Before there was a Nicki Minaj and Cardi B rivalry dominating headlines, Lil Kim and Foxy Brown were two Brooklyn MCs at the center of one of hip hop’s most enduring feuds. What makes their history especially complicated is that the two women were once friends. Check out a timeline of Lil Kim and Foxy Brown’s complex past inside.
Kim and Foxy grew up in Brooklyn, attended the same high school and came up in a male-dominated rap industry at nearly the exact same time. Their similarities made comparisons inevitable, but according to Ranker’s timeline of their feud, the real reason their relationship fell apart has never been fully confirmed.
Scroll for a timeline of the Lil Kim and Foxy Brown feud below.
Lil Kim Vs. Foxy Brown Timeline
1995: Before The Beef
The two rappers were still cool when they appeared together on Total’s “No One Else (Remix)” alongside Da Brat. It remains the only official song featuring both artists.
At the time, Lil Kim was making noise with Junior M.A.F.I.A. and The Notorious B.I.G., while Foxy was building her reputation through New York’s underground scene and collaborations with artists like Jay Z.
1996: Two Queens, One Moment
Everything changed when both women dropped their debut albums within seven days of each other. Kim released Hard Core on Nov. 12, followed by Foxy’s Ill Na Na on Nov. 19.
Both projects went platinum, and both rappers became known for unapologetic lyrics, high fashion and a sexuality that challenged how women were expected to exist in hip hop.
The constant comparisons only intensified. As XXL notes, even industry insiders have struggled to pinpoint exactly what caused the friendship to collapse. One long standing story involves both women wearing the same jumpsuit inside their debut albums. Another theory suggests a misunderstanding or something involving a man.
1997: The Source Cover
Kim and Foxy appeared together on the iconic February 1997 cover of The Source. Despite rumors of tension, they were reportedly still friendly around this time. Foxy even shouted Kim out on “Ill Na Na,” making what happened next even harder to trace.
1999 To 2000: The Diss Tracks Begin
By 1999, the tension had made its way onto wax. Kim appeared on Lil Cease’s “Play Around,” with lyrics widely interpreted as shots at Foxy.
Lil Kim took things further on “Notorious K.I.M.” in 2000, directly referencing Foxy and The Firm. Foxy answered with “Bang Bang” later that year, taking aim at Kim and her relationship with Biggie.
2001: The Beef Turns Violent
The rivalry spilled beyond music when a shooting involving members of Kim’s circle and Capone N Noreaga’s camp occurred outside Hot 97 in February 2001. One man was wounded.
Foxy subsequently attempted to call a truce, but the relationship remained fractured.
2005: Kim Goes To Prison
Kim was convicted of perjury and conspiracy for lying to investigators and a federal grand jury about the Hot 97 shooting. She was sentenced to 366 days in prison and was released in 2006.
The incident became one of the most consequential chapters in the feud’s history.
2011 To 2013: Still Not Squashed
Years later, the rappers were still exchanging lyrical shots. Kim addressed Foxy on “Guess Who’s Back,” while Foxy responded with “Massacre.”
Then came a potential peace offering at Hot 97’s 2013 Summer Jam. Fabolous reportedly attempted to bring the two Brooklyn legends together onstage. It never happened.
Foxy later explained that she did not want a reunion that felt forced or staged.
More than two decades later, the unanswered question remains the same: What really happened between Lil Kim and Foxy Brown? The answer may be buried somewhere between Brooklyn, the business of hip hop and two careers that were forever linked by comparison. Whatever started it, the friendship never became the legendary collaboration many fans hoped for.
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