FOXY BROWN

 Foxy Brown. Just the name has enough power to stir up conversation. And through all the talk, the 22-year old female has maintained her cool, sitting back quietly waiting for the right moment to release. And now it’s time, Foxy Brown breaks her silence.

Foxy Brown’s third LP, aptly titled Broken Silence, finds the controversial rapper confessing her soul. Though her debut Ill Na Na and her sophomore album Chyna Doll were both critically acclaimed, selling close to 4 million copies combined, it’s Broken Silence that will define Foxy Brown, as a person as well as an artist.

On the thematic sounding “Falling,” Foxy explains how her rise to the top almost ended in her downfall. But that’s just the beginning, on the heartfelt “The Letter,” a dedication to her mother and brothers, Foxy’s lyrics come to life, and her truth reveals itself. “Dear Mommy, I apologize/ I know it’s cause of me that your life is traumatized/…And you were always there when your little nana cried…,” admits Foxy. She explains, “The letter was an actual letter I’d written at my lowest point.  It’s so real.”

During her two-year hiatus, Foxy Brown managed to avoid the limelight. But even though she was taking time off from her career, her name remained at the tip of everyone’s tongue.   She explains on the chorus to “730”(a blazing track produced by newcomer Loafey). She spits, “They say I’m seven thirty/ Say I spazz out/ FB is ill/ She’ll wild out/ Can y’all feel my pain/ I can’t let it slide/ How could I smile when I’m hurting so bad inside?”

Though Foxy Brown has suffered many trying times in the past couple of years, she hasn’t completely lost her spirit. Fox Boogie returns on tracks like the Neptunes-produced “Candy” and the gritty “BK Anthem,” where she delivers hardcore rhymes in that original Ill Na Na fashion, proving that she’s never lost her touch. Broken Silence features only a few guest appearances, focusing solely on Foxy Brown. Mystikal drops his hostile vocals on “Bout My Paper” and Capone-N-Noreaga keep it thorough on “Run Your Shit.” But it’s Foxy’s uncensored rhymes and Jamaican-influenced delivery that steals the show.

On “Run Dem” and “Tables Will Turn,” both featuring Baby Cham, Foxy brings the heat, with joints sure to cause a ruckus in the club. It’s that trend-setting rhyme style that’s Foxy’s signature. “My family is Trinidadian, I was born in Brooklyn but raised on Caribbean culture all my life,” Foxy affirms. The authenticity of songs like “Nana Be Like,” “Oh Yeah,” featuring Spragga Benz and “Saddest Day” will be a sharp contrast to hip-hop’s recent influx of not-so-real reggae-inspired music.

As far as production goes, Foxy opted for quality. Instead of going after the obvious hitmakers (with the exception of the Neptunes on 2 tracks), Foxy Brown went deep into the lab, bringing people like Dave Kelly and Ski back out into the forefront. As a result, the music is Foxy specific, and wouldn’t fit any other artist. The somber tone of “Hood Scriptures” is a perfect example of Broken Silence’s distinguishable sound, with its Arabian-sounding background and mid-tempo beat.

Without the presence of rhyme partner Jay-Z or The Firm, Foxy Brown stands alone with this album.  Broken Silence proves to be Foxy’s best work to date. With each verse, Foxy delivers the truth, letting listeners into her world. Broken Silence is a testament, and it’s about time Foxy Brown’s message is heard.