Brandy and Monica Friendship Timeline: Revisiting Pivotal Moments of the Fan-Fueled Beef

June 26, 2024

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As most of you may know, the 90s and early 2000s were golden eras for many controversies within the entertainment business. From the infamous East Coast/West Coast war–led by rap legends Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.–to 50 Cent and Ja Rule’s long-running rivalry, artist conflict grew highly popularized in the twentieth century. Let’s briefly examine Brandy and Monica’s friendship timeline and headlining feud.

In 1994, a charming, 15-year-old “girl next door” named Brandy Norwood released her self-titled debut album. With chart-topping singles like “I Wanna Be Down,” “Baby,” and “Best Friend,” Brandy quickly solidified her spot at the top of the music industry. A year later, in 1995, a soul-sounding, sassy-mouthed Monica hit the scene with her debut project, Miss Thang. The full-length flaunted her classics “Don’t Take It Personal,” “Before You Walk Out of My Life,” and “Why I Love You So Much,” which majorly catapulted Monica’s career as well.

With Brandy and Monica’s solo runs equally making noise globally, it wasn’t long before the two powerhouses joined forces for their uber-successful bop “The Boy Is Mine,” a timeless tune that ultimately went down in melodic history. However, the release of the head-to-head anthem sparked a wave of media-infused friction, resulting in the then-young women buying into the fan-fueled competition.

If you’re interested in learning key moments of Brandy and Monica’s friendship timeline, this is their problematic team-up… revisited.

Highlights of Brandy and Monica’s Friendship Timeline

brandy and monica friendship timeline — SOURCE: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic (Getty Images)

1998

“The Boy Is Mine” Drops and Takes Over the World

Brandy and super producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins had already written and mixed “The Boy Is Mine” before they tapped Monica for the collaboration.

During a 2019 interview with drag icon RuPaul, Monica stated that she and Brandy had never met when recording the best-selling track. However, a rare clip of Monica presenting Brandy with the ‘Lady of Soul Award’ at the 1995 Soul Train Award contradicts that. Well, unless the song was recorded way before its release in 1998.

In another 2019 interview, Dallas Austin, Monica’s producer/discoverer, said she was reluctant about working with Brandy due to their vastly different personalities. Austin alleged that Monica felt Brandy was “too proper” for her liking.

“[There was] a heavyweight beef. They got into a fight. [laughs]” Austin told VladTV. “Monica never liked Brandy, and Brandy never [liked Monica]. Monica is very ghetto. [laughs] When it came down to it, she was like, ‘[Brandy’s] too proper… and she’s too this.’ And I think Brandy might’ve looked at her a certain way a couple of times.”

“The Boy Is Mine” emulates two women arguing over a man they’re in a love triangle with. According to Brandy’s engineer, Jerkins, with the song’s breakout and contentious storyline came strife behind the scenes.

In that same 2020 interview with VladTV, Jerkins also said he originally recorded Monica’s vocals but that she felt that they were “too clean” and opted for Austin to then re-do them from Atlanta instead.

Apparently, tension arose during “The Boy Is Mine” video filming, too. Monica once told VIBE Magazine that Brandy put her finger in Monica’s face while acting out one of the scenes, which she found disrespectful.

“There was a part of the video where we were saying, ‘Not yours… but mine.’ [Brandy] was ad-libbing around the situation and at one point, she put her hand to my face… playing,” she recalled to the publication. “It upset me. That’s the kind of stuff that becomes personal with me–not because it was Brandy. That goes for anybody.”

When speaking with VladTV in 2019, Monica’s mentor, Austin, confirmed that they didn’t have much to say to each other on set when the camera wasn’t rolling.

Later That Year – Monica Reportedly Punches Brandy

There had been rumors that Monica punched Brandy before their performance at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards. In 2012, the singers confirmed that things had gotten physical but Monica later apologized. Austin co-signed it in his sit-down with Vlad.

“Before they could even get to the stage, Monica decked [Brandy] in the face. [laughs] [She] popped her in the face… backstage. And I’m like, ‘Oh, my God!’ he recounted. “This was even before the performance. So, everybody was trying to [figure out], ‘How we’re going to have a performance that looks like they’re not, you know, at war with each other?’ But it worked out ’cause [in] the song, you’re supposed to be at war with each other, so nobody could really tell that she had punched her in the face before the performance.”

See performance here:

1999

The Ladies Celebrate Their Grammy Win

In 1999, Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine” won a Grammy for ‘Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group.’

