FEATURE:
Second Spin
Monica – Miss Thang
__________
THERE is a bit of…
information from Wikipedia regarding the incredible Monica. Whereas many know her from the duet with Brandy, The Boy Is Mine (from Brandy’s 1998 album, Never Say Never), she is so much more than that. A hugely successful R&B artist, I wanted to include her debut album, Miss Thang, in this Second Spin. Before that, Wikipedia provide some information regarding the success Monica has accrued:
“Monica has sold 5.3 million albums in the United States and she is recognized as one of the most successful urban R&B female vocalists to begin a career in the mid to late 1990s. According to Billboard, she is the youngest recording act to ever have two consecutive chart-topping hits on the Billboard Top R&B Singles chart, as well as the first artist to top the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart over the span of three consecutive decades (1990s, 2000s, and 2010s). In 2010, Billboard listed Monica at number 24 on its list of the Top 50 R&B and Hip Hop Artists of the past 25 years.[6] A four-time nominee, she won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for her contribution to "The Boy Is Mine" alongside Brandy, at the 41st awards ceremony and has been the recipient of one Billboard Music Award, one BET Award, and two BMI Pop Awards”.
An album that received mixed reviews upon its release, perhaps a lack of experience did contribute to that. Monica was only fourteen when the album came out. A remarkably mature and accomplished album from someone so young, Miss Thang was conceived under the guidance of Rowdy head Dallas Austin. He would emerge as a father figure to Monica and serve as Miss Thang's sole executive producer. Miss Thang has sold over three million copies and was a chart success upon its release. Including wonderful singles like Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days) – which reached number two int the U.S. -, this is an album that won love and support from buyers, but not quite as much from critics. Before moving on, AllMusic wrote this in their review of Miss Thang:
“Monica had signed to Arista's Rowdy imprint several years prior to this release, so she had ample time to ensure her debut would be nothing short of successful. The album focuses on hip-hop and contemporary urban cuts, including a pair of R&B chart-toppers. The first is "Don't Take It Personal," also a massive pop hit, propelled by a heavy bottom bass with Monica's indelible vocals ringing as she embraces an introspective lyric. The second, "Before You Walk Out of My Life," is a bittersweet lyric with unwavering vocals. "Like This and Like That" has that pocket beat; the song's flow is dictated by Monica's vocal chorus and an animated rap by Mr. Malik. Monica gives her own rendition on several numbers; while they all are plausible, the blues number "Let's Straighten It Out" is the most engaging, as she shares vocal duties with Usher. In spite of her youthful age, Monica conveys a surprisingly mature sound”.
Gifted with a stunning voice and command of her material, Miss Thang is a triumphant album that was not afforded the credit and respect it deserves. In a more positive and expansive feature, Albumism revisited Miss Thang on its twenty-fifth anniverssary in 2020. On 18th July, 1995, the public were treated to this brilliant album from a truly wonderful young artist:
“Nothing prepared us for her Hummer of a voice that summer of 1995. B♭3 isn’t that low a note, but when Monica hit it on the fourth “baby” in the vamp of “Don’t Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days),” its unique resonance took the listener aback.
How did that little girl do that? Wait. How old is she again? Is there a beer-swilling blues singer named Cleotha hiding in her throat? The same baited hook caught us when we first met Michael Jackson, “Little” Stevie Wonder, LeAnn Rimes, and Shanice Wilson. The public just can’t resist a musical wunderkind with advanced gifts.
Monica’s team played their cards expertly for Miss Thang. They avoided unnecessary comparison to contemporaries Brandy and Aaliyah by delivering Miss Thang while neither artist had big singles splitting the female teen R&B market. Her manager, Queen Latifah, got her a guest role on Living Single in April 1996. By year’s end, she booked the Whitney Houston collaboration “Somebody Bigger Than You and I,” alongside Faith Evans, Ralph Tresvant, Bobby Brown, and Johnny Gill.
Great marketing made her visible and accessible, but Monica became a chart-topper on the strength of her voice alone. Beneath her old soul and short pixie haircut—usually only sported by actually grown women—Monica was still just a kid. That kid threw a hell of a punch with her debut album though. The success of Miss Thang assured that if you ever underestimated Monica from College Park? I bet you won’t do it again.
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. That was pretty gutsy to lead with a Jeep-rocker about enforcing personal boundaries when you’re on your monthly cycle. It paid off though, yielding a platinum single right out of the gate.
The next offering, “Like This and Like That,” slid nonchalantly onto radio in the fall. 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. 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 single’s All Star Remix rocked even harder, swapping Malik’s verse for a more gutter one from Queensbridge duo Mobb Deep.
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. They wrote it with Andrea Martin for Toni Braxton’s Secrets album, but it became huge for Monica. Moreover, pairing the hip-hop “Like This” with the pop-friendly “Before You Walk Out” was shrewd. 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.
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”.
You may have heard of Monica, but I would urge you to check out her albums. Miss Thang, her amazing debut, has many highlights. Singles such as Tell Me If You Still Care sit beautifully alongside awesome deeper cuts like Angel. I think that Miss Thang was not given enough time and love back in 1995. In years since there has been some kinder retrospection. But it is interesting seeing how commercially successful it is, and yet critics were not fully on board. To me, Miss Thang is a great album. It is certainly worthy of…
ANOTHER spin.