In the Hip-hop scene—well, in music as a whole—one simply can’t dismiss a bio that features prominent careers in rapping, acting, and modelling. Today, that catalog bears a specific name, and her name is Foxy Brown.
Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand, was born September 6th, 1978 in Brooklyn New York. In 1994, Brown caught the attention of Trackmasters (Poke & Tone) Productions, while performing at a talent contest in Brooklyn—she won, by the way. Impressed, Brown was invited to rap over LL Cool J’s single “I Shot Ya” off the Mr. Smith record.
Following her introduction into the Hip-hop industry, the name Foxy Brown became a distinguished title found among several RIAA platinum and gold tracks with iconic artists, such as a remix of “You’re Makin’ Me High” with Toni Braxton and Jay-Z’s “Ain’t No Nigga”.
Brown’s success as a collaborative artist, however, inevitably led to a 1996 debut album under Def Jam Records. Her first record Ill Na Na sold over 109,000 copies in its first week, and premiered at #7 on the Billboard 200. The album also showcased guest appearances from Jay-Z, Method Man, and Kid Capri.
After the success of Ill Na Na, Foxy Brown enlisted with fellow New York-based artists, Nas, AZ, and Nature, to form the Hip-hop coalition, The Firm. Their album, produced and recorded by Dr. Dre, The Trackmasters, and Violater Entertainment’s Steve “Commissioner” Stout, entered the charts at Billboard 200’s #1 spot, selling well over half a million records, and achieving RIAA god.
Like I said, Foxy Brown’s resume surpasses the confines of a single field. Brown would venture towards both acting and the modeling scene while simultaneously working on projects and releasing well-known albums and singles.
Likewise, Foxy Brown’s prominence isn’t simply defined by the amount of hits nor ratings, but by her constancy at persevering as well as her mark as a true progressive artist.
Happy Birthday, miss Inga “Foxy Brown” Marchand!
By Jods Arboleda for RAPStation.com
