Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand (born September 6, 1978), better known by her st… Read Full Bio ↴Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand (born September 6, 1978), better known by her stage name Foxy Brown, is an American rapper. She is known for her solo work as well as numerous collaborations and a brief stint as part of hip-hop supergroup The Firm. Brown has faced many obstacles during her rise to fame, including feuds with other rappers, personal tragedy and run-ins with the law, thus being labeled as one of the more controversial female rappers. She has released four solo albums: 1996's Ill Na Na, 1999's Chyna Doll, 2001's Broken Silence, 2003's Ill Na Na 2: The Fever and 2008's Brooklyn's Don Diva. After a bitter split with her record label Def Jam in 2003, Brown ended up in label limbo. In 2004, childhood friend and collaborator Jay-Z resigned Brown to Def Jam and his Rocafella Records label, when he became the President of Def Jam Records. Foxy later split with Def Jam once again to go independent with Black Hand Management.

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".

Memory Lane
Foxy Brown Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Verse 1 [Foxy]:
Hip-hop...Brooklyn...Damn the rap game and change/ Everytime I turn around niggas spit niggas names/ 96 was when the love was real/ When Big came and took the whole Brooklyn to fame/ Straight off of St. James, lookin' all dapper don you threw a party and bullshit it was on/ B.I.G's spot would never be claimed/ 'Cause Ms. Wallace, Cease, and Roc be carryin' ya name/ And later on 96 when Hovi came and ain't no nigga was a key to his fame/ Introducin' a little Brooklyn girl by the name of Fox Brown/ About to shut this whole rap shit down/ And to the world we was Bonnie & Clyde and everything my nigga Jay said I'm ready to ride/ Then I became the sky rocket of fame and 2 million sales later bet I rode the same
(Chorus: echoed Notorious B.I.G sample & scratches)
Verse 2 [Foxy]:
Damn the rap game and change...Then Nas came and the Firm was born/ We snatched AZ, Omega, and our team was born/ I took 'em on Puff tour turn around Nas gone/ And the whole crew followed what a hard pill to swallow/ I had to thug it out and blow in the zone/ Rock 30-thousand on my motherfuckin' own/ But I couldn't break down I couldn't moan I got this Ill Na Na blood in my veins I spark alone/ 4 weeks later Puff ended it home at The Garden the show I came up on the throne/ See I can't believe my niggas left me alone/ And I don't buy that shit about Puff was treatin' me wrong/ How the fuck you tryin' to pull weight on this man tour/ At the time Puff 8-mil what the fuck you mad for?/ That's the problem with niggas see they worse than broads/ On a bitch to conceal their scars
(Chorus)
Verse 3 [Foxy]:
It's called the vapors soon as you stack some paper these cowards got the nerve to face ya/ They got the gull to page ya/ How the fuck you have a little soldier replace her with a doe-gier/ But like I told ya Fox is a trooper/ I walks straight past ya like I never fuckin' knew ya/ Listen man I'm the first bitch to sign to Def Jam/ How can't I be the best I'm from the best man/ 97 was the year Kim came with the best plan to go straight at a best friend/ I thought it was a cute little spar till I heard her on the Flex tape describin' my car/ Mo money mo problems kid I guess you never did expect me to blow this big/ I know my fans won the battle I fought but understand I keep her breathin' I'm her life support

(Chorus)

Overall Meaning

Foxy Brown's "Memory Lane" is a reflection on the evolution of hip hop and the changing dynamics within the industry. In the first verse, Foxy begins by expressing her love for Brooklyn and the genuine connections in the rap game in 1996 when the late Notorious B.I.G took the borough onto the fame. Foxy references the infamous house parties thrown by Biggie on St. James, and how his legacy still prevails as people continue to carry his name. She also reflects on Jay-Z's come up and how he introduced her to the world as Bonnie & Clyde. She also touches on how difficult it was to maintain her career after her crew, including Nas, left her alone. In verse three, she talks about the industry's tendency to replace artists who are on top, and how she is a "trooper" who doesn't let it get to her. Ultimately, Foxy pays homage to her fans who have continuously supported her throughout her career.

