My ecounter with Monica...

So Monica (as you should know) has and will always be a special organism in my existence. For 15+ years I've been on this females couch in my head. Singing, laughing and spectating everything and anything that comes to mind. On April 12,2012, I ambled into H&M to do a return on some pants that were unflattering and I looks to my rigr and see a gleaming beauty with familiar features and mannerisms with kids clothes draped over her shoulder. Me and these two random queens in front of me both looked on in unison trying to figure out if what we're seeing is true. I got my identity confirmation immediately and I politely put that return on hold and pursued my love-Monica. Downstairs ,we locked eyes and I said a convenient "Hi". She smile and said "Hey" and proceeded talking to the female she was with (whom I think was her assistant). I asked could i take a picture with her she replies with a very friendly ,"Mmmhmm". Her Beauty was just sinking Into my pores and I was overwhelmed with genuine starstruckness! Hands shaking,my phone was acting a donkey and could not get off of the camcorder mode. She saw that and said "it's probably not working cuz u have it on the record mode" ,in this thick southern accent-LIVE! So I finally got the cam to work and put it on the front camera and Mo said "That's too dark.." .

So I suggested that her friend take it and her friend had a lot of clothes in her Hand so Mo obliged to take it herself . SO SHE TOOK MY PHONE OUT MY HAND....lord ....then all o a sudden the image brighten up (with her magic touch of course) and she snapped the picture . I said thanks ,she said ur welcome. I told her that I love the album and she replied with a Huge smile," Awwww thank u very much!"

You can tell she was genuinely pleased. I walked out of that store with so much more love and adoration for her. I've met many a celebs but Monica has my heart. All I have to meet now is Gaga,Bey,Kanye,Solange and Pharrel and I'll be done with life.

Album Review:Monica/New Life

Not shy from 2 years from her last album,Ms.Brown dives into her singing tenor again and readies her 6th studio album ,New Life.With production ranging from Polow Da Don,Rico Love,Hit Boy and Missy Elliot- Monica situates herself amongst veterans half her age with a solidified organic soulful album. Beginning the album is a personal telephone conversation between her and good friend,Mary J.Blige about recognizing the blessings that had been bestowed upon her and her new life,which is redeemed as a intro on the album and the prelude to the duet between her and fellow vet Brandy with It All Belongs To Me,a song that magnifies both of the females talents and organic fellowship.Mo displays her vulnerability and loyalty on the Rico Love laced Daddy's Little Girl .This track's production kinda mimics the sound of 'Mirror' on Still Standing.Nevertheless,Monica accentuates every bass line and syrupy rhythm , singing 'Long as I know you got that love for me,Imma be g-o-o-d!".Yes.

Man Who Has Everything came as a pleasantly plump surprise to me with its rough intro and Jamaican vibe paired with Mo's southern soulful chords---> EXCELLENCE! ....Mo schools men and their comparable material gifts with the priceless exchange for love.Im IN...slow dutty wining in the den. Capturing the faults of life can be awfully fleeting, but when you have Mo to cosign with you on it's effects then regret can become more convenient to get over.On Big Mistake,Monica does just that.It's not the strongest offering (production wise) on the album but lyrically compelling.

Monica collaborated with the likes of Rico Love and Wale on the airy mid-tempo Take A Chance -where divine intervention, grandiose companion flights of fancy,leaps of faith and overall love tug of war takes place with an Icelandic urban background. It's an ok track-different sound for Monica, but most definitely an album filler.Come the fuck thru Polow! Mo's cousin most definitely laced Monica with more favorable material.In Without You........

I need a moment.

The effects this song has on moi resembles that of 'Here I Am' and 'Everything To Me' on Still Standing.Mo's vocals are superbly deviant on this track.I know that's not a good choice of adjectives but that is MY customized diction of this track. Mo pulls back on her heavy soulful voice and serves you up this soft kitten with airy,yet gusty tones and beautiful notations over a bountiful obsession of thick bass and dreamy production via Polow.LOVES.It's pure,ethereal and a obvious ode to Shannon.

The lyrics ,however, pulls at a completely different heart string -"Every night I close my eyes and think the lord that you're laying next to me. Didn't think it was possible but loving you brings out the best in me..."     ......lord. Sigh...one of these days I hope to recite just a percentage of this song with an endearing and honest heart.Ugh...This better be a single!

