TODAY IN HIP HOP HISTORY: FOXY BROWN RELEASED HER ‘CHYNA DOLL’ LP 23 YEARS AGO

On this date in 1999, Brooklyn emcee Inga Merchand aka Foxy Brown dropped her sophomore effort, Chyna Doll, on the Violator/Def Jam imprint. This album rode the successful wave of previous projects released by Brown including her appearance on The Firm album with Nas, AZ, and Nature as well as her own 1996 debut LP Ill Nana. The album debuted at the pole position of Billboard 200, which was only accomplished previously by Lauryn Hill with The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill just a year earlier.

With production, courtesy of the likes of Kanye West, D-Dot, Irv Gotti, Lil Rob, Swizz Beatz along with Foxy’s salacious lyrics, this album was guaranteed success as proved in selling over a million copies.

Tracks such as “Bonnie And Clyde Part II” featuring Jay-Z and the unexpected “Ride(Down South)” with 8-Ball, MJG, Too Short, and Juvenile was Foxy’s evidence of her versatility and willingness to bring the Hip Hop culture together regardless of geographic origin.

Salute to Foxy, Young Gavin, and the entire Def Jam staff for putting together this piece of Hip Hop history!