Breaking Down the Brandy and Monica Beef
We break down the years of friction between the two singers
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For the last 22 years, instead of being celebrated for having the bestselling female duet of all time with “The Boy is Mine,” which earned them both their first Hot 100 number one and their first Grammy, Brandy and Monica have been synonymous with beef. The comparisons never really made sense, as the singers are very different in style, content, and personality. They were just close in age and debuted close together. Brandy and Monica insisted, at different moments, that it was all manufactured drama, a creation of the media and fans. But there was absolutely real smoke in the beginning. That initial feud set the foundation that fans continue to build from today.
In recent years, IG subs and live lyric changes suggest the rivalry’s been renewed, although there’s still no concrete reason why. So when super-producers Swizz Beatz and Timbaland launched their Verzuz IG series, fans immediately added the two vocalists to the list of most-wanted matches. Understandably, the two were hesitant. Or at least Monica was. She explained during a radio interview that she didn’t want to perpetuate the idea of a rivalry. But in a surprising turn of events, we will get a Brandy-Monica Verzuz tonight on Instagram at 8 p.m. ET. They are joining in the spirit of celebration and sisterhood, much like Erykah Badu and Jill Scott’s love fest match in May, and have set aside any lingering resentments, real or imagined.
The internet, however, loves drama, so opposing fan sets are declaring draggings, destruction, and mess. In preparation for tonight’s match we decided to take a look at some of their alleged conflict over the years, to assess how much is real beef — or just an Impossible Burger.
They couldn’t be in the same room
Co-producer Dallas Austin had Monica rerecord her vocals separately in Atlanta because he felt like she didn’t bring her personality and attitude when she was in the studio with Brandy. That allegedly led to multiple mixes before each singer — who shared the title credit — was happy that neither overpowered the other in any way.
Rodney Jerkins, who executive produced Never Say Never, shared in 2007 that tension…
