Brandy Rayana Norwood, better known by her mononym Brandy, is an American s… Read Full Bio ↴Brandy Rayana Norwood, better known by her mononym Brandy, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actress and model. She is known for her distinctive sound, characterized by her peculiar timbre, voice-layering, and intricate riffs, which has earned her the title of "the Vocal Bible". As of August 2020, she has sold over 40 million records worldwide, with approximately 8.62 million albums sold in the United States alone. Her work has earned her numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy Award and an American Music Award.
Born in McComb, Mississippi, Norwood was raised in Carson, California, beginning her career as a backing vocalist for teen groups. After signing with Atlantic Records in 1993, she released her self-titled debut album, Brandy, the following year, which sold six million copies worldwide. Norwood ventured into acting with the UPN sitcom Moesha (1996β2001), which won her an NAACP Image Award, and resulted in numerous other roles, such as the titular character in the television film Cinderella (1997) and Karla Wilson in the slasher film I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). Her musical breakthrough came with the wildly successful single "The Boy Is Mine" (1998), a duet with fellow R&B contemporary Monica, which went on to become one of the best selling female duets of all time. Her second album, Never Say Never, won Norwood her first Grammy Award. In 2002, Norwood starred in the reality series Brandy: Special Delivery, documenting the birth of her daughter. Her third and fourth albums, Full Moon (2002) and Afrodisiac (2004), were released to critical success.
Norwood served as a judge on the first season of America's Got Talent before being involved in a heavily publicized car accident in 2006. Norwood's fifth album, Human (2008), was released to positive reviews, although it was a commercial failure. In 2010, she returned to television as a contestant on the eleventh season of Dancing with the Stars and starred in the reality series Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business. She was a series regular in the BET series The Game (2012β2015) and released her sixth album Two Eleven (2012) thereafter, both earning her critical praise. In April 2015, Norwood made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago. She starred in and executive produced a sitcom titled Zoe Ever After on BET which premiered in January 2016. In July 2020, Norwood released her seventh studio album, B7, also her first project as an independent artist, to critical acclaim. In 2021, Norwood starred alongside Naturi Naughton, Eve and Nadine Velazquez in American Broadcasting Company's music drama series Queens to critical acclaim.
In June 2022, Norwood announced her major label return after signing with Motown Records under which she is expected to preprare her eighth studio album.
Born in McComb, Mississippi, Norwood was raised in Carson, California, beginning her career as a backing vocalist for teen groups. After signing with Atlantic Records in 1993, she released her self-titled debut album, Brandy, the following year, which sold six million copies worldwide. Norwood ventured into acting with the UPN sitcom Moesha (1996β2001), which won her an NAACP Image Award, and resulted in numerous other roles, such as the titular character in the television film Cinderella (1997) and Karla Wilson in the slasher film I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). Her musical breakthrough came with the wildly successful single "The Boy Is Mine" (1998), a duet with fellow R&B contemporary Monica, which went on to become one of the best selling female duets of all time. Her second album, Never Say Never, won Norwood her first Grammy Award. In 2002, Norwood starred in the reality series Brandy: Special Delivery, documenting the birth of her daughter. Her third and fourth albums, Full Moon (2002) and Afrodisiac (2004), were released to critical success.
Norwood served as a judge on the first season of America's Got Talent before being involved in a heavily publicized car accident in 2006. Norwood's fifth album, Human (2008), was released to positive reviews, although it was a commercial failure. In 2010, she returned to television as a contestant on the eleventh season of Dancing with the Stars and starred in the reality series Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business. She was a series regular in the BET series The Game (2012β2015) and released her sixth album Two Eleven (2012) thereafter, both earning her critical praise. In April 2015, Norwood made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago. She starred in and executive produced a sitcom titled Zoe Ever After on BET which premiered in January 2016. In July 2020, Norwood released her seventh studio album, B7, also her first project as an independent artist, to critical acclaim. In 2021, Norwood starred alongside Naturi Naughton, Eve and Nadine Velazquez in American Broadcasting Company's music drama series Queens to critical acclaim.
In June 2022, Norwood announced her major label return after signing with Motown Records under which she is expected to preprare her eighth studio album.
