Short Biography

Queen of the raunchy rappers, Foxy Brown (born Inga Marchand) didn`t waste any time getting her career underway: at the age of only 15 she was invited to contribute to the remix of LL Cool J`s I Shot Ya after winning a talent competition in her native Brooklyn. A series of notable guest appearances were to follow (Toni Braxton You`re Makin` Me High, Jay-Z Ain`t No Nigga, Case Touch Me, Tease Me), firmly establishing her reputation in the industry long before any albums under her own name had materialized. So acute was the anticipation for her debut that it instigated a financial wrestling match between major labels vying for the privilege to release it; Def Jam ultimately won out, resulting in the 1996 debut Ill Na Na. A record by a female artist with a title praising the caliber of her genitals is bound to attract some notice, and Ill Na Na accordingly entered the charts at the #7 position.

The following year, Brown took part in the rap collective The Firm, appearing on their Dr. Dre-produced release The Album. A second solo effort, Chyna Doll, appeared in 1998, featuring contributions from Jay-Z, DMX and vocal trio Total. By this time her popularity was such that the record went straight to #1 -- the first time this had been accomplished by a female rap artist. Caught up in the machinery of fame, Brown became the center of considerable gossip and controversy over the next couple of years, with a largely media-instigated feud between her and fellow rap artist (and childhood friend) Lil` Kim being brought to a steady boil. The rapper decided she was unwilling to continue this lifestyle and dropped out of the business for a while, returning to her life as Inga Marchand. She resumed her music career in 2001 with the release of her third record Broken Silence, addressing many of the issues that had come to haunt her public persona.

Woke up completely deaf on 23 May 2005.



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[1] Trinidadian-American, 75% African descent, 25% Chinese descent. Both parents descend from Trinidad, with her father half African, half Chinese.
Mother: Judith Marchand
Brother: Gavin Marchand
Brother: Anton Marchand
Boyfriend: Kurupt (rapper, dated 1996-99, engaged 1999-2000, separated 2000)
Boyfriend: Spragga Benz (Jamaican DJ, dated 2001-03)

Miscellaneous Information

Friends and Family

Judith Marchand [Mother]

Gavin Marchang [Father]

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