purplecam said:

yeah I know what you mean. I was in middle school in the 7th grade when that album was on the charts and it was one of my favourites. I liked it just for the singles then but I recently pulled it out again and it's brilliant, although you can totally tell it's from the 90's

as soon as after the storm came out I just wasn't feeling her anymore. She looked like ashanti on the album cover and I just wasn't feeling the music when I sampled it. And same with this time, she looks like mary j blige on cocaine as someone put it, and she's trying to sound like her too. I liked monica when she was being monica and not someone else. If she had gotten braids like brandy or any of that in the 90's she wouldn't have lasted, but it seems like she doesn't see that or like herself for who she is.
[Edited 1/24/07 9:54am]

DirtyChris said:

Yo, that's the worse definition of a hoodrat ever for the simple fact of 'How many hoodrats are in a position to give an interview?' Hoodrats don't do interviews, so using bad interviews as a criterion of being a hoodrat doesn't make any sense.

Now, she may have been immature and street back in the day and during a couple of interviews, but MJB was never a 'Rat. I don't think you truly know what a hoodrat is.

CosmicTalk said:

Mary was a hoodrat
that gained fame overnight
so yes it's possible

like I said
our definitions may vary

I see enough hoodrats daily
to know what one is

DirtyChris said:

What does her overnight fame and public affairs have to do with anything? So the hoodrats you know in your hood are now famous and they have public affairs?

And again I honestly don't think you really know what a hoodrat is.

CosmicTalk said:

okay this is the point
where I agree to disagree

No surprise there. Clive Davis signs everyone and once they aren't useful to him anymore, drops them.

Mary J's interview with Veronica Webb is a simple example of her hoodratness.

She's the 1st to admit that she was 'one'.

CinisterCee said:

The songs weren't worth being played on the radio.
This woman has a voice that could rival Whitney in her prime yet she wastes it on some lame assed songs.
I don't blame the record label, and I hope she uses this lesson to step up her game.
She can play with the big boys/girls and even win if she takes her gift seriously.
I hate to see talent go to waste.

alwayslate said:

Well said.....Well said.....

dirtyman2005 said:

I wouldn't be sooo harsh(even though I'm a harsh critic as well), but that Crunk/Dirty South shit should be dropped too. Can't stand that ear pain either and was really disappointed when Monica relegated herself to doing shit on those fucked up sounding tracks.

DirtyChris said:

Mary's stuff in the beginning, sounded a whole lot better than this shit Monica is singing now.
Besides in a singing contest Monica would leave Mary J. standing there naked. And I love Mary.

Harlepolis said:

You're saying Mary is on record as to have actually called herself a hoodrat?

Dayum, Monica used to be at the top of the charts and was one of the hot r&B girls and now she's getting dropped from labels...it aint right. Nobodies given a fair chance anymore since Beyonce & her father hogtied the industry. Her first single was disappointing but besides that, the rest of her album was nice. I hated the cover, really low-class and sleazy of her considering how she always had been promoted as a no nonsense, sassy classy young lady. With songs like "The First Night", "Before You Walk Out My Life" "Angel of Mine" & "For You I Will" where did it go awry? This is depressing news.

dseann said:

you're absolutely right
it had more depth & meaning
and the wordplay was better
Mary is like an emcee/singer
whereas Monica shouldn't rap at all to me (IMHO)

if Monica's stuff was any ounce of being better
than MJB then it would be MJB (if you get what I'm saying)
I like her shit for what it is
I like her as a person this go round
because of who she is
she singing about something I know about

but no comparisons with the material though

you could tell Monica be in the hood
she just goin through her lil phase

Monica has always been
rough around the edges
look at the kinda dudes she like

so shit, real folk sing about
what they know about/see at the time
I know I do...

at first I won't really buying
this street/ghetto chick aura from her
but the more I see her in rare form
she got my respect

Brandy on the other hand
Full Moon was a bunch of bullshit
and she had me tricked at first
turns out to be a lie
so you gotta watch these girls
that come up under Mary...

