In 1991, at the age of eleven, Monica was discovered by music producer Dallas Austin at the Center Stage auditorium in Atlanta performing Whitney Houston 1986's Greatest Love of All. Amazed by her voice, Dallas offered her a record deal with his Arista Records-distributed label Rowdy Records and consulted rapper Queen Latifah to work as Monica's first manager. Shortly afterwards Dallas and then staff producers Tim & Bob entered the studio with Monica to start writing and producing her debut Miss Thang which was eventually released in July 1995 and scored number thirty-six on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number seven on the Top R&B Albums chart. It was certified triple platinum by the RIAA for more than three million store-shipped copies and produced three top ten singles, including debut single Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days) and Before You Walk out of My Life both of which made Monica the youngest artist ever to have two consecutive chart-topping hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. Miss Thang subsequently won Monica a Billboard Music Award and garnered her an American Music Award nomination in the Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist category.
After a label change to Clive Davis's Arista Records, Monica mainstream success was boosted, when Diane Warren-written For You I Will, from the Space Jam soundtrack, became her next top ten pop hit. The following year she was asked to team up with singer Brandy and producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins to record The Boy Is Mine, the first single from both of their second albums. Released in May 1998, surrounding highly publicized rumors about a real-life catfight between both singers, the duet became both the biggest hit of the summer and the biggest hit of 1998 in general in America, spending record-breaking thirteen weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It earned the pair a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and garnered multi-platinum sales (to date, it remains as one of the top twenty most successful American singles in history based on Billboard chart success).
Jermaine Dupri, David Foster and Austin consulted on the album The Boy Is Mine, which was released later that year and eventually became Monica’s biggest-selling album, becoming certified triple platinum by the RIAA for more than three million store-shipped copies. It yielded another two U.S. number-one hits with The First Night and Angel of Mine, a cover of Eternal's 1997 single, as well as a remake of Richard Marx' Right Here Waiting. Rolling Stone Magazine proclaimed it as "closer to soul's source... hearking back past hip-hop songbirds like Mary J. Blige and adult-contemporary sirens like Toni Braxton," while Allmusic called the album an "irresistible sounding [and] immaculately crafted musical backdrop [...] as good as mainstream urban R&B gets in 1998."
In 2000, Monica contributed chorus vocals for I've Got to Have It, a collaboration with Jermaine Dupri and rapper Nas. Released as the Big Momma's House theme song, the song saw minor success in the United States only. The following year, she released the Ric Wake production track Just Another Girl, recorded for the Down to Earth soundtrack, as a single.
A year later, Arnold channeled much of her heavily media-discussed experiences into the production of her third studio album, All Eyez on Me, her first release on mentor Clive Davis newly-founded J Records label. "I just wanted to give the people back something that had personal passion, instead of just, 'Oh, let's dance to this record'," she said about the issues worked into the tracks. The first single All Eyez on Me a Rodney Jerkins-produced R&B-dance track, saw minor to moderate success on the international charts but failed to enter the higher half of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. A follow-up song, Too Hood, also got a lukewarm response and as a result, the album's tentative release was pushed back several times. "I don't think people wanted to hear a big fun record from me, after knowing all the things that I had personally experienced," Monica second-guessed her new material which saw both early and heavy bootlegging via internet at that time.
After the Japan-wide release of All Eyez on Me Monica was asked to substantially reconstruct the record with a host of new producers, and as a result the singer re-entered recording studios to start work with songwriters Kanye West, Jazze Pha, Andre "mrDEYO" Deyo, Bam & Ryan and Dupri-replacing executive producer Missy Elliott. Finally released in June 2003, After the Storm debuted at number one on Billboard`s Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart, and on top of the official Billboard 200, with sales of 186,000 copies emerging as Monica's first and only number-one album to date. It eventually received a gold certification, and has sold over one million copies domestically. Media reception of the CD was generally enthusiastic, with the Allmusic saying the album "has all the assuredness and smart developments that should keep Monica's younger longtime followers behind her — all the while holding the ability to appeal to a wider spectrum of R&B and hip-hop fans." The album's lead single, Elliott-penned So Gone, was one of Monica's biggest commercial successes in years, becoming her first top ten single since 1999's Angel of Mine. In addition, it reached the top position of the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks and Hot Dance Club Play charts. Subsequently, After the Storm spawned another three singles, with final single U Should've Known Better reaching number nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 2005, Monica appeared on the Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman soundtrack. The track was one of Monica's last production by Dallas Austin.
Returning from yet another musical hiatus, Arnold's fourth studio album The Makings of Me was released in October 2006. Titled after Curtis Mayfield's 1970 recording The Makings of You, the album saw her particularly reuniting with producers Elliott, Dupri, and Bryan Michael Cox, all of whom had previously contributed to After the Storm (2003). The Makings of Me received a positive reception from most professional music critics, with Allmusic calling it a "concise and mostly sweet set of songs," and Entertainment Weekly declaring it "a solid addition" to Monica's discography. While it debuted at number one on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart, and at number eight on the official Billboard 200, it received a domestic sales total of 328,000 copies, it widely failed to revive the success of its predecessors and became the singer's lowest-selling effort to date. Singles such as snap-influenced Everytime Tha Beat Drop featuring Atlanta hip hop group Dem Franchize Boyz and Elliott-produced A Dozen Roses (You Remind Me) failed to reach the top forty of the regular pop charts.
