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."
I'm Back
Monica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since I saw you
And since you hurt me
And it's been a while
Since I saw started
Back doing my thing
And if you wanna know
Why I've been on the low
Getting to know me
And now it's time to see
That I
I've learnd some things
And I've been some places
That I chose to go
And I saw some faces
But I know that's the way life is
And it's time to get back to this
Back to
*back to what I love, giving up hugs
Taking time to say, "what's up? "
To my girls and to all my thugs
Back to selling out shows, doing videos
Letting all my people know
I'm back and I won't lose track*
I heard some things
Things that weren't true
Supposed to be about me
But I have a dream
And I won't let nobody stop me
I tell you know now
That I'm gonna stay around
And that they can do them
'cause I'm a do me
And now it's time to see
That I
I've learnd some things
And I've been some places
That I chose to go
And I saw some faces
But I know that's the way life is
And it's time to get back to this
Back to what I love
Repeat *
Ooh, it feels good to be back
And, ooh, how could people think that
That I, I wouldn't get my spot back
And for those who thought that just know
That I'm back to what I love
Repeat * x2 with ad lib
Monica's song "I'm Back" is a powerful anthem that speaks of a woman's journey of self-discovery, rising above challenges, and getting back to what truly matters. The song begins by acknowledging how long it has been since the singer has seen the person who hurt her. She also talks about how she has been on the low to understand herself better. Monica then reveals that she has learned, been to places she chose to go, and seen faces in life. She knows that life can be tough, but it's time to get back to what she loves, giving hugs, saying what's up to friends and loved ones. She wants to let the people know that she is back, and she won't lose track.
Monica is confident to assert that she has heard some things, but they were not true. She has a dream, and no one can stop her from achieving it. Monica vows to stay and do her thing, and people can do them. She is sure of herself and what she wants, taking charge of her life. The song ends on a positive note, with Monica expressing how she feels good to be back.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a while
It has been a significant amount of time since I last had an encounter with you
Since I saw you
Since the last time I saw you
And since you hurt me
Since you have caused me to feel emotional pain
And it's been a while
It has also been a long time since I have started something new
Since I saw started
Since I initiated a new project, an endeavor, or attempt at something
Back doing my thing
I am now resuming my usual work or routine
And if you wanna know
If you are interested in finding out
Why I've been on the low
Why I have less involvement in social activities or media compared to what I used to do
What you see was me
The reason for my behavior could be attributed to the act of learning more about myself
Getting to know me
The process of discovering and understanding my own personality, values, and preferences
And now it's time to see
It is now the perfect moment to witness
That I've learned some things
I have gained new knowledge, perspectives or insights from my endeavors
And I've been some places
I have explored different areas and traveled to various locations
That I chose to go
These were places that I personally selected or desired to visit
And I saw some faces
During my travels, I have encountered various individuals
But I know that's the way life is
However, I am aware that life is unpredictable and could often be full of surprises
And it's time to get back to this
It's the right time to return to my passion or purpose in life
Back to what I love
Returning to the activities, passions, or responsibilities that bring me pure joy and fulfillment in life
Giving up hugs
Sharing warm physical gestures of affection, love, and connection with people who matter to me
Taking time to say, 'what's up?'
Spending quality time to check on friends and socializing with them
To my girls and to all my thugs
To my female friends and to all my close friends
Back to selling out shows, doing videos
Going back to the career-related activities of performing shows and creating musical videos
Letting all my people know
Informing everyone, especially fans, that I am making a comeback
I'm back and I won't lose track
I am returning with a strong focus and commitment to my passion or mission in life
I heard some things
I received some information or rumors
Things that weren't true
The pieces of information or gossip were false or inaccurate
Supposed to be about me
These rumors or information were supposedly focused on me
But I have a dream
Despite the rumors or negativity towards me, I have a personal goal or ambition in life
And I won't let nobody stop me
I won't allow others to hinder or prevent me from pursuing my dreams
I tell you know now
I want you to know this information at this moment
That I'm gonna stay around
I will remain present and active in pursuing my goals or purpose in life
And that they can do them
They are free to do whatever they want or make their own choices
'cause I'm a do me
Because I will focus on my personal goals, preferences, and desires
And now it's time to see
It is a perfect time to observe
That I've learned some things
I gained valuable lessons and experiences from my endeavors, travels, and introspection
And I've been some places
I have traveled to various locations and explored new territories
That I chose to go
All of the places I have visited and explored were personally selected by me
And I saw some faces
During my travels, I have met different people and encountered new situations
But I know that's the way life is
However, I fully understand that the only constant thing in life is change and unpredictable events
And it's time to get back to this
It's the perfect moment to return to my passion or purpose in life
Back to what I love
Returning to the activities, passions, or responsibilities that bring me pure joy and fulfillment in life
Ooh, it feels good to be back
I am expressing my pure emotion of joy and satisfaction in returning to my passion
How could people think that?
I am expressing my disbelief and confusion at people doubting my comeback
That I, I wouldn't get my spot back
The people doubted that I would not regain my status or position in life or career
And for those who thought that just know
I want those who doubted me to understand
That I'm back to what I love
I am returning to what I am passionate about and my purpose in life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
PaparaSkee E
I will never forget hearing this song for the first time. Mo had been ‘So Gone’ for a minute and I was elated when this leaked album dropped. A bootleg copy, yes, but I def’ly bought several copies of the official album [Mo signed those copies] when it came out and was bummed to discover this song didn’t make the cut. This was before social media of course, so if your Fave didn’t put out new music for YEARS, you just had to wait. It was torture. Fast forward and we’re still waiting on a new album, I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait.
Jessica Williams
Happy 42nd Birthday to Monica! One of my favorite singers of all time. 10/24/2022 ❤🎉🎉🥳🎊
Pants
love this song. the production was mad.
steve geddes
The Hypnotize sample is originally from 1979, appearing on Herb Alperts 'Rise'.. Now that was a classic!
Ayot Adhiambo
Really?Will check it out... :-)
Ayot Adhiambo
I just checked out Herb Alpert's Rise..... It's amazing!!!!!
Roger P
Monica definitely did Biggie justice with the sample
Ayot Adhiambo
Yes she did... :-)
RnBReworked
Well Biggie actually sampled it from another earlier artist, but I know what you mean.
Victoria Gardner
👏👏👏👀❤️❤️🎶🍁🍁