Monica

Artist Image: Monica
Attribution
Image Credit: WBLS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdHpAkW2SjA), CC BY 3.0

Biography

Monica Denise Brown (born October 24, 1980) professionally known as Monica, is an American R&B singer–songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, Monica began performing as a child and became part of a traveling gospel choir, at the age of ten. Guided by producers Dallas Austin and Tim & Bob, she signed with Arista Records at age thirteen and released her debut album Miss Thang in 1995. Its first two singles "Don't Take It Personal" and "Before You Walk out of My Life" made her the youngest recording act to ever have two consecutive chart-topping hits on the US Billboard Top R&B Singles chart. In 1998, Arnold's second album The Boy Is Mine earned her major international chart success. Pushed by its number-one hit title track, a duet with singer Brandy, won the pair a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, it spawned two further chart-toppers, "The First Night" and "Angel of Mine", and established her position as one of the most successful of the urban R&B female vocalists to emerge in the mid to late-1990s. During the production of her third album All Eyez on Me (2002), Arnold experienced personal struggles and her career went under hiatus. In 2003, her fourth album After the Storm was released on J Records, and after an unsuccessful period, she scored her fifth number one single, "So Gone". Her latest album Still Standing, whose recording was tracked by a BET reality series of the same name, was released in 2010 and produced the hit singles "Everything to Me" and "Love All Over Me", the first of which became Arnold's sixth number one hit. Arnold has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, including over 5.1 million units in the United States alone. With a career lasting over 15 years, she became the first artist to top the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. In 2010, Billboard listed Arnold at number 24 on its list of the Top 50 R&B and Hip Hop Artists of the past 25 years.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1980
Number of Albums 37
Record Label
Website www.monica.com
Wikipedia Monica on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

When did Monica release Miss Thang?

1995

...in the wake of the new jack swing era with the multiplatinum Miss Thang ( 1995 ), the singer was among a class of teenaged popR&B newcomers with the lik...
What was the name of the multiplatinum album that Monica released in 1995?

Miss Thang

... arrived in the wake of the new jack swing era with the multiplatinum Miss Thang (1995), the singer was among a class of teenaged popR&B newcomers wit...
What kind of grit and boldness did Monica have?

Southern

...the likes of Usher, Brandy, and Aaliyah. She stood out with distinctly Southern grit and boldness, as well as unmatched maturity and versatility that ...
How many straight Top Ten albums did Monica put together?

four

...those peers, Monica proved to be no mere shooting star. She put together four straight Top Ten albums, including the charttopping After the Storm (200...
What is the name of Storm's ninth fulllength?

Trenches

... She has since gone independent with singles issued in anticipation of Trenches (2020), her ninth fulllength. She started singing in church as a toddl...
When will Storm release Trenches?

2020

... since gone independent with singles issued in anticipation of Trenches ( 2020 ), her ninth fulllength. She started singing in church as a toddler and s...
When did the Austin produced single enter Billboard charts?

April 1995

... talent shows. The Austin produced single entered Billboard charts in April 1995 , eventually crowned Hot R&B Singles, and missed the top of the Hot 10...
Where did Monica Arnold grew up?

College Park suburb of Atlanta

... emerge in the midto late 90s. Monica Arnold grew up in the College Park suburb of Atlanta , and was immersed in gospel music from an early age. Her mo...
What genre of music was Monica Arnold immersed in from an early age?

gospel

...nold grew up in the College Park suburb of Atlanta, and was immersed in gospel music from an early age. Her mother was a church singer, and by the age...
At what age was Monica the youngest member of a traveling 12piece choir called Charles Thompson And The Majestics?

10

...usic from an early age. Her mother was a church singer, and by the age of 10 Monica was the youngest member of a travelling 12piece choir called Charl...
At what Atlanta talent showcases did Monica perform?

Center Stage Auditorium

...e also began performing at the Atlanta talent showcases held at Center Stage Auditorium , singing a cover version of Whitney Houstons The Greatest Love...
What was Monica's mother's occupation?

church singer

...and was immersed in gospel music from an early age. Her mother was a church singer , and by the age of 10 Monica was the youngest member of a travellin...
What was the name of Monicas second album?