 Monica also pours her heart out to her Mister on Amazing .Where this track lacks in production ,boasts in Mo's honor of vocal stamina .The track is laid back yet refined with organic r&b and lateral groove.

Right on the helms of pouring out her feelings on love,sacrifice and inseparable ventures,Mo leaves the daunting note of regretting a goooood thing to Rocko on Until It's Gone with production by Missy and lyrics by Jazmine Sullivan-she cant lose. The bridge on this track sets me into a place I don't wanna come out of-it's life personified.Yes.
On Cry,Mo borrows Jazmine Sullivan's old skool homage demo and revamps and redecorates it in her favor. Reassuring her man that letting his inhibitions go and releasing all his fears with notations like ,"You don't have to be strong right now.You can gone and cry..". Mo's vocals on this track was vividly refreshing as well.Borrowing the lower register of Sullivan from the original demo ,Mo solidified her range by showing that the breathy vibrato and syrupy soprano of her trademark isn't all she has to offer.She sung that.What will have been even more loved is if this could have been a duet between her and Sullivan.
Time To Move On is one of those damn songs where I want to just throw my iPod in that butch queens face who did our relationship no justice.Whew! Mo & Polows camaraderie is a match made in urban heaven-it just keeps getting better.My,my,my....the vintage feel and the tone of Mo's voice on this offering is nothing short of impeccable.Speaking indefinite truth on lack of consideration and devotion hits all too close to home for me.
 "I did everything for you baby.The pleasure was all mine."
"The PROOOFFF is in your eyes."
"When we used to argue atleast you used to look at me.Now we lay next to each and we don't even speak..."
Chile...
When Mo's accent takes a turn for a Alabama juke joint barmaid and the faint growling (which I never heard her muster before...) then I take my fan and throw it on the stage.Praise Deenise Arnold-Brown.
SANG.
sigh.
Concluding the album, Pastor Mo reflects on her trials and the conceptualization of her life on the outro.Revealing that looking back isn't an option and focusing on now and the foreboding future is most credible in her life.

MYLAST WORDS:All of this defines the meaning of GROWTH. I hate when artists
base their forthcoming albums on growing and evolution and their album sounds and gives off the same equivalence to their previous LP's.This albums luster brings out the best in Mo.It brought out a difference in tone,her vocals were if not at their best but remarkable,the lyrics was of something that was truly sung from a personal experience-she's in love and at the pinnacle of true happiness and the overall cohesive story she was telling vocally supported the album's title-New Life.
....And I got my life from it. :)

Top 5 Tracks (outside of the singles)
1/Time To Move On
2/Time To Move On ...yes ,twice ho!
3/Without You
4/Cry
5/Man Who Has Everything

Monica & Brand perform 'It All Belongs To Me' on Leno [Video]

Mo and Bran dropped by Jay Leno to perform ther first duet in over 14 years. The ladies looked better than ever in all black belting out runs and syrupy vocals so effortlessly . Monica thanked Whitney and showed her esteemed gratitude to her inspiration towards the conclusion literally and figuratively with her ending run towards the end of the song where Brandy response was ,"Yessss!". The two women stayed in true form to their camaraderie by giving each other a long drawn hug as well. They truly both slayed in unison sounding impeccably like the track . Peep the video below...

2122173143 by YardieGoals

Whitney's Last Words To Monica: "I Know You Know I Know you stole that run from me at the end right?"

Monica on the set of her second duet with a musical chanteuse herself, Brandy divulged on the last memories of the late legendary singer Whitney Houston. Just a mere few days before her death on Saturday ,Whitney stopped by Monica and Brandys rehearsal for the Clive Davis Grammy party to show support and relinquish her vocal skill rights to two of her protégés . Peep the precious timeless pieces of Nippy wisdom the two female veterans retrieved that they'd cherish forever below ....

Monica On A Fun Memory She Has Of Whitney:

She was a jokester and I don’t think people really understood the fact that she was hilarious. The other day she came in, and heard our song, and she walks up to me and she goes, ‘You killin’ that run at the end.’ You know she kept sayin’ it, and she was like, ‘And you know I know you stole that from me, right? You killin’ that run you stole from me.” I’m like “I didn’t steal it, I borrowed it in a respectful manner” and she just thought that was funny because every night in my shows I do a segment for her and always have. That was something she enjoyed ; watching the YouTube’s and watching me kind of emulate her.

