{"id":166127,"date":"2026-03-17T13:04:58","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T13:04:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/166127\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T13:04:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T13:04:58","slug":"brandy-and-monica-why-the-reigns-of-these-rb-queens-still-resonate-decades-later-essence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/166127\/","title":{"rendered":"Brandy And Monica: Why The Reigns Of These R&B Queens Still Resonate Decades Later – Essence"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlmost thirty years later, Brandy and Monica are still moving the culture forward. \/ (Photo by Kevin Mazur\/Getty Images for BPC)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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Nearly three decades after the release of their smash hit song, The Boy is Mine was released, Brandy and Monica<\/a> are still in demand. Last fall, The Boy Is Mine Tour<\/a> which they headlined was a major commercial success, featuring\u00a0multiple sold-out shows across the United States. Concert tour stops included high-profile, capacity crowds at venues like the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Originally announced as a 24-city tour, it expanded to 32 dates, including additional shows in Atlanta and Chicago due to high demand.<\/p>\n

Even celebrities ventured out to enjoy the popular show. From Beyonc\u00e9 and Jay-Z to Rihanna, Lena Waithe and our Forever First Lady Michelle Obama, attendees of all ages and walks of life were thirsty for the nostalgia that the Vocal Bible and Ms. Monica (and occasionally Goonica) were giving to their fans. The Boy Is Mine, the now iconic duet by Brandy<\/a> and Monica<\/a>, peaked at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 weeks during its 1998 release year and earned the singers a coveted Grammy award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group in 1999.<\/p>\n

ESSENCE sought out the expertise of two of music\u2019s leading experts on soul and R&B music to get their take on the duo\u2019s cultural legacy ahead of their return to the stage at our ESSENCE Festival of Culture<\/a> in New Orleans<\/a> this summer. Naima Cochrane<\/a>, #MusicSermon<\/a> creator, journalist and professor at the Clive Davis School of Recorded Music at New York University, and Ian Von<\/a>, founder, owner and host of the Can We Talk R&B? podcast<\/a>, know a thing or two about R&B music and they shared their poignant thoughts on the matter with us.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what they had to say about the cultural legacy that Brandy and Monica represent, the power of timeless songwriting and why TikTok<\/a> enthusiasts have embraced these two living legends with such authentic love and gratitude.<\/p>\n

On The Boy is Mine still resonating with people today although the song was released in 1998.<\/p>\n

NAIMA COCHRANE: It\u2019s simply a hit. It was at the top of the charts for 3 months,\u00a0the best-selling song of the year in 1998, and still sounds great today, so shout out to Darkchild (Rodney Jerkins) and Dallas Austin for that. The second\u00a0and maybe deeper reason is that it\u2019s such a part of the zeitgeist of the\u00a0late \u201990s.\u00a0We\u2019re in a nostalgia\u00a0renaissance with\u00a0\u201990s R&B and\u00a0culture in the center,\u00a0and The Boy is Mine along with the entire Brandy versus Monica narrative is such a marker of that period.
IAN VON:\u00a0The themes of love, competition, heartbreak, and self-expression never go out of style. The Boy is Mine captured a moment culturally, but it also told a story people could see themselves in. I feel like I grew up alongside them as a fan of their contributions. Their music became part of the soundtrack of our lives. And because of that, we also helped raise a new generation of R&B fans who grew up hearing those sounds in our homes, in our cars, and at family gatherings. That\u2019s why it continues to resonate almost three decades later.<\/p>\n

On The Boy is Mine Tour selling out arenas to multi-generational audiences from 60+ year-olds to tweens.<\/p>\n

COCHRANE: The Tik Tok generation is driving\u00a0this \u201990s and \u201900s renewal! Their fascination with music, artists, tv shows, and fashion that pre-dates their existence seems like a phenomenon, but X\u2019ers and Millennials did it, too. In the \u201990s and early \u201900s we were deep into the \u201970s. Gen Z is experiencing discovery through clip carousels from aggregator accounts and music challenges. Which is fine, as long as the discovery is happening.<\/p>\n

VON: That speaks directly to the point that these songs essentially raised millennials and, by proxy, Gen Z R&B lovers. Many younger fans discovered Brandy and Monica through their parents, older siblings, or through streaming and social media.<\/p>\n

Another important factor is that both Brandy and Monica have remained culturally relevant. They\u2019ve continued contributing incredible music over the decades and have stayed present within pop culture and, specifically, Black culture. They\u2019re true legends whose stories are still being written. The beautiful part is that audiences across multiple generations are along for the ride.<\/p>\n

\"BrandyBrandy and Monica during 1998 MTV Video Music Awards at Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic, Inc)<\/p>\n

On younger R&B singers like Kehlani<\/a> and Ariana Grande giving Brandy and Monica their flowers.
VON: Every generation builds on the work of the one before it. Brandy and Monica themselves paid homage to Whitney Houston and other icons who paved the way for them.<\/p>\n

Artists like Kehlani, Ariana Grande, Coco Jones, Muni Long, H.E.R., Jazmine Sullivan and even Beyonc\u00e9 have all been inspired in some way by what Brandy and Monica contributed to R&B. Whether it\u2019s vocal style, storytelling, harmonies, or emotional delivery, their fingerprints are all over modern R&B.<\/p>\n

COCHRANE: Artists who understand and respect their craft understand and respect lineage. I\u2019m very happy to see these women who are now part of the more senior generation in terms of artistic hierarchy getting their due love and acknowledgement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On the power of timeless R&B music.<\/p>\n

VON: First, it must resonate across demographics \u2014 across generations, cultures, and geographic locations. When a song connects with people emotionally, it transcends time. Second, timeless music captures the spirit of an era while still feeling relevant years later.<\/p>\n

Another thing that made that record special was how different Brandy and Monica\u2019s brands were at the time. Their styles contrasted each other, but it felt authentic. That authenticity is what makes records last.<\/p>\n

COCHRANE: Music is a time capsule. It\u2019s one of the strongest memory triggers, so when we hear a song that\u2019s closely identified with a specific time or place, it takes us right there. Even if we weren\u2019t there in real time, we feel like we experienced it.\u00a0That\u2019s the timelessness of good music (and good production). And the rhythm & blues is the jam factor.<\/p>\n

\"BrandyMonica and Brandy at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on November 20, 2025. (Photo by Kevin Mazur\/Getty Images for BPC)<\/p>\n

On Brandy and Monica performing together at the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture.<\/p>\n

COCHRANE: \u00a0It\u2019s tragic there was not a Boy is Mine Tour in 1998. Some fans have been waiting on this moment almost 30 years! Essence Festival of Culture is historically one of my favorite events, and I\u2019m going to try my best to be in the number this summer.<\/p>\n

VON: The run that they\u2019ve been on lately has been amazing to watch. Seeing them headline festivals like ESSENCE in New Orleans is a reminder of their staying power.<\/p>\n

They are true torchbearers for the culture of R&B \u2014 representing talent, beauty, authenticity, and longevity. A lot of us admire them because they\u2019ve remained true to themselves musically and artistically for decades. Moments like this feel like a celebration not only of their careers but of the era of R&B they helped define.<\/p>\n

Brandy and Monica are part of the 2026 Essence Festival of Culture lineup. Don\u2019t miss out\u2014get tickets here: Get Tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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