Before You Walk Out Of My Life

...production team oversaw her first recordings. The followup, Before You Walk Out Of My Life , was another R&B charttopper and reached number 7 on the Ho...
At what number did her second album debut?

8

...achieving platinum sales. Monicas second album, which debuted at US number 8 in August, was produced and cowritten by Austin and Rodney Jerkins, with ...
How long did The Boy is Mine stay at the top of the Billboard Hot 100?

13 weeks

...immons. Her sparky duet with Brandy, The Boy Is Mine, eventually spent 13 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, in the process becoming the allti...
What is the name of the all time number one female duet in US chart history?

The Boy Is Mine

...ers Jermaine Dupri and Darryl Simmons. Her sparky duet with Brandy, The Boy Is Mine , eventually spent 13 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, in...
When was Monica Arnold born?

October 24, 1980

... the youngest artist ever to achieve two No. Born Monica Arnold on October 24, 1980 , she was joined by a quick succession of three brothers before her...
How many brothers joined Monica Arnold?

three

...nica Arnold on October 24, 1980, she was joined by a quick succession of three brothers before her parents split when she was just four. She would hav...
What mechanic father did Monica have little contact with?

M.C. Arnold Jr.,

...just four. She would have little contact with her mechanic father, M.C. Arnold Jr., until she became a celebrity. Monica and her brothers were raised ...
What was Monicas mother's job title?

consumer affairs official

...h help from her own mother. Monicas mother eventually became a consumer affairs official at Delta Air Lines and was remarried to a minister, Dr. E.J. ...
When did Monica begin singing in the church choir with her mother?

when she was just a toddler

...Monica began singing in the church choir alongside her mother when she was just a toddler . As a child in the mid1980s, Monica was a huge fan of Whitne...
When did Monica sing alongside her mother?

church choir

... College Park, Georgiaa suburb of AtlantaMonica began singing in the church choir alongside her mother when she was just a toddler. As a child in the ...
What was Whitney Houston s repertoire called?

The Greatest Love of All

...irewhich also reflected her own heavyduty gospel backgroundwas The Greatest Love of All , and Monica made this song her own when she first sang it publ...
At what age did Monica first sing the song?

nine

...her own heavyduty gospel backgroundwas The Greatest Love of All, and Monica made this song her own when she first sang it publicly at the age of nine ....
What did Monica's release seal her reputation as?

a talented singing sensation

...sed when she was only 14 years old, sealed her reputation as a talented singing sensation . Despite her youth and the rapid rise of her career, Monica ...
When did Monica release her second album?

1997

... doubleplatinum. When she released her second album, The Boy Is Mine, in 1997 the title song was already a charttopping hit. Arnold, Jr., left the fam...
When did Marilyn marry Edward Best?

1993

...ther Marilyn, an airline employee, supported the family on her own until 1993 when she married the Reverend Edward Best. Monica first sang in her chur...
Monica sang in what choir when she was just out of infancy?

church

... the family on her own until 1993 when she married the Reverend Edward Best. Monica first sang in her church choir when she was barely out of infancy....
When did Monica's parents divorce?

1987

...Her parents divorced in 1987 . Her mother, a church singer, encouraged Monica to perform with their church choir. When she was 10 she became the younge...
Who encouraged Monica to perform with their church choir?

Her mother

...Her parents divorced in 1987. Her mother , a church singer, encouraged Monica to perform with their church choir. When she was 10 she became the younge...
What label did Dallas Austin offer Monica a deal with?

Rowdy Records

...d music producer Dallas Austin. He offered her a deal with his label Rowdy Records , distributed by Arista. Debut Album Her debut album, Miss Thang, wa...
Who distributed Monica's debut album?

Arista

...tin. He offered her a deal with his label Rowdy Records, distributed by Arista . Debut Album Her debut album, Miss Thang, was released in July 1995. It...
When was Miss Thang released?

July 1995

...ed by Arista. Debut Album Her debut album, Miss Thang, was released in July 1995 . It peaked at No. Miss Thang went triple platinum and earned her a Bi...
What was the name of the singer who was involved in the feud?

Brandy

...went triple platinum and earned her a Billboard Music Award. The Boy Is Mine Rumors surfaced of a feud between Monica and fellow R&B teen star Brandy ....
What year was Monica Arnold born?

