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FOXY BROWN’S ROCKY ROAD DETAILED: New York Post examines what led to rapper’s recent unraveling.
*In chronicling the myriad of negative activity surrounding Brooklyn rapper Foxy Brown, New York Post’s Reed Tucker goes back to her childhood in the suburbs of New York’s Park Slope and tries to pinpoint exactly when the church-going daughter of a school teacher turned into the Ill Na Na.
Born Inga Marchand, the future MC “regularly attended Trinity Baptist Church and Tabernacle Baptist Church and got good grades in elementary school,” writes Reed.
“Her Trinidad-born parents divorced in 1982, but Brown remained close to her father. Inga's mother, Judith, an elementary-school teacher, provided her daughter and two sons with a comfortable and nurturing household.”
Brown’s initial dreams of becoming a lawyer quickly gave way to the music industry once she entered Brooklyn College Academy and became captivated by hip hop.
“She started hanging out with Lil' Kim, a friend since childhood, and writing rhymes and competing in local MC battles,” Reed writes. “She took the name Foxy Brown as homage to the 1974 Pam Grier blaxploitation film.”
Soon Brown began adopting a more sexually-provocative image in her lyrics and dress. The new attitude didn’t go over well with Moms.
"I'm charged with teaching other people's children," Judith Marchand told "Essence." "Children themselves were saying to me, 'Don't tell me what to do when you can't even tell your own daughter what to do.'"
On Monday, Brown showed up for her court date ten minutes before its scheduled closing time and holding a cell phone to each ear. She pleaded guilty to charges that she assaulted two Chelsea nail salon workers in 2004, then, minutes later tried to get the judge to withdraw the plea.
According to Tucker, Brown’s behavior before entering court was odd. She “shifted moods rapidly, giggling one minute, then appearing to turn angry the next. At one point, she wagged a finely manicured finger in the face of her lawyer and told him, ‘I'm not coming to court today AND tomorrow. That's ridiculous.’ Then she laughed.”
Brown has also been accused of shoplifting two belts in recent days, and her former assistant, Rasheeda Ellis, is currently suing her for harassment and back pay. These are just the latest in a string of incidents and legal problems that have plagued the singer since 1997, notes Reed.
January 1997
• Brown is arrested for spitting on two Raleigh, N.C., hotel workers after they have the audacity to tell her an iron is not available. She received a 30-day suspended sentence and was ordered to perform community service.
March 2000
• While driving through downtown Brooklyn, Brown crashes her Range Rover, rolling the vehicle and crashing into a fence. She was ticketed for driving with a suspended license.
July 2002
• While visiting Jamaica, Brown is arrested for punching a police officer in the stomach at the airport. After she misses a court appearance two days later, the police announce she'd be arrested if she ever returns to the island.
April 2003
• Brown appears on WBLS to talk trash about rival Eve, bash label Def Jam and dish about a recent miscarriage.
August 2004
• Brown's SUV strikes two bikers who are part of the pre-Republican Convention "Critical Mass" rally. Brown reportedly yells, "Get out of my way, you dumb white faggots," but is not charged.
• Brown allegedly attacks two Chelsea nail salon employees after a dispute over the cost of a manicure. On Monday, Brown pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in October.
September 2004
• The diva is assaulted in a nightclub bathroom by another woman. The assailant tears Brown's earlobe while stealing a diamond-encrusted earring worth $250,000. The thief later turned herself in, and the earring was recovered.
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April 2005
• Rival rapper Jacki-O claims she and Brown got into a fight at a Miami recording studio. Brown admits there was a verbal disagreement but says the battle never got physical.
December 2005
• In a Manhattan courtroom, Brown scuffles with officers and is eventually handcuffed to a bench after sticking her tongue out at the judge to prove she's not chewing gum.
July 2006
• Brown's former personal assistant claims the rapper threatened her after she tried to collect back pay. The case is still pending.
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