![]() ![]() Band by hopscotching between extremes of her range for the male and female parts. Monica & Usher could’ve jumpstarted an Alexander O’Neal & Cherrelle association, had they shared her cover of “Tell Me If You Still Care.” An ATLien herself, she handles this solo tribute to hometown heroes The S.O.S. She had no reason not to swipe the song and tuck it into her album, nice and smooth-like. Besides “Freedom,” she duetted with a fresh-faced Usher Raymond on “Let’s Straighten It Out,” a Newports-and-brown-liquor hit for bluesman Benny Latimore in 1974. Blige, SWV, En Vogue, and others in its stark monochrome music video.īack when movie soundtracks were critical for marketing new artists, Monica got two turns on Panther (1995). “I knew who I was and what I wanted to say,” she shrugs.īefore others knew who she was, our young starlet got a profile boost from participating in an all-star Joi Gilliam redux: “Freedom (Theme From Panther).” An eventual Top 10 R&B single, this all-woman militant manifesto perched relative newcomer Monica at the same level as Mary J. She got the name from Dallas Austin after he saw her rebuff producers who presented songs for her album that she didn’t like. For those unfamiliar with this Southern-ism, “Miss Thang” is an affectionate nickname you’d give a girl who, despite her youth, moves with so much confidence it intimidates those around her. So when Monica’s alto puts its hands on its hips, Debra’s vocals are the homegirl best friend there after school to back her up, braid her hair, grease her face, and help her fight if it comes down to it.īoth come out swinging on the sassy title track (“But it’s alright for me to think it’s all about me… that’s why I’m Miss Thang!”). Her crushed velvet tone is a key support to the distinct sound and attitude of Miss Thang, appearing prominently on 8 of its 16 tracks. She’s considered a virtual fourth member, so if you’re a fan of TLC’s, you’re also a fan of hers. She’s a solo artist, a group lead, the bass player on most OutKast albums, and vocalist on every TLC album. Monica coasted on those wins until the following summer, when her next hit single revved up at radio: the Darryl Simmons-assisted “Why I Love You So Much.” Even with some “Cleotha” in her voice, she still reaffirms her girlhood on a bridge as sweet as the rainbow swirl-pop on the single’s artwork.īy the way, you cannot discuss Miss Thang without discussing its secret weapon, Debra Killings. Their combined stats resulted in dual belt-notches for Monica: two Top 10 pop and #1 R&B singles for the marketing push of one. Moreover, pairing the hip-hop “Like This” with the pop-friendly “Before You Walk Out” was shrewd. They wrote it with Andrea Martin for Toni Braxton’s Secrets album, but it became huge for Monica. On the flipside of that double A-side single was the more chilled-out affair, “Before You Walk Out of My Life.” This singalong favorite came courtesy of Danish team Soulshock & Karlin. The single’s All Star Remix rocked even harder, swapping Malik’s verse for a more gutter one from Queensbridge duo Mobb Deep. ![]() Malik laughs off her ultimatum with a melodic 24-bar verse that rides the beat and gives respect to the Slick Rick classic “Mona Lisa” all at once. The bassy banger found Monica warning a non-committal beau if their relationship didn’t solidify, “I can’t wait around…I’m gonna move along!” Rapper Mr. ![]() The next offering, “Like This and Like That,” slid nonchalantly onto radio in the fall. ![]() It paid off though, yielding a platinum single right out of the gate. That was pretty gutsy to lead with a Jeep-rocker about enforcing personal boundaries when you’re on your monthly cycle. That introductory single from Monica’s triple-platinum debut Miss Thang charted #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 Billboard R&B, making her the youngest female artist ever to achieve the latter. ![]()
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