Top of the World
Brandy Lyrics
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Brandy, Dark Child
Mase get Harlem on the rise
Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on
I went from Helly Hansen to mini mansions
The girls in Aruba doing belly dancin'
Spent half of my advance on jars from Branson
To make it through my circumstances
But you know I'm wiser now, move like Tarzan now
Got a butter soft leather just to hide my pound
Got a house in the valley, come and find me now
Got enough dough to buy the town
So I might give a six to my chick, Benz to my mom
Crib so big it look like the center gone
Give her a couch just to spill Henney on
And been a don since Lotto's and Benneton
Some people say that I am not the same girl
They say I think that I am in my own world
What makes them think that I have changed, yeah
A little dough cannot erase my problems
Me, like you, I have to try and solve them
Yes, everything is quite the same, whoa
I'm just trying to be me (be me)
Doing what I got to do (doing what I gotta do)
Some people think that I'm (that I'm)
Just sittin' on top of the world (sittin', sittin' on top of the world)
I'm just trying to be me (yeah)
Provin' what I got to do (provin', oh)
Some people think that I'm (that I'm)
Just sittin' on top of the world (oh yeah)
Sittin' on top of the world
Sittin' on top of the world
Sittin' on top of the world
Top of the world, top of the world, top of the world
Sittin' on top of the world
Top of the world, top of the world, top of the world (yeah, yeah)
I wonder why it's often said that my life's
A fairy tale and everything is so right
I wish that you could know the truth, yeah
My life is real so please don't get it twisted
Problems the same and got to be dealt with
These are the things I wish you knew, oh
Always in someone's eye, so many questions why
How is it to be down with me, with me
Afraid to express myself, always me and someone else (I need)
I need to be free but it's not that easy
I'm just trying to be me
Doing what I got to do
Some people think that I'm (sittin', sittin')
Just sittin' on top of the world (on top of the world)
I'm just trying to be me (yeah)
Provin' what I got to do (provin', oh)
Some people think that I'm (that I'm)
Just sittin' on top of the world (sittin' on top of the world)
Sittin' on top of the world
Don't understand why (don't understand why)
People think I don't have friends who knew me back then
This was my dream (this was my dream)
But nothing has changed
I still do the same things
Yo, we can cut the talkin' short if it ain't about cake
I ain't sittin' on top, I want a house on the lake
I'm that snotty nosed cat with a new BM
If you mess wit Brand' then I got to bruise your chin
I be with Puff, the girls be like "Who's his friend?"
If I hit a chick once, she probably move me in
So you gotta tell me right now, either you wit'
The cats who make the hits or the one that see the chips
(Slow down Mase, you're killing 'em) But don't stop it
What's the use of buying the weight, if I'ma have to chop it?
I used to love the lady, 'til I learned her logic
She only mess wit Mase, know the money ain't no object
If it ain't Cris', he won't pop it
If it ain't platinum wit ice, he won't rock it
If it don't cost 60, he don't drop it
If it don't come with TV's, he don't cop it
You can stop it
I'm just trying to be me
Doing what I got to do
Some people think that I'm (think that I'm just sittin' on top of the world)
Just sittin' on top of the world
I'm just trying to be me
Provin' what I got to do (provin' what I gotta do)
Some people think that I'm
Just sittin' on top of the world (sittin' on top of the world)
Sittin' on top of the world
Yeah, Brandy on top of the world
Dark Child on top of the world
Mase be on top of the world, what?
Harlem World be on top of the world
Brandy on top of the world
Dark Child be on top of the world
M-A-Dolla sign-E all over the world
Brandy, all over the world
All over the world
All over the world
Yeah, yeah, yeah
What, what
Yeah, yeah, yeah, what, what, what
Mase get Harlem on the rise
Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on
I went from Helly Hansen to mini mansions
The girls in Aruba doing belly dancin'
Spent half of my advance on jars from Branson
To make it through my circumstances
Got a butter soft leather just to hide my pound
Got a house in the valley, come and find me now
Got enough dough to buy the town
So I might give a six to my chick, Benz to my mom
Crib so big it look like the center gone
Give her a couch just to spill Henney on
And been a don since Lotto's and Benneton
Some people say that I am not the same girl
They say I think that I am in my own world
What makes them think that I have changed, yeah
A little dough cannot erase my problems
Me, like you, I have to try and solve them
Yes, everything is quite the same, whoa
I'm just trying to be me (be me)
Doing what I got to do (doing what I gotta do)
Some people think that I'm (that I'm)
Just sittin' on top of the world (sittin', sittin' on top of the world)
I'm just trying to be me (yeah)
Provin' what I got to do (provin', oh)
Some people think that I'm (that I'm)
Just sittin' on top of the world (oh yeah)
Sittin' on top of the world
Sittin' on top of the world
Sittin' on top of the world
Top of the world, top of the world, top of the world
Sittin' on top of the world
Top of the world, top of the world, top of the world (yeah, yeah)
I wonder why it's often said that my life's
A fairy tale and everything is so right
I wish that you could know the truth, yeah
My life is real so please don't get it twisted
Problems the same and got to be dealt with
These are the things I wish you knew, oh
Always in someone's eye, so many questions why
How is it to be down with me, with me
Afraid to express myself, always me and someone else (I need)
I need to be free but it's not that easy
I'm just trying to be me
Doing what I got to do
Some people think that I'm (sittin', sittin')
Just sittin' on top of the world (on top of the world)
I'm just trying to be me (yeah)
Provin' what I got to do (provin', oh)
Some people think that I'm (that I'm)
Just sittin' on top of the world (sittin' on top of the world)
Sittin' on top of the world
Don't understand why (don't understand why)
People think I don't have friends who knew me back then
This was my dream (this was my dream)
But nothing has changed
I still do the same things
Yo, we can cut the talkin' short if it ain't about cake
I ain't sittin' on top, I want a house on the lake
I'm that snotty nosed cat with a new BM
If you mess wit Brand' then I got to bruise your chin
I be with Puff, the girls be like "Who's his friend?"
