I was torn about this song. Not because it isn’t worthy, because it ABSOLUTELY is. More so because I was trying not to double up on artists, being that there are SO many amazing Black artists out there, but I just could not deny this song’s effect on the culture. Two powerhouses, Brandy and Monica, on the same track, arguing over a dude, in harmony! It don’t get no better. That being said, I was able to justify it being on here because Monica had yet to make an appearance, and Lord knows she’s deserving. So let’s get into it, because “Miss Thang” and the “Vocal Bible” on the same track is nothing to play with.
It used to be rumor, but now it’s a full fledged fact that these two ladies did NOT get along. It’s probably of the reasons that a song of them beefing worked so well, they meant those words ya’ll. When Brandy comes in with “There is no way you could mistake him for your man are you insane” and Monica responds with “See I know that you may be just a bit jealous of me…” I could hear the culture collectively saying “Awwww sookie sookie now!” cause we knew this song was gonna be one for the books. I can still see the video so vividly. Fashion inspo for days! 90s style perfection. Whether it was Monica in her black skirt with the slit up to here, or Brandy with he silky gold pajamas, ALL looks were on point. I can see why Mekhi Pheifer had problems choosing, they were and still are fly as hell.
“The Boy Is Mine” is the song that comes on and you grab your best girlfriend to sing it with. I’ve witnessed it on more than one occasion. You may dispute for a second over who’s gonna be Brandy and who’ll be Monica the first time, but after that, the roles are set and you’re ready to get to sangin’. The verses are great, but the piece de resistance is when they start singing back and forth “Not yours, but mine“. I’ve always wondered how they decided who was gonna get the last word. Is Monica salty it wasn’t her? Shiiiiiii, I would be, but quality duet action nonethelesss.
When you have two women of this caliber vocal ability on one track, it’s bound to be a smash and that’s exactly what it was. You couldn’t go anywhere in the Summer of 1998 and not hear this song, it was played everywhere. The crazy thing is, unlike a lot of other songs that were ran into the ground when they first came out, I NEVER get sick of this one. I’ll put money on the fact that when I’m elderly, I’m still gonna be jumping up out of my recliner, ready to find or dial up my bestie to sing along to this with. 9 out of 10, you probably will too.
Released in 1998, “The Boy Is Mine” was written by LaShawn Daniels, Japhe Tejeda, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, and Brandy, produced by Jerkins, Brandy, and Dallas Austin. It was released as the lead single from both singers’ second albums, Never Say Never by Brandy and The Boy Is Mine by Monica.
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