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At tender teenage years, a little black girl had a gift. The talent of rapping. It won her a talent show in her hometown of Park Slope. And ever since, the world soon begin to see a queen arise to become the blueprint to the future queen, @NICKIMINAJ (THREAD)
The year was 1995. Right after winning the talent show, one of her cousins, a DJ, introduced her to a king in the making, Jay-Z. And since then, became close friends. At this time, he was working for his debut studio album, and asked Foxy if she wanted to collab, and she complied
Unreasonable doubt sold 43k copies 1st week, humble beginnings for a future billionaire. But among his singles, "Aint No N*****" was his highest charting song at #50 on Billboard, and it had none other than Foxy Brown; her talent and her verse, no wonder why it charted so high
And before you talk shit about Foxy, here is an interview that proves Foxy help jumpstart JayZ's career, and she has YET to drop an album
Major buzz was circling around Foxy Brown, and it reached the ears of various producers and artists.
In 1996, the movie The Nutty Professor was released with $274m at the box office and the soundtrack included from Foxy Brown "Touch Me Tease Me" and "Aint No N*****"
In 1996, the movie The Nutty Professor was released with $274m at the box office and the soundtrack included from Foxy Brown "Touch Me Tease Me" and "Aint No N*****"
Another one of the producers waa Trackmasters, which at this time was making an album for LL Cool J's "Mr. Smith." They asked if she can hop on the remix of "I shot ya" with 4 male emcees and washed em all
And the main emphasis is that her mentality always was about being respected as a female emcee and being able to compete with the men, and being able to rap and eventually, write your own raps, a trait that @NICKIMINAJ would pick up in the later future
This will pick up to the ears of another king on the rise: Nas. Nas also asked Foxy to be featured on his 2nd album, It was Written, which would sell 268k copies 1st week and top the Billboard 200 charts.
And on the song "Affirmative Action", Nas and Foxy Brown went toe to toe and showcased to the world that Foxy was no regular bitch. She held her own and wasnt afraid to compete with men. Which would attract MAJOR attention around her.
Impressed with her skills, Nas asked Foxy to join his rap group called The Firm, and would later release "The Album". This was Foxy Brown's 1st #1 album on the Billboard 200, selling 147k 1st week.
And on "Firm Fiasco", Foxy would once again go toe to toe with Nas. And the party has yet to begin for the Ill Na Na....
And to figure out where her mind is at at this time, listen to the words of Foxy Brown before we get to her 1st studio album. 17 years old, and had the talent to go against GROWN MALE EMCEES and outrap even some or go toe to toe, and jumpstart Jay-Z's career. Now all eyes on her.
The day was November 19, 1996. Foxy Brown released her 1st studio album, Ill Na Na. Selling 109k copies 1st week and #7 in Billboard 200, a classic female rap album and despite most of the songs written for her, the flow and delivery was all hers. https://music.apple.com/us/album/ill-na-na/1440931456
Her 1st single, "Get Me Home" ft Blackstreet peaked at 42 on the Billboard 100. A classic single with her monster flow and storyteller on full display
Her 2nd single, "I'll Be" ft JayZ was a smash hit, peaking at #7 at Billboard 200, making it the 2nd female rap song to hit top 10 since Dabrat's Funkdafied in 1994, and was Jay's 1st top 10 Hit of his career. For every great man, theres an even greater woman.
Billboard 100*
Despite being an album track, "If I..." was considered to be one of her best songs, and even has writing credits from her, to show that shes more than capable of creative a masterpiece of a story. Vulnerable and with some of her best flow in full display.
The day was Jan 26, 1999. Blocking Britney Spears from #1, and being the 2nd female rapper to release a #1 Billboard 200 album after Lauryn Hill, "Chyna Doll" was released. With almost the entire album written entirely by her. https://music.apple.com/us/album/chyna-doll/1443803416
Selling at 173k copies 1st week, and despite her singles barely reaching the charts, only having "Hot Spot" reach 91 on Billboard 100, that didnt stop her from having bigger sales than her debut. The heart here is talent, with some of the best music videos weve seen thus far.
Despite not making Billboard at all, "I cant" shows her aggressive sexiness and cinematography, alongside her pen skills and flow. She dont need any man write for her, she is the real deal.
Despite being an album track, "My Life" addresses the elephant in the room: Lil Kim. Biggie wanted to sign Foxy, but he couldnt win the bidding war due to the demand Foxy had, so he signed Lil Kim instead. Rivalry stirred between the 2 friends and became a full beef
The song addresses her life and the fame, her come up and her inner struggles, and how it affected her relationship with Lil Kim, which eventually became a feud after previously being close friends.
X gave it to ya, but now Fox will give it to you with "a Dog and a Fox". A vast improvement of flow switches and at a much steadier and consistent pace in comparison to X.
A rap classic and one of her best songs. Her wordplay and comparing herself to a drug with her smooth flow and delivery, it really is an addicting song. Chyna Whyte
The day was July 17, 2001. Her 3rd album "Broken Silence" peaked #5 on the Billboard 200 with 123k copies sold 1st week. The album was written completely by her, and is her most vulnerable work, with caribbean and asian sounds that shaped 2000s music. https://music.apple.com/us/album/broken-silence/1443779349
None of her singles reached billboard, but they all impacted the sound of the early 2000s music. And this album is a favorite of a young @NICKIMINAJ. And you'll see why.
Run Dem is a diss at Lil Kim, who at this time was faking patois. And with a very hardcore hip hop sound with caribbean influences and rapping in patois and aggresive flow and pen, and making it clear, she takes no prisoners.
Bout My Paper has a middle eastern influence and lets you know her influence in the rap game. You better know
Hood Scriptures has a full middle eastern influence that help shape future sounds of the 2000s such as Beyonces Baby Boy, Buttons by the Pussycat Dolls, and more. And with some of her best flexes.
Oh Yeah is where she goes deep into her caribbean sound, which will later be picked up on songs like PIMP by 50 cent, Sean Paul and @NICKIMINAJ's Queen album on songs such as Ganja Burns and Coco Chanel, which Foxy also has a feature in.
The Letter, which Foxy Brown adresses her vulnerability and addressing to her family and loved ones about her issues with fame, jailtime, and drug abuse and spills her guts to them in this masterpiece. https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-letter-feat-ronald-isley/1443779349?i=1443779605
The album closes out with Broken Silence, the title track, where she makes it clear that when the fame fades away, when Foxy Brown fades away, shes still Inga, praying and Finding peace and happiness. https://music.apple.com/us/album/broken-silence/1443779349?i=1443779767
From these 3 studio albums, evolution and artistic growth was shown. Her flow was the best in the game. She competed with the men and at 16. And with this laid out blueprint, a little girl named @NICKIMINAJ came and expanded on it and became Queen.
To be continued....
To be continued....
S/O and credit to @SlimOnTen, whom his previous thread will never be forgotten.
