Brown: Actually, let's be correct about it. First it was just [Lil'] Kim in the paper, and I guess the media didn't think that was interesting enough. I was [in the story] the second day, and that's where I said, "OK, this is ridiculous. Something has to be done about this."

Sway: The authorities are basing the shooting on lyrics from a song [on Capone-N-Noreaga's 2000 album Reunion].

Brown: Right, and that song was done, if I'm not mistaken, in June, almost a year ago. And trust me, that song had nothing to do with that violence, because Capone-N-Noreaga are not advocates of violence, and I am not.

Sway: The song is called "Bang Bang."

Brown: Right.

Sway: And in that song you refer to Lil' Kim.

Brown: Right.

Sway: In retrospect, do you have any regrets making that song?

Brown: Oh, definitely. Actually, I don't have regrets, but I do apologize to the fans for even lowering myself, 'cause I was always looked at as the bigger person. Foxy never disrespected Kim in any interview [or on the] radio, nothing. I always had positive things to say about Kim, but on the other hand she always has something negative to say about Foxy.

That record was in retaliation to what they've been saying about me for the last two or three years. I came out and said what I said. I knew whatever it was, I had to defend myself, and I was ready for the consequences — never thinking it would escalate to this violence. I thought it would be just a war of words.

Sway: What's the end to this so-called Lil' Kim/Foxy Brown beef?

Brown: Russell [Simmons], the president of my record company [Def Jam/Def Soul], and I have gotten together and I said, "Russell, I want to call a truce." I said, "I want to have a sit-down with Kim," and I want to. I don't care what it is. Let's end it, let's just end it. We can even do a collaboration. We can do something. We're bigger than this.

Sway: Maybe they will call.

Brown: I'm sure that if Biggie and 2Pac had a chance to sit down, or, you know, say, "Look, let's call a truce" — I'm sure they probably didn't want to condone this ongoing beef, 'cause nobody does. 'Cause at first, it's a war of words, and it's cool and it's OK — they're keeping you on point with your skills. After a while it becomes senseless, 'cause after a while I was saying, "OK, stop already. I don't have any more rhymes to go back at. I'm not even thinking like that." So, I'm just glad to put the pride aside and have no ego and come forward and be the first one to say, "Look, let's sit down and let's have a truce."

Sway: A lot if it has to do with people and their cliques and entourages. Do artists have a responsibility for their entourages' actions?

Brown: Well, I think it's more, like you said, the entourage, because they don't have that album to look forward to, they don't have that studio time, they don't have an obligation to fulfill. All they know is that somebody has a problem with their boy or their girl or their friend or whoever, and they want to react. Sometimes it's hard to control that.

Sway: So whose responsibility is it?

Brown: It's sort of the artist's responsibility to say, "Look, all right, enough. We don't have to do it that way." But these people are grown men or grown women, and sometimes you can't talk to them. All they know is that someone is hurting. You're not gonna think twice but to react. So those people, all they know is that their boy is getting involved in something. It's hard, but a lot of times, 90 percent of the time, it's the entourage.

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