Today’s From The Vault journeys back to the end of the 90’s. This week, we give you Monifah’s sassy number ‘Touch It.’
The lead single from the singer’s sophomore set ‘Mo’hogany,’ ‘Touch’ was produced by Jack Knight and Mario Winans in 1998.
It became Monifah’s biggest hit reaching Top 10 status both on the US Hot 100 and Hot Hip-Hop/R&B – #9 on the respective tallies. In Canada, the cut peaked at #15 and was a Top 30 single in the UK.
It’s fascinating hearing just how similar this song sounds to what would rule the charts a whole decade later. It wouldn’t be a stretch saying that this very track could have been featured on Britney Spears’ ‘Blackout’ LP.
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In the tune’s accompanying video, which was directed by Chris Robinson, Monifah and her army dancers perform for the American troops, who appear to want nothing more than to… touch them.
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Unfortunately, things never really picked up following the success of this song for the talented artist whose great potential seemingly wasn’t enough to guarantee a place in the sun on the then-burgeoning R&B scene.
Still, she delivered a classic for the ages that is still being celebrated today. So for that, we give an eternal salute.