One of the significant themes in Memory Lane is loyalty. Foxy touches on how some artists, like Jay-Z, have been consistent throughout the years, while others have turned their backs. She expresses frustration with rappers who will buy into cowardice moves and not support their teammates when they are on top. Another significant theme is survival. While Foxy experienced difficulties, she never let them break her, and she always found ways to move forward. She knows what it means to be a successful rap artist and how to overcome the challenges that come with it.

Line by Line Meaning

Hip-hop...Brooklyn...Damn the rap game and change
Foxy reminisces about the days of old-school hip-hop and laments the changes in the rap game in recent times, especially the trend of rappers dissing each other by name.

Everytime I turn around niggas spit niggas names
Foxy is tired of hearing rappers call out each other's names in their lyrics, thinking that it's a cheap and unnecessary way to generate attention.

96 was when the love was real
Foxy remembers the year 1996 as a time when hip-hop was more authentic and genuine, and when she felt a sense of community and solidarity among her fellow Brooklyn rappers.

When Big came and took the whole Brooklyn to fame
Foxy refers to Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie) as the rapper who made Brooklyn famous in the world of hip-hop, and she acknowledges the influence he had on her and other rappers from the borough.

B.I.G's spot would never be claimed
Foxy believes that no rapper could ever replace Biggie's place in the Brooklyn rap scene, and that his legacy would live on through his mother (Ms. Wallace), his friends (Cease and Roc), and his fans.

And later on 96 when Hovi came and ain't no nigga was a key to his fame
Foxy remembers the year when Jay-Z (Hovi) became famous and she emphasizes that it was not because of any other rapper's support or endorsement, but because of his own talent and hard work.

Introducin' a little Brooklyn girl by the name of Fox Brown
Foxy recalls the moment when Jay-Z introduced her to the world as a new, rising star from Brooklyn, and how it was a pivotal moment in her career.

About to shut this whole rap shit down
Foxy is confident and determined to become a dominant force in the rap game, and she believes that she has the skills and charisma to take over the industry.

And to the world we was Bonnie & Clyde and everything my nigga Jay said I'm ready to ride
Foxy and Jay-Z were seen as a dynamic duo in the rap game, with a close friendship and working relationship that resembled that of Bonnie and Clyde, the infamous criminal couple.

Then I became the sky rocket of fame and 2 million sales later bet I rode the same
Foxy achieved massive success in her career, with her debut album 'Ill Na Na' selling over 2 million copies, and she humbly acknowledges that her fame did not change who she was as a person.

It's called the vapors soon as you stack some paper these cowards got the nerve to face ya
Foxy describes how jealousy and envy can affect people in the rap game, especially when one becomes wealthy and successful, and how others may start to resent and confront them out of bitterness.

How the fuck you have a little soldier replace her with a doe-gier
Foxy questions why some rappers would choose to replace her with less talented or less experienced singers just because they have more financial leverage and can control their careers more easily.

But like I told ya Fox is a trooper
Foxy affirms her strength and resilience as a person, and how she is not easily intimidated by the challenges and setbacks she faces in her career.

I walks straight past ya like I never fuckin' knew ya
Foxy dismisses the haters and negative people in her life, and she makes it clear that she does not waste her time on those who do not support her or believe in her.

Mo money mo problems kid I guess you never did expect me to blow this big
Foxy reflects on the downside of achieving financial success and fame in the rap game, and how it can come with its own set of problems and challenges.

I know my fans won the battle I fought but understand I keep her breathin' I'm her life support
Foxy acknowledges the support and loyalty of her fans, and she tells them that they are the reason why she still loves making music and continuing her legacy as a hip-hop artist.

Contributed by Madison N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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