Foxy meets Cyndi - rap singer Foxy Brown - Interview

Sassy, terrific teen rapstress Foxy Brown does the dish with First Lady of fabulousness and fun Cyndi Lauper

FOXY BROWN: Hi, Cyndi!

CYNDI LAUPER: How ya' doin', doll?

FB: Fine. I've been telling people, "I'm talking to Cyndi Lauper!" and they're all like, "Yeah, right."

CL: Well, you're doing the interview now, hon.

FB: I wanted to ask you, being a female in the music industry, do you think the industry is sexist?

CL: It is, but I don't dwell on it, because my world isn't like that, I decided a long time ago the only way to change things was for me to change my environment.

FB: Oh my God, I did that same thing. I have enough pressure, being that I'm young and with the things I talk about. You know, people say, "All Foxy does is talk about sex." I get a lot of criticism for that and I don't need anybody in my own camp [criticizing me too].

CL: Yeah, but what the hell is L.L. [Cool J] doing?

FB: [laughs] My thing is I was always open with my sexuality, you know what I mean? I feel there's nothing to hide. And it's been done. Everyone talks a little about sex. Even you!

CL: Who, me? Well, I've talked about different kinds of things. "She Bop" was more [about] masturbation.

FB: See?

CL: Well, it's the safest kind of sex there is, doll.

FB: And you're enjoying yourself at the same time!

CL: Can I tell you something? What I got from your record was a certain view of life, of where you grow up. That's what I heard.

FB: Really? That's strange, because if you listen to any news station, they're always like, "Seventeen-year-old X-rated teen rapper [Foxy Brown]."

CL: Oh, fuck what everyone says. Don't you know that everyone is always going to try and pigeonhole you?

FB: I used to believe that, but now I can't help but care what people say.

CL: No, no, no. Wait a minute. Now, when you started doing this, sure you wanted to be successful, but in the end you know and I know that the joy is in the doing. It's in the moment when all the rhythms click and the rhyme fits in just the right way. That's the joy - the music - and that's what nobody can ever take away from you. And, yeah, you may be pretty - lucky you - but it's not about that. Even though you're talking about sex, where is it taking place? In what neighborhood?

FB: Yeah, you're right.

CL: Because really, as artists our job is almost like being a reporter. For my new album, Sisters of Avalon, I travelled around the world and wrote about the people close to me, the people I love.

FB: As far as [my album] Ill Na Na, if I had had more experience, I would have had more input. 'Cause [when we started working on it] everything, down to what I was wearing, was left up to the record company. After the album went platinum and I had a little leverage, I was like, "Look, check this out. I want my makeup artist, I want this, I want that."

CL: You know, I was originally signed as only a singer and I guess that's what they expected, but I had my own ideas. What I did (which you might want to do) is, I got a really simple set-up in my home - an Akai board - so I wouldn't have to negotiate over the music that I did. And the less negotiation I had to do, the more music I could make. I play things like the omnichord -

FB: The omnichord? I love that!

CL: Yeah, it's dope-simple. On the new album I wrote the chords and I played the omnichord and the harmonium. I played that guitar solo on "Unhook the Stars," too. [singing] "Da-da-na"?

FB: Yeah, that's the joint!

CL: You know what track I responded to on your CD? "As If . . ."

FB: Yeah, that was straight from my heart.

CL: Well, it hit mine, and that is what you should focus on - that is what will make you a cut above. You're not just selling sex, sweetie. You are a sexual human being, that's all.

FB: And is there anything wrong with that?

CL: Well, you know - it's just that they sent all the Puritans over here.

FB: What I'm getting from you is good advice. Because sometimes I feel like I don't know which way to go. I really enjoyed talking to you, Cyndi. Thank you so much.

CL: Good luck, sweetie. Knock 'em dead.

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