1980

...Edit Overview (4) Mini Bio (1) Monica Arnold was born October 24, 1980 , in Oak Park, Georgia, to Marilyn Best, a church singer and airline customer se...
Monica Arnold was born in what city?

Oak Park, Georgia

...rview (4) Mini Bio (1) Monica Arnold was born October 24, 1980, in Oak Park, Georgia , to Marilyn Best, a church singer and airline customer service re...
What two singles did Monica release on Miss Thang?

Before you walk out of my Life and Why I love you so Much

...rt. Her album included smash singles including Before you walk out of my Life and Why I love you so Much . Teaming up with another teen icon, Brandy No...
Who did Monica team up with for a massive radio show?

Brandy Norwood

...Life and Why I love you so Much. Teaming up with another teen icon, Brandy Norwood , the two put together a massive radio hit, The Boy is Mine. She als...
What television show did Monica appear on in 1990?

Beverly Hills, 90210

...ows, Rosie O'Donnell, David Letterman, and also a small stint on Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990). Not only seen on television, Monica was also noticed on ...
Monica appeared on almost every teen magazine, YM, and what other magazine?

Teen People

...vision, Monica was also noticed on basically every teen magazine, YM, Teen People , Twist and Teen. After accomplishing singing, Monica accomplished an...
What did Monica do after singing?

acting

...lso noticed on basically every teen magazine, YM, Teen People, Twist and Teen. After accomplishing singing, Monica accomplished another thing, acting ....
How many No.1 singles did Monica achieve in 1995?

two

...tlanta, Georgia, native Monica became the youngest artist ever to achieve two No. In an era when her teen cohorts in the industry, such as Brandy and ...
Who raised Monica Arnold?

Marilyn

... became a celebrity. Monica and her brothers were raised by her mother, Marilyn , who worked fulltime to support them, with help from her own mother. M...
What was the name of Monica Arnold's father?

M.C. Arnold, Jr.,

...just four. She would have little contact with her mechanic father, M.C. Arnold, Jr., until she became a celebrity. Monica and her brothers were raised...
Where was Monica born and raised?

College Park, Georgia

...Born and raised in College Park, Georgia , she began performing as a child and became part of a traveling gospel choir at the age of ten. Monica rose t...
When was The Boy Is Mine released?

1998

...s of successful albums, including the global bestseller The Boy Is Mine ( 1998 ) as well as the numberone albums After the Storm (2003), The Makings of ...
What year did Monica split from Rodney Rocko Hill?

2010

... Monica married professional basketball player Shannon Brown in November 2010 . Their first child together, a daughter, was born in 2013. In 2010, Bill...
What year was Monica's daughter born?

2013

...wn in November 2010. Their first child together, a daughter, was born in 2013 . In 2010, Billboard listed Monica at number 24 on its list of the Top 50...
Who was the only daughter of Marilyn Best?

Monica Denise Arnold

...50 R&B and Hip Hop Artists of the past 25 years. Early life edit Monica Denise Arnold was born in College Park, Georgia, the only daughter of Marilyn ...
What was Marilyn Best's job title?

Delta Air Lines customer service representative

...Park, Georgia, the only daughter of Marilyn Best, a Delta Air Lines customer service representative and former church singer of African American desce...
What is Monica's younger brother's name?

Montez

...singer of African American descent, and M.C. She has a younger brother, Montez (born in 1983), and a half brother, Jermond Grant, on her father's side...
In what year was Montez born?

1983

...an American descent, and M.C. She has a younger brother, Montez (born in 1983 ), and a half brother, Jermond Grant, on her father's side. Monica also i...
Which record producer is Monica a cousin of?

Polow da Don

...nt, on her father's side. Monica also is a cousin of record producer Polow da Don , and is related to rapper Ludacris through her mother's second marri...
At what age did Monica follow her mother's footsteps?

2

...cond marriage to Reverend Edward Best, a Methodist minister. At the age of 2 , Monica followed in her mother's footsteps with regular performances at t...
What is Marilyn's hometown?

Newnan, Georgia

...a followed in her mother's footsteps with regular performances at the Jones Hill Chapel United Methodist Church in Marilyn's hometown Newnan, Georgia ....