OLDIES SUNDAY: Foxy Brown – Oh Yeah (2001)

Closing off the Month of June with another “Oldies Sunday“ selection in recognition of “Caribbean American Heritage Month“. For today’s post, we go back to the 2000s to check Rapper Foxy Brown’s “Oh Yeah“.

Produced by Eddie Scoresazy and featuring Dancehall/Reggae Artist Spragga Benz, “Oh Yeah” was Foxy Brown’s assertion that she’s a Queen in Hip Hop, speaking her mind on a few observations, and display her dominance in the scene. Released through Def Jam Records in 2001, the track sampled “54-46 That’s My Number” by Toots and The Maytals, and interpolated “Punky Reggae Party” by Bob Marley and The Wailers. “Oh Yeah” was also a part of the launch of Brown and Benz’s relationship at the time, and it was further evidenced in the music video that was directed by Director X (then known as Little X). “Oh Yeah” was the first single of Brown’s 2001 album “Broken Silence“, but it was not successful when it was released. The track charted very low on Billboard, and was receiving little airplay on Radio. Despite this, it built its buzz in the streets through Mixtapes including a version with alternate lyrics on a DJ Envy-hosted “Best Of Foxy Brown” Mixtape, and live performances.

Since the release of “Oh Yeah”, Foxy Brown’s career had a number of setbacks. While she found success shortly after the release, she would find herself battling court cases, being dropped by Def Jam, slow to release music, and dealt with hearing loss. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Brown is of Dougla (Afro-Trini and Indo-Trini mix) and Chinese-Trinidadian descent. She shows her love for Trinidad and Tobago in a number of songs and media moments, along with namedropping Jamaica, but that has to do with her growing up in the melting pot of cultures in Brooklyn. She is a multi-platinum selling Hip Hop Artists, and one of the “Queens of New York Hip Hop“. She is recognized during Caribbean-American Heritage Month, and “Oh Yeah” went on to become of her signature tracks.