Biography & Career Of Foxy Brown

2 years ago

Biography & Career Of Foxy Brown

Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand, better known by her stage name Foxy Brown, is a Trinidadian-American rapper. After signing to Def Jam in 1996, she released her debut album, Ill Na Na, that same year, and was also part of the short-lived rap group the Firm.

Early Life

Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand was born on September 6th of 1978 in New York City. While growing up, Inga's musical talents quickly became clear. She eventually won a talent contest in Brooklyn for a musical performance, and she was spotted by producers who invited her to start rapping in the studio.

Career

Foxy Brown began her career by appearing alongside many other artists on various tracks, including platinum and gold singles. Some of her most notable collaborations during this period were with artists like Toni Braxton and Jay-Z. In 1996, she was signed to Def Jam Records at the age of just 17. That year, she released her debut album, "Ill Na Na." Although the album received mixed reviews, it performed very well commercially with over 100,000 copies sold within the first week. The album also debuted at number seven on the charts. This album also featured artists like Jay-Z and Method Man.

After the release of her debut album, Brown teamed up with Nas, AZ, and Nature to create the rap "supergroup" called the Firm. In 1999, their first and only album was released with help by Dr. Dre as a producer. The album debuted at number one on the charts. During this period, she toured with multiple well-known artists, such as Snoop Dogg, The Spice Girls, and Stone Temple Pilots.

In 1999, Foxy followed up with another solo album called "Chyna Doll." This album debuted at number one on the charts and sold 173,000 units within the first week of hitting the market. Only Lauryn Hill had managed to top the charts with a rap album before this. Unfortunately, sales quickly declined after the first week – although it was eventually certified platinum.

Another album called "Broken Silence" followed in 2001. This debuted at number five on the charts and sold 130,000 units within the first week. Eventually, it would go on to sell more than 500,000 units to achieve gold certification. The album also features artists such as Spraga Benz. Over the next period, she released another single called "Stylin'" before leaving Def Jam Records.

Leaving Def Jam Records proved to be the point of decline for Brown's career, as she failed to create a long-planned album called "Black Roses." Hearing loss also prevented her from continuing with her career in an effective manner. In 2007, her prison sentence presented additional difficulties with her career. In 2019, it was reported that she was working on an upcoming, unconfirmed fourth studio album.

Personal Life

In 1999, Foxy Brown became engaged to a rapper named Kurupt, although the wedding was called off by 2000. In 2001, she became engaged to another rapper named Spragga Benz, although this marriage also never materialized.