after a verbal confrontation with the judge. Brown was in court to finalize a plea deal stemming from the August 2004 incident. Judge Melissa Jackson thought Brown was chewing gum and asked her to get rid of it. Brown responded by opening her mouth and sticking her tongue out, not as a sign of disrespect but to show, as she subsequently claimed, that she had no gum in her mouth. Judge Jackson ordered Brown cuffed to a bench for fifteen minutes, but when a female court officer attempted to handcuff her they got into a heated exchange over a bracelet the rapper was wearing. Judge Jackson alleged that Brown also struck the officer. When Brown refused to apologize, she was threatened with thirty days in jail. She eventually apologized to the court. ^[47]
• On February 15, 2007, Brown was arrested for an incident in Broward County, Florida.^[48] According to the arrest report, Brown was applying beauty products in the bathroom of the Queen Beauty Supply store when an employee knocked on the door and told her the business was closed so it was time to leave. She refused and threw hair glue at the employee, the report said. Brown then spat on the man as he called 911, staining his shirt. A police officer found her in the shopping plaza and tried to get her to return to the store. When the officer placed a hand on her arm to escort her to the store, Brown swatted it away, then started swinging her arms and struggling with the officer, the report said. The officer had to "use a take-down maneuver to gain control" of Brown, according to the report. No one was injured.
• On March 1, 2007, Foxy Brown pleaded guilty to a probation violation for leaving New York state without permission ^[49].
• On March 22, 2007, Broward County Judge Joel Lazurus issued an arrest warrant for the arrest of Foxy Brown for her failure to appear in court for the February 2007 incident in Florida. The judge subsequently withdrew the arrest warrant, Brown appeared in court and pleaded not guilty ^[50].
• On May 7, 2007, police were called in Brooklyn after a young mother claimed Foxy Brown, in a silver Range Rover, almost ran her down along with her baby in a stroller ^[51]. No charges were filed.
• On August 14, 2007, Foxy Brown turned herself in for the felony assault charge resulting from hitting her neighbor with a BlackBerry ^[52].
• On August 22, 2007, Judge Melissa Jackson ordered Foxy Brown jailed until a September 5 hearing for allegedly violating her probation after her arrest in the Blackberry incident. She was immediately taken into custody. Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Melissa Jackson said Brown's sentence will continue the six months' probation she is already serving. But Jackson warned that if there are any other probation infractions, "I'm reserving the right to resentence you to jail for one year." ^[53]
• On September 7, 2007, New York Criminal Court Judge Melissa Jackson sentenced Foxy Brown to one year in jail for violating her probation that stemmed from the 2004 fight with two manicurists in a New York City nail salon. "I'm not going to give you any more chances," Judge Jackson told Brown. "I hope you turn your life around and never again have to stand in a court of law." With time off for good behavior for her detention that began in August 2007, Brown became eligible for parole in April/May 2008. ^[54]
• On October 12, 2007, Brown refused three times to board a Rikers Island bus for a Brooklyn court date related to the BlackBerry incident - once because "she needed more time to primp", authorities said. She finally appeared before the Court on October 16, 2007 and pleaded not guilty.^[55]
• On October 23, 2007, Brown was given 76 days in solitary confinement due to a physical altercation that took place on October 3, 2007, with another prisoner. According to the prison authorities, Foxy Brown, the next day after the incident, was also verbally abusive toward correction officers and refused to take a random drug test. ^[56] On November 27, 2007, the prison authorities reported that the singer was released "from solitary confinement this week for good behavior"^[57].
• On January 16, 2008, Foxy Brown submitted a request to Judge Jackson, asking for early release in order "to treat an ear condition" she fears could "threaten [her] hearing". The request was part of an appeal filed on January 15 at the New York State Supreme Court^[58] but was subsequently denied by the judge.

