Any publicity is good publicity could be the moniker that suits Foxy Brown’s career. She has always found herself mired in controversy, and one could make a laundry list of all the altercations involving the Ill Nana. From her beginnings when she allegedly spit on hotel workers for not providing an iron, her times in front of a judge, hearing loss, and even just recently, her release from incarceration; an angel she is not.
Even steeped in such controversies however, she has always had the talent. Since her inception in the game at age sixteen she is classed amongst the elite of the Hip-Hop’s women. Not just that, she has the platinum plaques from sales and a serious discography behind it, working with some of Hip-Hop’s most elite such as Nas and Jay-Z. If there is an album title to fit her personality, Brooklyn’s Don Diva [Koch] just may be it.
She comes hard on “Never Heard This Before” featuring Dwele, delivering a reintroduction in case you forgot why she got all the attention. “Star Cry” seems to follow up on the other side of the spectrum; giving the normally boisterous Foxy some balance over a darker beat.
When she hooks up with AZ on “Too Real” fans are reminded of how much great The Firm super group could have been, even if it’s only half of the team. Foxy also comes with a bit of a Reggae feel on this disc as well. “We Set The Pace” featuring Morgan Heritage and Spragga Benz finds Foxy standing tall amongst moving Caribbean chants.
Even so, the album is more so filled with mediocre efforts. Songs such as “Why” is the basic “you cheated on me” record that doesn’t break any new ground. Even more disappointing is the use of the same lyrics on both “Dreams Of A D-Boy” featuring Jay Rush and “She Want A Rude Bwoy” featuring DeMarco. Her most gangster effort “We Don’t Surrender” with Graph also fails to stand out as most of this album doesn’t have much range lyrically or sonically.
At its best, Brooklyn Don Diva feels like Foxy is coming back for that female crown with a vengeance for a verse or two, but overall it lacks any real depth. This over hyped return comes off as a warm up to her next project. Even so, female Hip-Hop has been missing a personality such as this, and for fans of Foxy, you could find some enjoyment, even if no one else would.
Foxy Brown Featuring AZ
“Too Real”
Foxy Brown
“Star Cry”