26 years ago this week, Foxy Brown’s Chyna Doll debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, after selling 173,000 copies during its first week, making her the first female rapper with multiple No. 1 albums.
Released on January 26, 1999, it was Foxy Brown’s second studio album, via Ill Na Na Entertainment, Violator Records, and Def Jam Recordings. The project followed the solo commercial success of her debut album Ill Na Na (1996) which peaked at No. 7 and The Firm–The Album, a collaborative effort with
Within three months of its release, Chyna Doll was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association Of America for sales surpassing 1 million copies.
Determined to steer her artistic vision, the Brooklyn native assumed the role of executive producer for Chyna Doll. She collaborated with an array of notable producers, including Kanye West, D-Dot, Irv Gotti, Lil Rob, Swizz Beatz, and Tyrone Fyffe. The album was recorded in 1998 at Electric Lady Studios and The Hit Factory in New York City, incorporating a mix of East Coast, West Coast, and Southern influences.
Chyna Doll features guest appearances from East Coast, West Coast and Down South in the US, such as DMX, Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, Juvenile, and Too Short. R&B stars Mýa and Total also contributed, alongside hip-hop legends like Tha Dogg Pound, Mia X, and Gangsta Boo. Notably, Chyna Doll includes an appearance by Pam Grier, the actress who originally played the character Foxy Brown in the 1974 blaxploitation film.
Singles and Promotion
Three singles were released to promote the album. The lead single, “Hot Spot,” dropped on October 26, 1998, peaking at No. 91 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, “I Can’t” featuring Total, followed on March 2, 1999, but failed to make an impact on the Hot 100. The final single, “J.O.B.,” featuring Mýa, was released on July 2, 1999, but also did not chart. An alternate version of “J.O.B.,” featuring UK girl group Honeyz, was released exclusively in France.
To support the album, Foxy Brown initially joined R. Kelly’s “Get Up on a Room” tour alongside Busta Rhymes, Nas, Deborah Cox, and Kelly Price. However, after several tour dates were canceled due to slow ticket sales, violence at a Miami concert, and Busta Rhymes withdrawing from the lineup, Foxy Brown embarked on her own Chyna Doll Tour, which spanned 22 cities across North America in 1999.
Critical Reception and Controversy
Upon its release, Chyna Doll received mixed reviews from music critics. While the album’s commercial success was undeniable, its content and artistic direction sparked debates.
- Entertainment Weekly gave it a favorable B+ rating, acknowledging its glamorous, escapist appeal.
- Rolling Stone praised its strong production and guest features but criticized Foxy Brown’s tendency to “disrespect fellow females.”
- The Source had a nuanced take, noting that the album delivered club-ready hits but also reflected an internal struggle for self-worth beyond materialism.
Los Angeles Times was among the most critical, stating that Foxy Brown’s lyrical content was “whiny and uninspired” and that she used “recycled material” and sounded too similar to Lil’ Kim while lacking the depth of artists like MC Lyte and Lauryn Hill.
Internationally, Chyna Doll charted in multiple countries, including Canada, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the UK, demonstrating Foxy Brown’s global appeal.