MTV News spoke to them about their sentiments surrounding the accomplishment. Brandy told the host, “[Monica] and I were next to each other. We came together. I got up and ran on the stage. Like… I couldn’t believe it! I mean, that is the way to accept a Grammy because the Grammy is the most important award to me!”

Monica added, “I really feel respected now, though… as far as music is concerned. This is only our sophomore project, so it is a really big deal for us to be here… and not only be nominated but to win.”

2012

Brandy and Monica Reunite for New Song

In 2012, the duo came back together for the acclaimed “It All Belongs to Me,” an emotionally-driven ballad far different from their “The Boy Is Mine” days. When promoting their reunion, they touched on turning over a new leaf.

According to Brandy, “As teenagers, we were very competitive. You know? And we didn’t remember what it was like to be together… or we didn’t even know what it was like to be together.” She added, “Being together now, in this day and time–and us being older and wiser and better communicators–it’s just a different thing now. And it feels better.”

The ladies were supposedly gearing up to go on tour, but it never happened due to scheduling.

2015 – 2016

Things Take a Shady Turn

In a 2015 write-up on Entertainment Tonight, Brandy admitted that she and Monica weren’t speaking when asked if she agreed with Monica stating that their alleged beef during “The Boy Is Mine” was “brilliant marketing.” The following year, in an interview with MadameNoire, Monica assured that she didn’t have any ill feelings toward Brandy.

However, when an online fan asked Brandy to join the popular #SoGoneChallenge for Monica’s 2003 hit, Brandy replied “Chile, bye.” Her response spawned various theories on where the two’s relationship stood. Monica addressed it on an episode of talk show The Real, where she said she “wasn’t bothered” and was basically in a new space.

Reportedly, things got even shadier when Brandy hinted on her Instagram that Monica copied her style when doing a tribute to Missy Elliott at the Hip Hop Honors. Another instance was when Monica claimed the late Whitney Houston as her ‘Fairy Godmother’ and Brandy took to Instagram to boast that “everyone wanted” the bond she shared with the legend. If you didn’t know, Houston was Brandy’s role model and longtime friend. The “I Will Always Love You” phenomenon even dated Brandy’s brother, Ray J, in the 2010s.

2020

Brandy and Monica Link for Verzuz

Verzuz was a live web show presented by producers Timbaland and Swizz Beatz at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, where artists would play song for song and let the audience decide which had the better hits.

Brandy and Monica’s episode was (of course) the most-watched, and due to the odd energy and previous antics, viewers formed their own narratives. Although the broadcast was one of Verzuz’s best, to date, fans still suspected that the singers weren’t exactly “friends.”

From the Verzuz came a plethora of memes, musings, and more. In a 2024 appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Monica recalled being apprehensive about doing the face-off because she didn’t want to rehash the comparison topics.

All in all, the greats seemed in good spirits when exclusive footage surfaced after the showdown, leaving fans hopeful to see what was next.

Brandy and Monica’s Friendship Timeline Continues in 2024

Monica Calls Brandy’s Brother, Ray J, Out

Earlier this year, Ray J popped into Monica’s Instagram Live and mentioned the idea of her and his sister, Brandy, going on a tour that could (possibly) bring in $100 million. Not too long after, he visited The Breakfast Club and further encouraged the potential occurrence. He also suggested that Monica open up for Brandy.

Monica didn’t take too kindly to it and blasted him on her Instagram, seemingly accusing Ray of egging it on and giving fans false hope.

“I’ve not received any contracts or calls about said tour! [Ray J] I’m kindly asking you to stop speaking on me in public! A private conversation would be both necessary and respectful!” she wrote on her Story. “Brandy is a LEGEND! She’s one of one with an extensive catalog that I deeply respect & a voice sent from heaven! The conversation being had without she & I is beginning to muddy the waters severely!”

They Finally Come Together Again, Thanks to Ariana Grande

This month, Ariana Grande grabbed Monica and Brandy for an official “The Boy Is Mine” remix.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Monica said her and Brandy’s second reunion was “divine timing” and owed it to Grande.

“We’e learned over the twenty-five years. We recognized that the key was to keep other people out of our relationship–both business and personal–and let it be between she and I. And that has changed everything. It’s changed the trajectory of it… in its totality,” she offered. “My son was in the hospital the other day, and she was who I speaking to while he was there. That is what Ariana has done, and she may not even realize. It gave [Brandy and I] the opportunity to talk as women.”