It hasn’t always been easy for me but I think that I pushed through because so many people have loved, uplifted and supported me and she was at the top of that list.

Monica on Whitney pulling her on stage to sing with her

That’s something that she often did. She always liked for me to come sing because she told me, ‘I’ve never met anybody that I saw myself in,’ And the fact that I was signed and discovered singing ‘The Greatest Love of All,’ you know…it’s just been a rough week overall. But I recognize that she and I both, outside of music, had a lot in common. And our love for God and our belief in Christ was one of those things and it’s kept me strong and kept me fighting for what it is she loved, and that is family first, music and the rest is second.

Monica On The Advice She’s Received From Whitney:

Allow my love to lead me. That was something that she would always say. Be okay with who I was.

There are a lot of heart broken people but we should just keep her daughter in our prayers and be thankful that God allowed us the time we did have with her.

Brandy when asked what was on the note that Whitney gave to her during an E! interview last week

I’m going to just not say what it was and just keep it to myself for my own personal reasons. I really don’t want to talk about Whitney right now.

Brandy On if she’s been Able To Reach Out To Bobbi Kristina

Yes, I have. I was with Bobbi Kristina the other night. It’s just so unfortunate. Whitney meant everything to me—everything. She’s the reason that I sing. It’s crazy, so crazy. I just want to make her proud. Every step I make I’m just going to do my best to make her proud.

——————————

In still trying to digest this terrible, terrible tragedy, it’s both warming yet distressing to see them try and soldier on, while clearly broken. Our thoughts remain with Whitney friends, and more so her family, during this testing time.

SN/ that run at the end of 'It All Belongs To Me' sure did give the imminent run at the conclusion of 'I will Always Love You'. Btw ,lovin Mo's hair .

New Music:Monica & Brandy /It All Belongs To Me

It's finally here!!!
Sigh ...
Now this is what I needed in my situation caller life...and that's what I just recieved-LIFE!
Mo and Brandys vocals were both equivalent in range and crispness. They sound better than ever. It's the ultra unison.
Click the link below to get your gander of the r&b veteran bibles take heed...
http://soundcloud.com/rca-music-group/it-all-belongs-to-me?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=mshare&utm_medium=blogger&utm_content=http://soundcloud.com/rca-music-group/it-all-belongs-to-me

More Details Leaked On The Monica & Brandy Duet>>

Rico Love,who's responsible for Kelly's monster cross over hit Motivation sat down for some Q&A on his recent collaboration with r&b veterans Brandy and Monica.Love shredded light on the songs feel,the two artists chemistry and the potential of the new collaboration having pop appeal and the sentiments of it matching the success of The Boy Is Mine.Peep the interview below...

What can you tell us about recording with Brandy and Monica?
It was a really interesting situation because of the history that was in the room and the energy was so positive. It was electric. I really wanted to try my best to pull the most explosive vocals out of them. I wanted to create a story that picked up where “The Boy Is Mine” left off. It kinda carried on the next part of the story, just showing their growth and their maturity, and making it real and true to both singers. It was an amazing energy, an amazing vibe. The girls were all positive. It was just fun. We had a great time and I learned so much from both of them during the session.

How did the duet come together?
It was Monica’s idea originally because Monica heard the record and she was so excited about it. She was like, “Yo, I really think that this should be that thing, that next duet.” Then [RCA Records executive] Peter Edge and [Chameleon Records CEO] Breyon Prescott put it together.

How would you describe the track?
It’s a very soulful R&B song with pop sensibilities. I wanted to make sure I made it a classic R&B record, but I definitely wanted to make sure that it had enough appeal to cross over and become a Top 40 record. I wanted to include Beatles-sounding guitars. I made sure the melody was big enough for all genres and just a strong powerful vocal performance and strong content. I really don’t wanna give away too much because they wanna keep it under wraps as far as the title and the subject, but I can just say that it’s a very strong vocal that I got out of these girls and it’s a very strong subject. To say the least, it will be a shocker.

When they recorded “The Boy Is Mine,” they were not the best of friends. What was their chemistry like in the studio?
It was fun. They both had a blast. We laughed and hung out. They’re like old friends. They have so much history together. It was like sisters.

Whose album will the song appear on?
I believe it’s going to be on both of theirs, but obviously Monica [New Life] is coming out sooner than Brandy, so I believe it’s going to be on hers first. We did alternate versions for both girls’ albums. So the version that is on Monica’s album won’t be the version on Brandy’s album. Same song with slightly different things.