• On April 18, 2008, at 12:05 p.m., Foxy Brown was released from the Rose M. Singer facility at Rikers Island Correctional facility in New York. In a subsequent press conference, she stated "I believe that God put me there for a reason. Incarceration is serious," adding that the first place she wanted to go after her "learning experience" was church. "He got me through," she said.^[59]

• On May 9, 2008, Brown pleaded guilty of threatening neighbor Arlene Raymond with a phone. She was accused of bruising the eye and chipping the tooth of her long-time neighbour when she struck her with a BlackBerry phone. Brooklyn Judge John Walsh sentenced Brown to time already served, issued an order of protection and ordered her to submit a letter of apology.^[60]

[edit] Power 105.1 controversy

On November 22, 2006 Foxy Brown appeared at New York radio station Power 105.1 for an interview with morning show hosts Egypt and Donnell "Ashy" Rawlings. As the interview began to air, Ashy made remarks and took several shots at Foxy's recent hearing loss. Through the rest of the interview Brown refused to answer to Ashy, excluding him from her conversation with Egypt. The interview became acrimonious when Ms. Brown was asked by Egypt to explain rumors that she had been dropped from her record label. Ms. Brown switched stories, first insisting she was still "signed to Jay" and then contradicting that by saying she was the one who "initiated leaving Def Jam ... they could never drop [Foxy Brown]" The DJs then asked the rapper questions including details on her recent conviction for assault, but she declined to answer, berating the DJs for being "disrespectful" and reminding Egypt that, "I told you when I called you what type of questions I wanted for my interview." Foxy began to pack her belongings continuing to dismiss any further comments the DJs were making. At this point, Egypt ended the interview, stating: "Foxy, you leave the room ... this interview is over" ^[61]. A sound clip of the interview, during which Brown leaves the New York radio station, then surfaced on various blogs and websites.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Album	Released	Chart peak[62]
		Billboard 200	Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	Sales/Certification
Ill Na Na	November 19, 1996	7	2	Platinum
The Firm, The Album	October 21, 1997	1	1	Platinum
Chyna Doll	January 26, 1999	1	1	Platinum
Broken Silence	July 17, 2001	5	3	Gold
Brooklyn's Don Diva	May 13, 2008	83	5	8,800

[edit] Singles

Year	Song	U.S Hot 100[12]	U.S. R&B[12]	U.S. Rap[12]	U.S. Rhythmic Contemporary[12]	Hot Dance Airplay[12]	Album
1996	"Get Me Home" (featuring Blackstreet)	42	10	-	11	-	Ill Na Na
1997	"I'll Be" (featuring Jay-Z)	7	5	2	22	4
	"Big Bad Mamma" (featuring Dru Hill)	51	5	-	20	3	Def Jam's How To Be A Player Soundtrack
1999	"Hot Spot"	91	22	23	37	-	Chyna Doll
	"I Can't" (featuring Total)	-	61	45	-	-
2001	"B.K. Anthem"	-	82	22	-	-	Broken Silence
	"Oh Yeah" (featuring Spragga Benz)	-	63	-	-	-
	"Candy" (featuring Kelis)	-	48	10	-	-
2002	"Stylin'"	-	71	-	-	-	Ill Na Na 2: The Fever
2003	"I Need a Man" (featuring The Letter M)	-	62	-	-	-
2005	"Come Fly With Me" (featuring Sizzla)	-	45	-	-	-	Black Roses
2008	"When The Lights Go Out" (featuring Kira)	-	-	-	-	-	Brooklyn's Don Diva

[edit] Featured Singles

Year	Song	U.S Hot 100[12]	U.S. R&B[12]	U.S. Rap[12]	U.S. Rhythmic Contemporary[12]	Hot Dance Airplay[12]	Album
1996	"Touch Me, Tease Me" (Case (singer) featuring Foxy Brown (rapper)	14	2	-	9	-	Case
	"Ain't No Nigga" (Jay-Z featuring Foxy Brown (rapper))	50	17	4	-	-	Reasonable Doubt
1997	"Sunshine" (Jay-Z featuring Babyface and Foxy Brown (rapper))	95	37	16	-	-	In My Lifetime, Vol 1.

