cletta1201's Full Review: Ill Na Na [PA] by Foxy Brown
By most indications, Foxy Brown should have had a meteoric career. She came onto the music scene with the then ultra-hot Jay-Z, the duo was somewhat of a contemporary Bonnie & Clyde. In addition to Jay, she also had the blessings of Nas and Cormega with who she formed a syndicate of rappers going by the name of The Firm. She was attractive, exuded sex appeal and she had a flow that could make you stop and listen.
”Ill Na Na” was crafted in a time where it mattered more that you had big tits than having the ability to write your own rhymes and hold your own. Even pushing that aside – “Ill Na Na” is a good album, great even but with the hoopla surrounding not only Foxy but Lil’ Kim at the time – it doesn’t get the credit it deserves.
- Track Listing -
1. Intro…Chicken Coop
2. (Holy Matrimony) Letter To The Firm
3. Foxy’s Bells
4. Get Me Home featuring Blackstreet
5. The Promise featuring Havoc of Mobb Deep
6. Interlude…The Set Up
7. If I…
8. The Chase
9. Ill Na Na featuring Method Man
10. No One’s
11. Fox Boogie featuring Kid Capri
12. I’ll Be featuring Jay-Z
13. Outro
Despite the fact that “Ill Na Na” has some really slick production by Trackmasters, the edge in Foxy’s voice really gives the music an edge and assists its credibility. Her voice is husky and throaty and really sounds raw and powerful. ”(Holy Matrimony) Letter To The Firm” utilizes a familiar sample by Isaac Hayes and is one of the few tracks where Fox appears solo. The beat makes this one a go-getter and once again – delivery is key.
Although Foxy had appeared on a few remixes before landing her first deal with Def Jam but I thought it was fairly audacious to rhyme over an old LL Cool J beat with ”Foxy’s Bells”. As audacious as it was one look at the liner notes and you know that Foxy is not coming up with her one-liners and charm alone. Of the albums 10 full songs, Foxy did not write even ONE by herself. On the albums condemning liner notes you will find out that of the full songs she only co-wrote 3 – obviously this hurts Fox’s credibility as a femcee who can not only flow but hold her own in the writing department but in the beginning, it didn’t seem that many people seemed to notice. She was propelled by heavyweights and had some of the most radio-friendly music ever. One of those radio blasters was ”Get Me Home” which featured R&B crooners Blackstreet. If you’re familiar with Trackmasters you know that they have some of the most infectious hooks. Essentially they are to hooks what the Neptunes are to beats – and they can make you nod your head no matter how much you resist.
”If I” is my favorite track from “Ill Na Na” because even if Fox didn’t write it she seems to be vulnerable on this one. A reminiscing of days gone by and the perils of being famous – it’s more mellow than the other material but it shows another side of the woman who was supposed to be raunchy and filthy. ”Ill Na Na” featuring Method Man features a sample of ”Brick House” (can you hear those words without singing?) and just that fact alone makes it easy to enjoy and listen to.
”I’ll Be” features my personal superman - Jay-Z is one of those songs that takes you back to 1996 because it was on the radio, on TV and when you weren’t seeing it – it was probably in the back of your mind. In addition to getting Jay to rap on her album – he takes writing credits on ˝ of the album’s tracks.
- A Few Final Thoughts -
I know purists perish the thought of someone rapping who doesn’t write their own rhymes but if more people took a peek at their liner notes I’m sure they would be surprised at the amount of material that’s not written by your favorites. This album also definitely gets a boost from Tone and Poke (Trackmasters) on the production side as well as the 2 claiming some writing credits of their own. The real bottom line is that she does have talent – writing might not be her strength but what she lacks in those skills she makes up for in delivery, flow and presence.
Recommended:
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out
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