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I’d like to welcome y’all to the book of facts. Where we will be using facts to weigh two artist careers who launched at the same time. Where we put all bias aside and accolades & success on Display. Today we start with Brandy and Monica who both released their debuts in 1994/95
Brandy’s self titled album made its Debut September of 94. It is certified 4x platinum in the US and has sold over 6 million records worldwide. This album carried four singles that all hit the top 10 on billboard r&b charts. I wanna be down, Baby, broken-hearted and bestfriend.
Brandy was 14 / 15 when the album released and was also a main character on the one season show “Thea”. This album peaked on the billboard hot 200 at number 20 and entered at 96. I wanna be down and baby were #1 on the billboard r&b charts the others peaked @ #7 & #2
“I wanna be down” is certified gold meanwhile “baby” is certified platinum. To close out her self titled era she was nominated for two Grammys best new artist & best female r&b vocalist for “baby”.
Brandy’s Debut:
4x platinum album
4 official single releases
1 platinum single - baby
1 gold single - I wanna be down
2 #1 singles on r&b billboard charts
4 top ten charting songs on the r&b billboard charts
2 Grammy nominations
Album Peaked @ 20 on billboard hot 200
4x platinum album
4 official single releases
1 platinum single - baby
1 gold single - I wanna be down
2 #1 singles on r&b billboard charts
4 top ten charting songs on the r&b billboard charts
2 Grammy nominations
Album Peaked @ 20 on billboard hot 200
Miss thang was up next. Letting brandy have her time but dropping July of 1995. Monica’s debut album also released 4 singles. This album is 3x platinum and peaked on the billboard hot 200 @ 36. Monica was just 14 at the time of this album release.
Monica saw success on the r&b charts and the hot 100. Don’t take it personal peaked at #2 on the hot 100 charts meanwhile don’t take it personal, and before you walk out my life were #1 on the r&b charts back to back making her the youngest person to achieve this.
Monica’s other two singles “like this and like that” as well as “why I love you so much.” Peaked in the top ten of the us charts as well as the r&b charts. 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Funken" aria-label="Emoji: Funken"> Monica achieved 3 platinum single and 1 gold
Monica’s Debut:
3x platinum
Released 4 singles
3 platinum singles
1 gold single
2 #1 singles r&b charts
4 top ten singles on both hot 100 & r&b charts
The album peaked at #32 on the hot 100 chart.
3x platinum
Released 4 singles
3 platinum singles
1 gold single
2 #1 singles r&b charts
4 top ten singles on both hot 100 & r&b charts
The album peaked at #32 on the hot 100 chart.
Monica got no Grammy nominations and sold less records. Brandy didn’t chart as high as Monica but outsold her. The opportunities began pouring in for both.
Both girls had similar transitioning methods for stepping into their next eras. Back when soundtracks were worth listening to they each saw success and they each had a single that helped carry two star studded blockbusters.
Brandy released sittin up in my room which was featured on the waiting to exhale soundtrack in 1996. This single peaked at #2 on the hot 100 and r&b charts. It is also certified platinum
In the same year she was featured on the set it off soundtrack. On a track alongside Chaka Khan, Tamia and Gladys Knight called missing you. It peaked @ 25 on the hot 100 and 10 on the r&b charts. The song is sad I never listen to it and radio didn’t either lol
Monica saw success in 97 with for you I will featured on the space jam soundtrack. Despite R Kelly’s massive hit for the same soundtrack she too had a hit on her hands. Peaking @ #4 on the us hot 100 and just like Brandy #2 on the r&b charts
Ima pause right here cause this is when the game switches up. Know that until this moment both were doing what they needed And basically doing the same things. but it was time to work a little smarter not just harder.
In 1996 Brandy starred in the TV show Moesha in 1997 she played Cinderella alongside Whitney Houston. She also scored a television concert on Disney Channel thanks to her new relationship with Disney. She brought her brother Ray J along in 97 for the show.
Monica was in the studio. But meanwhile so was Brandy. Brandy could tell you everybody has the same 24 hrs and you’d have to listen because bish whet? Who was working as hard as her. Both actively working on their sophomore albums and rumors of beef they decided to collaborate.
In 1998 the pair released their #1 , 2x platinum Grammy winning song the boy is mine. Playing off the media’s perception of them and having fun. They shared their first Grammy and hot 100 number #1 single
Monica names her album off the successful hit. She also achieved 2 more #1 singles on the 100 chart the first night & angel of mine. She went on to drop 2 more singles but neither charted at all. The album is 3x platinum peaking at 8 on the hot 100 charts and 2 on the r&b.
Brandy released never say never a month prior. Never say never peaked at #2 on both the US hot 100 & r&b charts. Certified 5x platinum. Brandy achieved her last #1 hot 100 single with Have you ever which also hit #2 on r&b charts. Despite 7 singles none broke the top 10.
Y’all be real shady towards Monica but when it came to radio AirPlay she was shown more love. When it came to support Brandy had the real fans. They bought her records, her Barbie they tuned into her show and gave her a visibility in the business Monica didn’t have.
Moesha continued to get good ratings. In 1999 she had a supporting role in I still know what you did last summer and played alongside Diana Ross in double platinum. Monica was going through a break up which ended in suicide and shelved album and a label change.
Moesha ended in 2001 and aside from Monica releasing then delaying “All Eyez on me” the two were quietly growing and so was their music. They both made two of the most important albums of their career.
Brandy’s 2002 Full Moon. This certified platinum album carried no number one singles and officially released 3 singles for promotion. What about us, full moon and he is. What out us peaked at #7 on the hot 100 charts and #3 on the r&b the other two failed to reach the top 10.
Although not nearly as successful as her previous two albums people credit this albums vocal arrangements as a turning point and inspiration for a lot of musicians.
Full moon is my favorite Brandy album but in comparison to After the Storm as far as growth. I can say Monica was more ready to turn up that grown woman. In 2003 Monica released After the storm. Which included some of the songs from “all Eyez on me” and some new ones.
Monica’s album debuted at #1 on the hot 100 charts and #2 on the r&b. It has only been certified gold but thanks to streaming it’s closing in on platinum. Her single “so gone” reached #1 on the r&b charts and #10 on the hot 100. Should’ve known better peaked at #6 on the r&b.
We could stop here cause I wanted analyze the height of their careers and the time period most compare them in. I wonder if Monica had been involved in more areas of entertainment if she would have been bigger than Brandy. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤷🏾♀️" title="Achselzuckende Frau (durchschnittlich dunkler Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Achselzuckende Frau (durchschnittlich dunkler Hautton)">
What we do know is Monica was a force and she was never too far behind Brandy And sometimes ahead. so when y’all on here debating the facts give them both their things and know there was never a time one was really crushing the other.