[edit] Features/Collaborations

• 1995: "I Shot Ya (Remix)" (with LL Cool J, Keith Murray, Fat Joe and Mobb Deep; from Mr. Smith)
• 1995: "Hooked On You (Remix)" (with Silk; from Silk - Hooked On You Remixes)
• 1996: "One For The Money (Remix)" (with Horace Brown; from Horace Brown - One For The Money Remixes)
• 1996: "Touch Me, Tease Me" (with Case and Mary J. Blige; from Case)
• 1996: "No One Else (remix)" (with Total feat. Lil' Kim & Da Brat)
• 1996: "Affirmative Action" (with Nas, AZ and Cormega); "Watch Them Niggas" (with Nas); (from It Was Written)
• 1996: "You're Makin' Me High (Remix)" (with Toni Braxton; from Secrets)
• 1996: "Ain't No Nigga" (with Jay-Z; from Reasonable Doubt)
• 1996: "Release Some Tension" (with SWV; from Release Some Tension)
• 1997: "The Party Don't Stop" (with Mia X and Master P; from Unlady Like)
• 1997: "Sunshine" (with Jay-Z and Babyface; from In My Lifetime, Vol 1.)
• 1997: "Love Is All We Need/All We Need Is Love (Remix)" (with Mary J. Blige; from Share My World)
• 1997: "Friend" (with Puff Daddy; from No Way Out)
• 1998: "I Gotta Know" (with Playa; from Cheers 2 U)
• 1998: "Trial Of The Century" (with AZ; from Pieces Of A Man)
• 1998: "Dollar Bill" (with R.Kelly; from R. (album))
• 1998: "Paper Chase" (with Jay-Z; from Vol 2. Hard Knock Life)
• 2000: "Thong Song (Remix)" (with Sisqo; from Nutty Professor 2:The Klumps)
• 2000: "What's Your Fantasy (Remix)" (with Ludacris Trina & Shawnna; from Back For the First Time)
• 2000: "More" (with Cham (singer); from Wow...The Story)
• 2001: "Blow My Whistle" (with Utada Hikaru; from Rush Hour 2)
• 2001: "Picture This" (with Benzino; from The Benzino Project)
• 2002: "Tell Me What You Want" (with Alison Hinds; (Previously Unreleased)
• 2002: "Dope Boyz (Remix)" (with T.I.; from I'm Serious)
• 2002: "Affirmative Action (Remix)" (with Nas; from From Illmatic to Stillmatic: The Remixes EP)
• 2002: "Nothing (Remix)" (with N.O.R.E. and P.Diddy); from God's Favorite
• 2003: "If It Ain't One Thing" (with Luther Vandross; from Dance With My Father)
• 2003: "Whatcha Gonna Do" (from Bringing Down The House Soundtrack)
• 2003: "Too Much For Me" (DJ Kayslay featuring Nas, Baby and Foxy Brown; from The Streetsweeper Vol 1)
• 2003: "Talkin' To Me" (with Amerie; from Amerie - Talkin' To Me Remixes)
• 2004: "Does He Love Me" (with Keshia Chante; from Keshia Chante)
• 2004: "Got It Locked" (with Pitch Black; from Pitch Black Law)
• 2004: "Pretty Girl Bullshit" (with Mario Winans; from Hurt No More and Bad Boys 2)
• 2004: "More or Less" (with Shyne; from Godfather Buried Alive)
• 2004: "The Gang" (with Shyne; from Godfather Buried Alive)
• 2004: "Haitian Mafia" (with Wyclef Jean; from Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101)
• 2004: "Stop" (with Jay-Z and R.Kelly; from Unfinished Business)
• 2005: "You Already Know (Remix)" (with 112; from Pleasure & Pain)
• 2006: "Hmm Hmm (Remix)" (with Beenie Man; from Undisputed)
• 2008: "We Set The Pace" (with Morgan Heritage & Spragga Benz)
• 2008: "Bullet Proof Love" (with Lil' Mo) (Producer by Matheo from Poland)

[edit] Filmography^[63]

• 1996: Chris Rock: Bring the Pain (performer: "Touch Me, Tease Me")
• 1997: How to Be a Player (performer: Big Bad Mamma)
• 1997: Jackie Brown (film) (performer: "(Holy Matrimony) Letter to the Firm")
• 1998: Woo (film) (Actress: Fiancée)
• 1998: Bulworth (performer: "Firm Biz")
• 2000: Soul Food (TV Series) (unknown episodes)
• 2001: Rush Hour 2 (performer: "Blow My Whistle")
• 2002: Ali G Indahouse (performer: "Oh Yeah")
• 2002: Barbershop (film) (performer: "And We (film mix)"
• 2002: Friday After Next (performer: "Candy")
• 2003: Cradle 2 the Grave (performer: "My Life (Cradle 2 the Grave)")
• 2003: Bringing Down the House (performer: "Whatcha' Gonna Do")
• 2005: Entourage (TV Series) (One Episode: An Offer Refused) (performer: "I'll Be")
• 2005: The 40-Year-Old Virgin (performer: "Candy")

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The Foxy Brown Palace
• Foxy Brown (rapper) at MySpace
• The Fox Den Official message forum for fans
• Foxy Brown (rapper) at the Internet Movie Database