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Chyna Doll (album)

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Chyna Doll is the second studio album by American rapper Foxy Brown. It was released on January 26, 1999, by Ill Na Na Entertainment,[2] Violator Records and Def Jam Recordings. After the commercial success of her debut album, Ill Na Na (1996), Brown began working on her second album. This time, she insisted on being the executive producer to have a creative control over the album. She collaborated with a number of producers, such as Kanye West, D-Dot, Irv Gotti, Lil Rob, Swizz Beatz and Tyrone Fyffe, among others.

Chyna Doll
Studio album by
Foxy Brown
ReleasedJanuary 26, 1999 (1999-01-26)
Recorded1998
StudioElectric Lady, The Hit Factory (New York City)
GenreHip hop[1]
Length61:33
Label
Producer
Foxy Brown chronology
The Firm: The Album
(1997) 		Chyna Doll
(1999) 		Broken Silence
(2001)
Singles from Chyna Doll
  1. "Hot Spot"
    Released: October 26, 1998
  2. "I Can't"
    Released: March 2, 1999
  3. "J.O.B."
    Released: July 2, 1999

Upon its release, Chyna Doll received mixed reviews from music critics. It debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, making it the first full-rap album by a woman rapper to debut at number-one on the chart,[3] and the second by a woman in hip-hop following The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill. The album was a commercial success. Selling 173,000 copies in its first week, it was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Background and recording

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Chyna Doll is the follow-up to Foxy Brown's 1996 platinum debut album Ill Na Na and was recorded in 1998. The album features guest appearances by DMX, Mýa, Total, Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Eightball & MJG, Juvenile, Too Short, Pretty Boy (Gavin Marchand, also known as Young Gavin and Nino Brown), Mia X, Tha Dogg Pound, Gangsta Boo, and Noreaga. It also features a special appearance by Pam Grier, the actress who played the original Foxy Brown in the 1974 blaxploitation film. About this album, Brown said, "I wanted to captivate everyone. I wanted to get all the crowds. I wanted to get the Down South crowd, West Coast crowds, East Coast crowds, all the dopest MCs from each part of the world – and we just did our thing. It was dope, it was real hot. I'm very proud with this album."[4]

Recording for her second album began in the summer of 1998. In September 1998, it was reported that Foxy Brown would remake Janet Jackson's classic "What Have You Done for Me Lately" for the upcoming album, as well as an update to N.W.A.'s "Real Niggaz Don't Die", calling it "Bitches with Attitude" featuring Southern female rappers Mia X and Gangsta Boo.[5]

During the recording process of the album, alternative rock singer Fiona Apple agreed to make a guest appearance on the album after an invitation from Brown, but due to scheduling differences, the session could not be arranged in enough time to make the final cut. Foxy Brown had also asked Madonna to collaborate on the album, but due to unknown circumstances, nothing ever became of it.[6]

Originally, the album was going to be called Femme Fatale and was originally going to be released on November 17, 1998, but Brown decided to delay the release of the album to give her enough time to make sure everything was the way she wanted it.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
Christgau's Consumer Guide   [7]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[8]
Los Angeles Times    [9]
Q     [citation needed]
Rolling Stone     [10]
Rolling Stone Germany     [11]
The Source     [12]

Upon initial release, Chyna Doll received mixed to positive reviews. AllMusic's journalist Jose F. Promis rating the album 2.5 stars. He cites, "...for the most part, this album is full of unappealing, pornographic raps, lame beats, and pathetic gangster posturing. The sophomore slump is evident here...".[1] Amazon journalist Oliver Wang states, "Chyna Doll just sounds like any number of New York-based rap albums, especially with its commercial formula of shuffling high hats, catchy hooks, and recycled funk loops. In the end, Brown's self-exploitive (sexually and racially) cover art is likely to offer more provocative statements than the album itself."[13] Entertainment Weekly's Matt Diehl described the album as "beguiling fantasy life of limos and champagne", commending some of the lyrical content that "hints at how painful maintaining the fantasy can be".[8]

