10 Times Brandy And Monica Influenced to Black Culture

Source: Frank Micelotta Archive / Getty

Brandy and Monica went head-to-head on Monday (August 31) in the ultimate R&B rivalry showdown — Verzuz. With 1.2 million views, this Verzuz was hands down one of the best yet. And, when it comes to Verzuz, the music battles have been top-notch. We got our neo soul vibe with Erykah Badu vs. Jill Scott, a little duty wine with Buju Banton vs. Bounty Killer, and an unforgettable new jack swing & baby-making music night with Teddy Riley vs. Babyface. Created by Grammy Award-winning recording producers Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, the Instagram Live music battles have been a celebration of Black music and Black culture. So, of course, we’d expect nothing less than the best from B-Rocka and Miss Thang.

Monica Speaks on “Ongoing Beef” with Brandy

Fans wondered if this Verzuz could be a sign of reconciliation? Initially, Monica had no interest in participating in the online battle. In an interview with V103, she said, “I guess I kind of feel like, I understand the idea of it and I think it’s really, really entertaining and an incredible idea,” she said. “I think battles — one thing that has happened to me my whole career — are being put against someone else that I’m not even remotely similar to. I think the reality is, us being polar opposites makes it dope. And I tell people all the time, because the only battle or Verzuz they want to see with me is me against Brandy, and the reality is people have put us against each other for twenty-something years.”

She continued: “The reality is, I think The Boy Is Mine is such a phenomenal record because we’re polar opposites. And I think that’s dope. And she’s one of the greatest artists of our time as well. So, could we do a celebration or something of that sort? That would be the only thing that makes sense to me. Because I’ve been trying to tell people for about 25 years, you can like both! If you’re going to turn this into 1998 all over again, and I have no interest in that.”

Brandy Verzuz Monica Kicked Off

Kamala Harris kicked off the night — in her Howard University shirt — urging viewers to vote come November.

Source: Instagram / Verzuz/Instagram

READ MORE: Represent the Vote — Everything You Need to Know

Monica then started the show by addressing the elephant in the room — the alleged ongoing beef between the singers. For years, fans pegged them as rivals, despite the success of their 90s hit, “The Boy is Mine.” Monica credited the music industry for pitting them against each other.

“The more we’re talked about, the more it led it to be difficult unnecessarily,” Monica said, addressing the alleged beef during the Verzuz. “It was time for us to have the conversation that wasn’t had earlier.”

Brandy added, “I know a lot of the things that you’ve endured and you’re still here, period!”

It seemed that whatever beef was brewing over the years was resolved — and, we couldn’t have been more happy. Both divas started singing at a young age — Monica laid down her first track at 12-years-old, with Brandy not following too far behind at 14-years-old. Hit after hit, they reminded the world — as if we didn’t know — why they are two of the best vocalists in the R&B game. The Verzuz was a night of celebration of 90s R&B. This one was for the culture.

10 Times Brandy and Monica Contributed to Black Culture

1. Brandy's Won Multiple Awards for Her Music

Brandy Norwood has received a total of 7 Billboard music Awards. Her first was in 1995 where she won as the best new R&B artist and best R&B female. She also has 1 Grammy Award, 1 American Music Award, among many more.

2. Monica's Won Multiple Awards for Her Music, Too

Monica has collected 1 Billboard Music Award, 1 Grammy Award, 1 BET Award, and 2 BMI Pop Awards.

3. Brandy Ruled the Radio and Moesha Ruled TV in the 90s

Brandy starred in UPN’s popular half-hour comedy series Moesha.

4. Monica Showed Off Her Acting Chops on the Big and Small Screens

These two have proven that there’s more to their talent than their vocals. Monica also tried her hand at acting in television series such as Living Single, Felicity, and American Dreams and films including ATL, Boys and Girls, Love Song, and Pastor Brown.

5. Brandy Took Acting to Another Level with Her Broadway Debut

Brandy made her Broadway debut in 2015, when she starred as Roxie Hart in the Tony-winning musical Chicago. This was such a huge moment in her career. 

6. Monica's Music Is Charted

Since the beginning of her career in 1995, Monica has sold 30 million albums in the United States. In 1999, Billboard included her among the top twenty of the Top Pop Artists of the 1990s, and in 2010, the magazine ranked her 24th on its list of the Top 50 R&B and Hip Hop Artists of the past 25 years.

7. Brandy Showed Us What a Black Princess Looks Like — 'Cause Representation Matters

Black girls — and women — got to see themselves in Cinderella when Brandy portrayed Cinderella in the Walt Disney & ABC broadcast of Cinderella. And, as an added bonus, Whitney Houston starred alongside the princess as her fairy godmother. 

8. Brandy's Braids Are a Cultural Influence of Their Own

Brandy’s been rocking braids since she first hit the music scene with I Wanna Be Down. From micro braids to Senegalese twists, Brandy has shown us about 10 million ways to rock our natural hair.

9. Monica's Pixie Hair Cut Had Women Going Shorter

You can’t talk about Brandy’s braids without talking about Monica’s pixie cut. This woman had women running to the salons to chop off their hair and get a side swoop like Monica’s.

10. This Music Collab is Still One of the Most Talked About

Both Monica and Brandy won a Grammy Awarding 1999 for their monumental hit single, The Boy is Mine. The single took their careers to another level.