If I hit a chick once, she probably move me in
So you gotta tell me right now, either you wit'
The cats who make the hits or the one that see the chips
(Slow down Mase, you're killing 'em) But don't stop it
What's the use of buying the weight, if I'ma have to chop it?
I used to love the lady, 'til I learned her logic
She only mess wit Mase, know the money ain't no object
If it ain't Cris', he won't pop it
If it ain't platinum wit ice, he won't rock it
If it don't cost 60, he don't drop it
If it don't come with TV's, he don't cop it
You can stop it
I'm just trying to be me
Doing what I got to do
Some people think that I'm (think that I'm just sittin' on top of the world)
Just sittin' on top of the world
I'm just trying to be me
Provin' what I got to do (provin' what I gotta do)
Some people think that I'm
Just sittin' on top of the world (sittin' on top of the world)
Sittin' on top of the world
Yeah, Brandy on top of the world
Dark Child on top of the world
Mase be on top of the world, what?
Harlem World be on top of the world
Brandy on top of the world
Dark Child be on top of the world
M-A-Dolla sign-E all over the world
Brandy, all over the world
All over the world
All over the world
Yeah, yeah, yeah
What, what
Yeah, yeah, yeah, what, what, what
"Top of the World" is a song by Brandy featuring Mase, produced by Rodney Jerkins (aka Dark Child). The lyrics express how fame and wealth have changed Brandy's life and how she has had to work hard to prove herself to others. Brandy sings about how she has gone from wearing Helly Hansen (an outdoor clothing brand) to living in mini-mansions and traveling to exotic places to enjoy belly dancing. She talks about spending half of her advance on jars from Branson (presumably referring to Richard Branson's Virgin Group), indicating that she is now financially successful.
The chorus "I'm just trying to be me, doing what I gotta do, some people think that I'm just sitting on top of the world" reveals that some people assume that her life is easy and that she's not the same person she once was. She feels that these people don't know the truth about her life and how fame has presented her with many problems that she has had to address. The rap by Mase refers to his desire for wealth and his intention to make large purchases such as a house by the lake, driving a new BMW and respecting the ladies based on their worth.
Overall, the lyrics of "Top of the World" reveal how fame and wealth have changed Brandy's life and how she is still trying to maintain her true self while proving to others that she hasn't changed.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Nycolia Turman, Rodney Jerkins, Mason Betha, Traci Hale, Isaac Phillips, Fred Jerkins, Lashawn Ameen Daniels
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@vigspark
Darkchildβs music always had that flow
@jasonlewis2337
Yes I need DarkChild and Brandy 2020
@babygirleriss_
facts
@redsox1935
@@jasonlewis2337 Darkchild should have produced Brandy's new album
@damonkyle9813
@@jasonlewis2337 nah they had a falling out because he start selling out her sound to other artists after 2002
@kelvinkillings3742
Brandy is a black Gem that made R&B popular.... she made black pop yo seriously. Brandy is a big deal. Letβs cherish her while sheβs still here!
@reydneesouza7647
Kelvin Killings itβs sad to see that Brandy, Aaliyah and Monica doesnβt get the recognition that they deserve, for revolutionizing r&b, and theyβre not respected enough, even tough theyβre legends
@BenMeier814
Umm, not really, and sheβd even say that herself. She and Monica, both Credit Whitney for paving the way for black women in mainstream music. Not discounting Brandyβs talent, she is an absolute stunner and beyond talented, but Whitney really did pave the way
@tysonb3568
But Whitney had a more serious sound and voice and didnβt dance at all. Brandy had the new voice and was a dancer
@Charlett2013
Whitney was in the 80βs, Brandy is the Queen of the 90βs. Sheβs an extremely big deal.