In a review for Rolling Stone, Kathryn Farr praised a "strong cast of featured guests and an impeccable collection of begging-for-airplay beats", along with Foxy Brown's vocal performance, criticizing her for "[going] overboard disrespecting her fellow females".[10] Akiba Solomon of The Source called Chyna Doll "a roadmap through the mind of a Black girl whose self-esteem seems to lie largely in money". She complimented introspective tracks such as "My Life", but was dissatisfied with the rest of the album. "Chyna Doll certainly rocks the body. But it also insults the mind and taxes the soul," concluded the journalist.[12] Soren Baker, in a negative review for Los Angeles Times, described the lyrical content of the album as "whiny and uninspired raps". The critic believed that on this album Foxy Brown sounds "remarkably similar" to Lil Kim, while her "hedonistic content pales in comparison to that of such female rappers as MC Lyte and Lauryn Hill". He also panned the production on the album, which he believed "lack[s] the flair, power and distinctiveness of her earlier work".[9]

Commercial performance

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The album was released on January 26, 1999, and debuted on the Billboard 200 charts at No. 1, making it the second time Foxy Brown conquered the chart's top position.[14] On March 24, 1999, Chyna Doll was certified platinum for shipments of over 1 million copies in the U.S.

Promotion

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Three singles were released to promote the album. "Hot Spot" was the album's lead single. It peaked at number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The second single was "I Can't" featuring Total. The single failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

The third and final single was "J.O.B." featuring R&B singer, Mya. The song was given a vinyl single release and also failed to chart. An alternate version featuring British girl group Honeyz was also released, but only in France.

In March 1999, it was announced that Foxy Brown would tour with R. Kelly on the "Get Up on a Room" tour featuring Busta Rhymes, Nas, Deborah Cox, and Kelly Price. After cancelling several dates due to slow ticket sales, a fatal stabbing in Miami, and Rhymes pulling out of the tour, Brown left the tour and pursued her own North American Chyna Doll Tour that began in August 1999 and stopped at 22 cities in America.[15]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Birth of Foxy Brown"
Foxy Brown1:28
2."Chyna Whyte"
  • Marchand
  • Robert Kirkland
Robert "Shim" Kirkland3:02
3."My Life"
4:28
4."Hot Spot"
3:50
5."Dog & a Fox" (featuring DMX)
Swizz Beatz2:57
6."JOB" (featuring Mýa)
Charly "Shuga Bear" Charles3:42
7."Bomb Ass"
Brown0:59
8."I Can't" (featuring Total)
Tyrone Fyffe4:48
9."Bonnie & Clyde Part II" (featuring Jay Z)
Fyffe4:51
10."4-5-6" (featuring Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek)
Bernard "Big Demi" Parker5:01
11."Ride (Down South)" (featuring 8Ball & MJG, Juvenile, and Too $hort)
Mo-Suave' House Productions5:41
12."Can You Feel Me, Baby" (featuring Pretty Boy)
  • Marchand
  • Gavin Marchand
  • Todd Shaw
  • Bernard Parker
Parker3:49
13."Baller Bitch" (featuring Pretty Boy and Too $hort)
  • Marchand
  • G. Marchand
  • Shaw
  • Anthony Moody
D-Moet3:49
14."BWA" (featuring Mia X and Gangsta Boo)
  • Irv Gotti
  • Lil Rob
3:26
15."Tramp"
Fyffe3:28
16."Baby Mother"MarchandBrown1:26
17."It's Hard Being Wifee" (featuring Noreaga)
Kirkland4:45
Total length:61:33
Unreleased songs
  • Star Wars (featuring Busta Rhymes) An unreleased song from the Chyna Doll sessions that did not make the final release of the album. The song has remained unreleased.
  • Unknown Title (featuring R. Kelly) MTV reported that Foxy Brown collaborated with R. Kelly for Chyna Doll. Although it is not confirmed, the song could have possibly been "Dollar Bill", which appeared on R. Kelly's "R." album.
  • Lately A remake of Janet Jackson's "What Have You Done for Me Lately". The song featured a sample of Janet Jackson's voice and she did not make an official appearance on the song, as was reported. The song did not make the final version of the album.
  • Fuck ‘Em (featuring N.O.R.E.) Released prior to the album on mixtape circuits from the Chyna Doll sessions that did not make the final release of the album.
  • Maria (featuring Pretty Boy) Released prior to the album on various mixtape sessions. Rumoured to have been on the album however ultimately didn’t make the final release.
  • Rolls Royce (Cream Drop) Also known as "S.O.F.T.". Although the song did not appear on the album, it was released through the mixtape circuits in New York City as a buzz single for the album.

