Pam Grier as Foxy Brown
Today’s post is about Foxy Brown. If you came of age during the 70′s, there’s a good chance you know Foxy Brown as a genre-defining 1974 blaxploitation film starring Pam Grier as an afro-sporting vigilante. I’ve never seen the movie, but it piqued my interest because blaxploitation is the best-named film genre ever, and as you’ll soon see, the film’s promotional poster was equally ridiculous.
This is before you even learn about the protagonist:
“[Foxy Brown is] a ‘whole lot of woman’ who showcases unrelenting black sexiness while battling the villains.” - Official description from a Los Angeles Times review
Not only might that be the most amazing character description in the history of ever, it also sounds right in keeping with our blog’s overarching themes of history, trivia, culture, and a bucket of silliness. Yet somehow, today’s post is not about the movie Foxy Brown.
Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand, aka Foxy Brown
It’s about a young lady named Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand, who saw this movie and was inspired to adopt the stage name Foxy Brown and emulate the character’s tough-as-nails attitude, in the process of carving out one of the most successful female hip hop careers ever.
Foxy Brown the rapper went on to release three albums – two platinum, one gold – which all reached the U.S. Billboard top 10, including 1999′s Chyna Doll, which reached number one on the U.S. Billboard charts. This gives her more number one albums than Tom Petty – with or without the Heartbreakers – has ever had.
Born in Brooklyn and raised by a single mother, Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand (who in 2001 was briefly engaged to a guy named Spragga Benz) sounds like a successful, hardcore lady. For over a year (between 2005-06), she suffered from sudden hearing loss, and rather than use a hearing aid, she preferred to have someone tap beats on her shoulder while she was recording her music.
So now you can answer a Jeopardy! question (or do you question a Jeopardy! answer?) asking you to name two musicians who composed and performed music while deaf.
Who are Foxy Brown and Beethoven, Alex?
… and we know just the person who can help her do that.
You also know how to respond to a Jeopardy! thing about two artists who released only three albums, but saw an album go #1, two albums go platinum, and all three albums reach the top 10 during their lifetime.
Who are Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand and Jimi Hendrix, Alex?
Until someone proves me wrong with actual research, I’m willing to wager that those are the only two artists who fit that description. Unfortunately, it might stay that way because depression and some subsequent assault charges have slowed down Foxy’s career over the past few years. We hope she can get her career back on track and battle her demons.
(Dave’s note: if after enlarging that thumbnail, there isn’t some part of you that’s intrigued and amused by this unique cultural artifact, give me an address where I can mail the epoxy glue you’ll need to repair your fractured soul)