but I don't see nothin
fake about Monica

I always thought Monica would be around for awhile, because she does have a good voice & can actually sing. The problem seem to be she changed her image into trying to be more sexier hoping she would sell records by her looks & body.

dseann said:

you are so right about the whitney rival comment! I remember when I first heard for you I will on the radio I loved the melody right away and thought it was a new whitney houston song, and was pleasantly surprised when I found out it was monica cause she grew up so fast and sounded mature and sophisticated and this continued with The Boy Is Mine album. She seems really lost now though, I don't think life has ever been the same for her since her boyfriend committed suicide.

Just posted on My Space...


Monica and Clive Davis Address Rumored Departure From J
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 25, 2007

New York, NY - Monica, the multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning songstress and Clive Davis, Chairman and CEO, BMG U.S., issue a joint statement regarding the recent internet-generated rumor that she's being dropped from J Records.

"The rumors are false," states Monica and Clive Davis. "We have a very successful long-term working relationship. We have no intention of discontinuing that success and look forward to working together on future albums."

Heralded as "a solid addition to her consistent career" by Entertainment Weekly, Monica's fourth album The Makings of Me,Billboard Top 200 chart and #1 on the R&B chart. This release marks Monica's third straight Top 10 and Top 2 debut on Billboard's Top 200 and R&B charts, respectively. landed at #8 on the

Always forthright and genuine in her music, Monica's controversial new single "Sideline Ho," addresses the sticky subject matter of dealing with the "other woman." The single impacts radio on February 5 and is sure to spark more viral buzz when fans will be invited to leave their video confessions on how they've dealt with a "sideline ho" on Monica's Myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/monicamusic).

With a repertoire of hits including "Don't Take It Personal," and "Angel of Mine," Monica is preparing to perform on select tour dates with label mate Tyrese. Confirmed tour dates will be announced shortly.

I didn't believe that shit anyway.

Never understood this heffa's career She has a kid though, hopefully she saved her money... better sing some hooks for somebody

CalhounSq said:

She has a child???

Janfriend said:

I think she had a kid 2 or 3 years ago... unless I have my talentless heffas confused

CalhounSq said:

I just looked it up and you're right. She had a son in 2005.


I don't know wabout her being talentless. I remember when she first hit the scene in 1995, I thought she was talented, but I never followed her career much

Janfriend said:

yea she was like 14 when she came out. She has never been without talent ppl just hate for no reason. She has a child by her boyfriend, her previous boyfriend commited suicide in front of her and she also lost a close family member around the same time. I would venture and say she has had a rough few years Im just happy to see her back singing because thats what she is here for.
I also read that the person who would keep in close contact and encouraged her while she was grieving was in fact MJB.

Luv me sum Ms.Thang!!

Janfriend said:

You're right - she's not talentless, I'm just being mean. I've never liked a single song by her & don't get her, that's all...

Duggs said:

But you know that guy that she says killed himself in front of her? That guys mother insist that he did not kill himself and that Monica is lying about what really went down in that car.

alwayslate said:

what's to lie about, is he dead or alive??? He could have been killed in that car the mother not disputing the fact that she was there and that was my only point.

reguardless of how he died i bet the mother doesnt appreciate monica mentioning him in every interview I can understand that

alwayslate said:

I thought the issue was what happened that lead him to doing that. The family said he had no signs of being suicidal and felt she did something to provoke it. She also wouldn't tell them the full details of what happened, or they believed she was hiding something. Weren't they having problems? Maybe she was leaving him and he lost it. I've heard of stories like that

Janfriend said:

Sadly, there don't have to be signs that someone is suicidal.

Duggs said:

just saying, that's all. The mother thinks that Monica shot him during an argument and is claiming the guy killed himself. The mom claims that her viewpoint is supported the glass being blown into the car. She claims Monica (or someone) may have stood outside the door and blasted him.Keeping in mind, of course that she may just be a grieving mom that doesn't want to believe their child would do that.

alwayslate said: