In 1999, Foxy Brown made history as the first female rapper to have a number 1 album with Chyna Doll selling over 173,000 copies in the first week.
In 2005, while in the midst of recording her studio album Black Roses, Brown faced another hardship when she was diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss. The hearing impairment took 100% of Brown's hearing, but 20% was restored after an operation to repair it. After her fifth surgery Foxy regained 99.9% of her hearing.
Following a relatively quiet career period which coincided with an eight month jail sentence in 2008, Foxy continued to record the long in-progress Black Roses with a projected release date of late 2010. Ultimately, Black Roses was never released.
In 2018, after years of hiatus, Brown was a featured artist on Nicki Minaj's fourth studio album Queen on the track "Coco Chanel".
I Lay Me Down to Sleep
Foxy Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[VERSE 1]
Am I the most prolific
Can it be that I'm one of the most gifted
I swear at times I'm so twisted
Outta all the occupations in the world I chose this shit
Momma, tell me, do I have what it takes to be
And yes I'm hated
And will I go down in history as one of the most underestimated
Lord, speak to me, are these streets the key?
We don't snitch, we been sworn to secrecy
I never claimed I shot guys
I just came in the game to get my name and rep Fox 5
I'm so close yet so far but so far
No stars flow hard like I do
So many years you been lied to
I now provide you with the closest thing to rap's bible
[CHORUS]
(Now I lay me down to sleep) Oh lord
(I pray the lord my soul 2 keep)
Yes, so may years you been lied to
I now provide you with the closest thng to rap's bible
(If I should die before I awake) Oh lord
(I pray the lord my soul to take)
Fox... I gotta get my rhyme on
And everything I speak my mind on be word to Big
[VERSE 2]
The industry lately's been terrible
I swear the timing's impeccable
Labels is bringin' in thin revenue
I don't mean to toot my own horn bt damn, I'm incredible
See I gots to be... possibly
If not the best, yeah, f**k it the best MC
And I feel they testin' me now
I don't need Kelly or Beyonce to prove I'm Destiny's Child
Thin I'm losin' y'all, confusin' y'all
When I spit all I hear is "ooh's" and "aww's"
And I don't need doubt
See it's just me, Red, Gav, Curtains, Mello & Young Mouse
A small portion of a dyin' breed
It's Fox-5 slash I-N-E but still
So many years you been lied to
I now provide you with the closest thing to rap's bible
[CHORUS]
(Now I lay me down to sleep) Oh lord
(I pray the lord my soul to keep)
Yes, so may years you been lied to
I now provide you with the closest thing to rap's bible
(If I should die before I awake) Oh God
(I pray the lord my soul to take)
Fox... I gotta get my rhyme on
And everything I speak my mind on be word to Pac
[VERSE 3]
See, it's the streets that inspire me
This is my proof of what fire be
My songs will please the inquiry
My versatile personal flows written and shittin', it's like diaries
Never tired my job, I confide in God
And almost effortless simply defy the odds
With the best the placin'
Will I be able to succeed and lyrically exceed my expectations
If I gain some fame, I'll remain the same
It's so ill how one bitch changed the game
And I'mma do it a lot faster
I probly have to die before they realize I was the best rapper
Young Fox, I'm a spittin' beast
This rap game's a puzzle, I'm the missin' piece
But... so many years you been lied to
I now provide you with the closest thing to rap's bible
[CHORUS]
(Now I lay me down to sleep) Oh lord
(I pray the lord my soul to keep)
Yes, so may years you been lied to
I now provide you with the closest thing to rap's bible
(If I should die before I awake)Oh God
(I pray the lord my soul to take)
Fox... I gotta get my rhyme on
And everything I speak my mind on be word to Pac
Lord, this fever is so crazy, man
I mean... everything I speak my mind on be word to Pac, yes
Oh God
The song "I Lay Me Down to Sleep" by Foxy Brown is a powerful exploration of the rapper's place in the industry and her quest to establish herself as one of the all-time greats. The lyrics in the first verse reveal Foxy's doubts about her abilities and whether she can truly achieve the level of success that she desires. She questions whether she will be remembered as one of the most underestimated rappers of all time and asks the lord to speak to her and reveal whether the streets are truly the key to unlocking her potential.
In the second verse, Foxy addresses the state of the music industry, acknowledging that labels are struggling to bring in revenue and that she is one of the few rappers capable of truly making her mark. She expresses her confidence in her abilities as an MC and dismisses the notion that she needs the approval of pop icons like Beyonce or Kelly to prove her worth. In the final verse, the rapper reiterates her commitment to her craft and her determination to succeed in the game, no matter what the cost.
Overall, "I Lay Me Down to Sleep" is a powerful song that showcases Foxy Brown's skill as a lyricist and her unshakeable faith in herself as an artist. It is a testament to the power of the human spirit in the face of adversity and a reminder that anyone can achieve greatness if they are willing to work hard and believe in themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Am I the most prolific
Do I have the most extensive and diverse portfolio?
Can it be that I'm one of the most gifted
Is it possible that I possess immense natural talent?
I swear at times I'm so twisted
I admit that I have personal flaws and issues that affect my psyche
Outta all the occupations in the world I chose this shit
Of all career options, I decided to become a rapper
Momma, tell me, do I have what it takes to be
Mother, do I possess the necessary skills to become successful?
Irreplacably the best this place will see
The absolute, unparalleled greatest in the industry
Lord, speak to me, are these streets the key?
God, can the environment I come from lead me to success?
We don't snitch, we been sworn to secrecy
We, as a community, have a code of silence and don't cooperate with law enforcement
I never claimed I shot guys
I never boasted about committing violent crimes
I just came in the game to get my name and rep Fox 5
My goal was to establish myself and be known as Fox 5
The industry lately's been terrible
Recently, the music industry has been in a bad state
I swear the timing's impeccable
It seems like the timing couldn't be worse for my career aspirations
Labels is bringin' in thin revenue
Record labels aren't making a lot of money right now
I don't mean to toot my own horn bt damn, I'm incredible
I don't want to brag, but I am extremely talented
See I gots to be... possibly
I must be... potentially
If not the best, yeah, f**k it the best MC
If not the absolute greatest, then definitely one of the best rappers
When I spit all I hear is 'ooh's' and 'aww's'
People react enthusiastically to my verses
And I don't need doubt
I am confident in my abilities and don't need skepticism
A small portion of a dyin' breed
We are a rare, endangered type of artist
If I gain some fame, I'll remain the same
If I become famous, I will not let it change who I am as a person
I probly have to die before they realize I was the best rapper
It might take my death for people to fully appreciate my talent as a rapper
This rap game's a puzzle, I'm the missin' piece
I am essential, the final component that will complete the hip-hop industry
Contributed by Anna D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Heather Brown
Foxy Brown #1 Brooklyn's Finest...<®>~2$'z~
MrTheLionKing1986
See I gots to be....possibly... if not the best... fuck it the best MC! :)
FOX KING!
Matt Ro
👑🦊
Deshon Riggins
I love u baby