Did you feel pressure to deliver after the massive success of “The Boy Is Mine”?
Amazing pressure because no matter what, people on the blogs will comment, “Rico ruined it and it’s the worst song ever.” You always get those the first day the record comes out, but you gotta ignore that. “The Boy Is Mine” was No. 1 for like 13 weeks. The hype around it is so big now since the pictures came out the other day on Twitter. Honestly I’m the one that’s gonna take the fall for anything, so it’s huge pressure, but I thrive off that type of pressure. I feel like that’s why I wake up to do what I do, to continue to write songs for legendary artists, and try to reinvent the wheel as much as I can.


I literally am on the edge of my upholstered seat.Mo and Brandy's unison on The Boy Is Mine was epic and to reunite some odd years later on another track is not only fantastic but well needed. I hope the alternate versions are not that different from another.The girls have grown mentally and vocally....so I hope that those elements are paramount on this new track. Again,I cannot wait!

Premiere: Monica 'Until It's Gone'

Mo finally released the poignant visual of her official first single 'Until Its Gone'. The Diane Martel clip was destined to be nothing less than dramatic and perfect. Monica narrates the seemingly less than perfect couple played by Melinda Williams & Brian White. The tumultous couple threatens their bond resulting in wreckless effects.Mo looks stunning with honey blonde shoulder length hair and impeccable fashions.

I ,for one, was kind've lost as to why Monica was singing in a singular point of view to Brian White when she was just the couples friend.However, the video was simple yet effective.It sorta reminded me of Alicia Keys 'Like You'll Never See Me Again' and Aaron Halls 'I Miss You'-very dramatic,very deep and very REAL; something in which Mo knows all too well. Monica also displayed some brief acting chops in this clip which pulled me back into her 'Love Song' days (only true fans know about that).

In related news, 'Until Its Gone' is up from over 2o slots on the Hip Hop & R&B Charts @ #55 and after this video it should soar to the top 20 community. Thoughts?

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Monica on the set of 'Until It's Gone'

Monica isn't channeling the prolonged gaps in between video shoots as she did on previous ventures.For she is already readying video treatment for the Jasmine Sullivan penned track,Until It's Gone.

Monica was on location in Harlem with famed director Diane Martel (Ciara's 'Promise' & 'Ride',Bey's 'Best Thing I Never Had',Nicki M "Right Thru Me') shooting scenes for the official first single off her upcoming LP New Life,due November 21st. 

I'm glad Mo is stepping out of the comfort zone of always booking Christopher Robinson & Benny Boom for decorating her videos.This video should be poignant.

The video is said to be very cinematic and starring accomplished actors Melinda Williams & Brian White portraying a jilted couple tested by the abrupt fatality of a car crash.Peep pics below.

Sidenote:LOVIN' the color, length and the bangs.It's just what i was waiting for.Go Mo!

Monica to release new single with Lil' Kim & Missy Elliot ///

 My Georgia peach Monica just celebrated her 6th month anniversary with Lakers ball player Chris Shannon yesterday and announced a upcoming single featuring Missy Elliot and Lil' Kim at her Pride concert she performed at in Long Beach that would be due out in July.Sigh...I love my Mo but I'd wish she could've used the hip-hop expertise of Nicki but I digress.I guess it'll be another more soulful version of 'Let it Go'- Keyshia Cole's hit with the same featured artists done 4 years ago.We'll see.Monica's album is to be entitled New Life and is slated for release later this summer.In the meantime,peep the photo's below Mo tweeted with her beau of 6 months.

Grammy Gala ft. Monica,Bruno Mars & Keri Hilson

2o11 Grammy nominees Monica & Bruno Mars joined Keri Hilson for a pre-Grammy even thrown at Hollywood's hot night spot Bardo in LA.It was intimate & entertaining evening to state the very least.Check preview below of my girl Mo doing a rendition of her 90's hit Before You Walk Out My Life w/Bruno Mars on the keyboards (it's dope to see her still getting recognition after 16 years in the game.) Also,peep Keri's soothing voice over Bruno Mar's Grenade.She gushed that she wanted to have Bruno's baby before her set.Click here for that performance,she ripped it! ...See who takes home the coveted trophies tonight at the 53rd Grammy's.Good luck Mo!