Samples

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  • "Chyna White" contains a sample of "Walk On By" by Isaac Hayes
  • "J.O.B." contains a sample of "Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But the Rent" by Gwen Guthrie
  • "I Can't" contains a sample of "Everything She Wants" by Wham!
  • "Bonnie & Clyde Part II" contains a sample of "Secret Rendezvous" by Rene & Angela
  • "Tramp" contains a sample of "The Champ" by The Mohawks

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[30] Platinum 856,000[29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Promis, Jose F. "Chyna Doll – Foxy Brown". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  2. ^ "Ill Na Na Entertainment". Discogs. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Records, Guinness World (May 2, 2000). Guinness World Records 2000. Bantam. ISBN 978-0-553-58268-0.
  4. ^ MTV (January 21, 1999). "Foxy Brown Goes Coast-To-Coast For "Chyna Doll"". MTV. Archived from the original on July 13, 2001.
  5. ^ MTV (September 4, 1998). "Foxy Brown To Cover Janet Jackson And N.W.A." MTV. Archived from the original on July 20, 2003.
  6. ^ MTV (January 19, 1999). "Foxy Brown-Fiona Apple Collaboration Scuttled By Schedule, Apple Eyes Work On New Album". MTV. Archived from the original on March 18, 2004.
  7. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Chyna Doll – Foxy Brown". Robert Christgau. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  8. ^ a b Diehl, Matt (January 31, 1999). "Chyna Doll". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Baker, Soren (January 30, 1999). "Foxy Brown's 'Chyna Doll' Seems to Use Recycled Material". Los Angeles Times. p. D11. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  10. ^ a b Farr, Kathryn (March 4, 1999). "Material Girl". Rolling Stone. No. 807. p. 87.
  11. ^ Hüttmann, Oliver (February 3, 1999). "Foxy Brown – Chyna Doll". Rolling Stone (in German). Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  12. ^ a b Solomon, Akiba (April 1999). "Record Report: Foxy Brown – Chyna Doll". The Source. No. 115. New York. p. 196.
  13. ^ Oliver Wang (1999). "Chyna Doll". Amazon. ASIN B00000DMU0.
  14. ^ "Foxy Brown". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  15. ^ MTV (May 19, 1999). "R. Kelly/Nas/Foxy Brown Tour Cancels More Dates". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013.
  16. ^ "Foxy Brown Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  17. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Foxy Brown – Chyna Doll" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  18. ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 7. February 13, 1999. p. 11. Retrieved September 7, 2021 – via American Radio History.
  19. ^ "Lescharts.com – Foxy Brown – Chyna Doll". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  20. ^ "Officialcharts.de – Foxy Brown – Chyna Doll". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  21. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Foxy Brown – Chyna Doll". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  22. ^ "Foxy Brown | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  23. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  24. ^ "Foxy Brown Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  25. ^ "Foxy Brown – Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart history". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  26. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  27. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  28. ^ "RPM 1999: Top 100 CDs". RPM. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  29. ^ Concepcion, Mariel (June 9, 2007). "A bad rap?". Billboard. pp. 24–25. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  30. ^ "American album certifications – Foxy Brown – Chyna Doll". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
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