In 2009, Arnold lent her voice to the ballad Trust a duet with Keyshia Cole, that peaked in the top five on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The recording of Arnold's sixth studio album Still Standing was chronicled by her BET reality series of the same name. Featuring production by Stargate, Ne-Yo, and Polow da Don, it was released in March 2010 and garnered a generally positive response by critics, who perceived its sound as "a return to the mid-'1990s heyday" of contemporary R&B, The album debuted atop on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart, and number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 with opening week sales of 184,000 copies, becoming the singer's second highest-charting debut since 2003's After the Storm. The leading single Everything to Me scored Monica her biggest chart success since 2003's So Gone, reaching the top position of the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks charts for seven weeks. The album was certified gold by the RIAA with domestic shipments of 500,000 copies within a single month. With it success, the album and Everything to Me was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, presented at the 53rd Grammy Awards in 2011. In August 2010, Arnold joined Trey Songz on his Passion, Pain & Pleasure Tour, her first North American concert tour in ten years.
The New Life (Intro) Songfacts reports that New Life was Monica's debut release with RCA, following the disbandment of her former label, J Records in October 2011. The album was dropped on April 10, 2012 in the US. She explained the meaning of its title on Twitter: "A good word goes a long way. Life is hard enough. Me and my followers believe in God, love, strength, family, unity and growth [...] Don't be afraid of new things, new people, new opportunities or new love. It just may give you a New Life."
Cry
Monica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rest yourself
Put your head on my shoulders
I'll be your help
I know everybody says that we can't be scared
But you don't have to be strong right now, no
You can shed a tear
If you want now, you can cry
Put your pride aside
Cause it's just you and I
Baby it's alright, you can go and cry
And it's okay
I know it's hard
Cause it's never easy, no
Lettin' down your guard
But rest assured
I'll always be here
You don't have to worry, no
Baby, shed a tear
So baby, cry
If you want now, you can cry
Put your pride aside
Cause it's just you and I
Baby it's alright, you can go and cry
And I'll be there baby
Baby, it's hardly breathing
So let me do, do what I came for
Came for, came for you and me
I'll be there (I'll be)
I'll be oh oh
Baby, you can cry
I said to put your pride aside
Baby it's alright, you know you can cry
You can come and cry
Monica's song "Cry" is a beautiful ballad in which the singer offers comfort and support to a man who is struggling to hold back his tears. Through her soothing words, Monica tries to create a safe space for the man, where he can let go of his emotions and cry if he needs to. The lyrics are extremely empathetic and relatable, as they acknowledge the societal pressure on men to be strong and not show vulnerability. However, Monica urges the man to embrace his emotions, as crying can be a form of release and healing.
Throughout the song, Monica uses gentle and comforting language to assure the man that he doesn't have to be strong all the time, and it's okay to let his guard down. She sings, "I know everybody says that we can't be scared, but you don't have to be strong right now, no. You can shed a tear." This conveys a sense of compassion and understanding, as Monica acknowledges that life can be tough and we all need support and comfort from time to time.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, as it repeats the phrase "Baby, cry" multiple times. This simple refrain serves as a reminder that it's okay to be emotional and it's important to express our feelings. Monica's warm and soothing voice, combined with the gentle instrumentation, create a peaceful and comforting atmosphere, making the song a perfect lullaby for someone going through a tough time.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me your hand, boy
Reach out to me for comfort, support and guidance
Rest yourself
Take a break from everything and let yourself relax
Put your head on my shoulders
Lean on me and trust that I can take care of you
I'll be your help
I will be there for you and support you in any way that I can
I know everybody says that we can't be scared
Society may tell us to be strong and not show our emotions, but that's not always realistic or healthy
But you don't have to be strong right now, no
It's okay to let your guard down and be vulnerable in this moment
You can shed a tear
Express your emotions and let yourself cry
So baby, cry
I'm giving you permission to let out your emotions and cry
If you want now, you can cry
There's no pressure or judgement, you can cry if you feel like it
Put your pride aside
Don't worry about appearing strong or tough, it's okay to be vulnerable
Cause it's just you and I
It's a safe space and just the two of us, so you can let your guard down
Baby it's alright, you can go and cry
It's completely okay and normal to cry, so feel free to do it if you need to
And it's okay
There's no need to feel ashamed or embarrassed for crying, it's a natural human emotion
I know it's hard
I understand that it's not easy to show vulnerability and let out emotions
Cause it's never easy, no
It's a difficult thing, but it's necessary for healing and growth
Lettin' down your guard
Allowing yourself to be vulnerable and open
But rest assured
Have confidence and trust that I am here for you and won't judge you
I'll always be here
I am a constant presence for you, whenever you need me
You don't have to worry, no
You don't have to stress or be anxious, I am here to support and guide you
And I'll be there baby
I will always be there for you, no matter what
Baby, it's hardly breathing
You're struggling and it's difficult to deal with everything, but I am here to help
So let me do, do what I came for
I am here to comfort and support you, that's why I am in your life
Came for, came for you and me
I am here for both of us, to help us both through difficult times
I'll be there (I'll be)
I will always be present and available whenever you need me
I'll be oh oh
I will never abandon you or leave you alone
Baby, you can cry
Emphasizing that it's okay and encouraged to cry when you need to
I said to put your pride aside
Reiterating that it's important to ignore societal expectations of being strong and instead let yourself be vulnerable
Baby it's alright, you know you can cry
Repeated reassurance that there's nothing wrong with crying and that it's normal and expected to do so
You can come and cry
Direct invitation to cry and seek support and comfort whenever needed
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAZMINE SULLIVAN, SALAAM REMI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind