Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.
So, as our retrospective segments, ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay,’ allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind serves as a variation of our Retro Rewind assay to salute an entire era of music history.
This week we’ll jet back to one of the biggest duets in music history: Brandy & Monica‘s ‘The Boy is Mine.’
Brandy and Monica‘s ‘The Boy is Mine’ was pre-destined to be the megahit it later became.
The brainchild of the extraordinary production/songwriting team of Rodney Jerkins, Lashawn Daniels, Dallas Austin, and Brandy herself, the song was reportedly influenced by King of Pop Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney‘s 1982 hit, ‘The Girl is Mine,’ but converted to demonstrate the female perspective.
As its inspiration would obviously call for it to be a duet, who better to summon than the day’s serial R&B chart-topper Monica? Having spent much of her career compared to Brandy and Aaliyah anyway, fans and the industry alike had already concocted a rivalry that would play right into the narrative purported by ‘Boy.’
Premiering May 19, 1998, the tune leapt to #1 less than a month later (where it was found this week that year). Making history as the second all-female duet in history to top the Billboard Hot 100, ‘Boy’ would go on to lead the tally for a whopping 13 weeks – making it one of the longest running #1s in history.
Eventually certified double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, ‘Boy’ became 1998’s best-selling single and stands as both of its performers biggest hit and only claim to GRAMMY fame (as it nabbed the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals trophy at the 1999 ceremony).
Look below to see who joined B-Rocka and Mo in the top 25 this week 22 years ago.
Hot 100 This Week in 1998
Hot 100 This Week
Click here to see this week’s full ‘TGJ Chart Check: Hot 100’ edition.
Monica even looks jealous of brandy in the pic you all posted.
You Monica looks BETTER than Brandy in the pic they posted.
Stfu. Neither one has to be jealous over the other. It was a matter of females and attitudes- not being able to read each other.
You on the other hand are pressed to think jealousy had any part
Monica looked better than brandy in the video.
What an iconic song.
With an iconic video.
The sequel to this song, it all belongs to me was such a dissappiontment. My god, the worst sing ever.
It all belongs to me wasn’t a sequel. And the vocals on it are amazing by both ladies. It’s pretty underrated to be honest.
Later in 2011, it was reported that producer Rico Love was working with Monica on her seventh studio album, New Life.
Love then conceived a track titled “It All Belongs to Me”, which was written as a loose sequel to “The Boy is Mine”. He stated that “It All Belongs to Me” is essentially picking up where “The Boy is Mine” left off
💅💅💅💅💅
U should have sat there and ate your food
Dont come for me if u dont know shìt.
Watch the video. Both ladies have a different man and are working together. Where do you see sequel? What in the lyrics suggest it’s a sequel? Monica said the idea wasn’t to recreate the boy is mine because it has its own special place in history.
Gurl ur still talking?🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
After all the receipts I dropped.
The writer of the song said it himself, it’s a loose sequel to the boy is mine.
In it all belongs to me,
Instead of fighting for men, they were kicking the men out cause they are grown and matured women and dont need a man.
In the music video they are kicking the men out. Brandy and Monica are also seen help eaching, sisterhood instead of fighting for a mine like they did in the boy is mine.
A sequel doesnt have to be the same theme as the original. 🤦♂️
Don’t come for me, Rico love could never create a sequel to a darkchild song.
U are delusional
Even after presenting to u with credible receipts and sources ur saying still arguing and doubting.
The delusion is strong with u.
Sorry for u
No hint of what happened with mekhi phifer, that’s not a sequel.
It doesn’t sound or feel 20 years old. It’s one of my few favorites from Rodney, along with Blaque’s “I’m Good”.
Omg I love I’m good
I knew the entire choreography back in the day
10/10. Each and every second of this song is perfect and memorable. 🙂
Monica I ride with u all day every day.Cause u are a real woman with morals and values.And I’m loving the woman you’ve become. Sore to new height with that beautiful voice of yours. We love u always🙂
They need to re-record 2020 version titled “The D-I-c-k is mine”, it’s gonna be awesome!!!!
You know what- LMAOOO