''The Boy Is Mine'' is the second studio album by American
R&B singer
Monica. It was released by
Arista Records on July 14, 1998, in the United States. The album deviated from the formula of her debut ''
Miss Thang
''Miss Thang'' is the debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Monica. It was released by Rowdy Records and distributed through the Arista label on July 18, 1995, in the United States. Recorded throughout her early teenage years, the ...
'' (1995) as she had more creative control over the material she recorded; a step that she considered a "natural progression". On the record, Monica worked with a variety of producers and writers from different genres such as
gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christian message (" the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words a ...
,
R&B, and
hip hop, including frequent collaborators
Dallas Austin
Dallas L. Austin (born December 29, 1970) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and film producer.
Biography
Early life
During a 2019 interview with DJ Vlad, Dallas Austin detailed previously unknown or unconfirmed events in ...
, Colin Wolfe, and
Daryl Simmons
Daryl L. Simmons is an American R&B musician, songwriter and record producer, who worked with the production duo of L.A. Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. In 1977–1980 Daryl, with Manchild (band) recorded 2 soul & funk albums & the mino ...
. Additional producers included
David Foster
David Walter Foster (born November 1, 1949) is a Canadian musician, composer, arranger, record producer and music executive who chaired Verve Records from 2012 to 2016. He has won 16 Grammy Awards from 47 nominations. His music career spans mor ...
,
Diane Warren,
Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin (born September 23, 1972) is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, record executive, entrepreneur, and DJ.
Early life
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin was born on September 23, 1972, the son of Tina (Mosley) and Michael ...
, and
Rodney Jerkins and his Darkchild crew, some of which would become household names on subsequent albums.
Upon release, ''The Boy Is Mine'' received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics, who appreciated the album's production quality and praised Monica's overall vocal performance. The album debuted at number eight on the
''Billboard'' 200 and at number two on the
Top R&B Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated Ja ...
in August 1998. It was eventually certified triple-platinum by the
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of over three million copies throughout the country, with estimated sales of 2 million copies in the United States as of November 2014. Her biggest international seller to date, it became a moderate success outside the United States, peaking within the top twenty in France, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Switzerland.
Five commercial singles were released from the album. Lead single "
The Boy Is Mine", a duet with singer
Brandy, became the best-selling song of the year in the United States, spending 13 weeks on top of the US
''Billboard'' Hot 100, while peaking at number one in Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand. "
The First Night" and "
Angel of Mine
"Angel of Mine" is a song by British R&B girl group Eternal from their first compilation album, ''Greatest Hits'' (1997). It was written by Rhett Lawrence and Travon Potts, produced by Lawrence, and released on 29 September 1997. The song bec ...
", released as the album's second and third single respectively, also became chart toppers on ''Billboard'' Hot 100. ''The Boy Is Mine'' also spawned "
Street Symphony" and the international singles "
Inside
Inside may refer to:
* Insider, a member of any group of people of limited number and generally restricted access
Film
* ''Inside'' (1996 film), an American television film directed by Arthur Penn and starring Eric Stoltz
* ''Inside'' (2002 f ...
" and "
Right Here Waiting
"Right Here Waiting" is a song by American singer and songwriter Richard Marx. It was released on June 29, 1989, as the second single from his second album, ''Repeat Offender''. The song was a global hit, topping charts in many countries aroun ...
", while also containing the hit single, "
For You I Will", from the ''
Space Jam
''Space Jam'' is a 1996 American live-action/animated sports comedy film directed by Joe Pytka, with animation sequences directed by Bruce W. Smith and Tony Cervone, and written by Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick, Timothy Harris, and Herschel ...
'' soundtrack.
Background
After Monica signed a deal to
Rowdy Records
Rowdy Records is a record label distributed through Motown. It was founded by record producer Dallas Austin in 1992, and the precursor to his entertainment company, Freeworld Entertainment.
History
Formed in 1992 by producers Dallas Austin a ...
, her debut album ''
Miss Thang
''Miss Thang'' is the debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Monica. It was released by Rowdy Records and distributed through the Arista label on July 18, 1995, in the United States. Recorded throughout her early teenage years, the ...
'' was released in July 1995, selling about one and a half million copies in the United States alone.
It produced three top ten singles, including debut single "
Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)
"Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" is a song by American recording artist Monica. It was written by Dallas Austin, Willie James Baker, and Derrick Simmons for her debut album, ''Miss Thang'' (1995), while production was helmed by t ...
" and "
Before You Walk Out of My Life
"Before You Walk Out of My Life" is a song by American R&B singer Monica. It was written by Andrea Martin, Carsten Schack, and Kenneth Karlin, with production helmed by Schack and Karlin under their production moniker Soulshock & Karlin. Initiall ...
", both of which made Monica the youngest artist ever to have two consecutive chart-topping hits on ''
Billboard''s
Hot R&B Singles
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
chart. ''Miss Thang'' earned Monica four
Soul Train Music Award
The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show which previously aired in national broadcast syndication, and honors the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment. It is produced by the makers of ''Soul Train'', the pro ...
nods as well as
Lady of Soul
The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show which previously aired in national broadcast syndication, and honors the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment. It is produced by the makers of '' Soul Train'', the ...
,
NAACP Image Award,
Billboard Music Award
The ''Billboard'' Music Awards are honors given out annually by ''Billboard'', a publication covering the music business and a music popularity chart. The ''Billboard'' Music Awards show has been held annually since 1990, with the exception of t ...
and
American Music Award
The American Music Awards (AMAs) is an annual American music awards show, generally held in the fall, created by Dick Clark in 1973 for ABC when the network's contract to air the Grammy Awards expired, and currently produced by Dick Clark Produ ...
nominations.
After a transition from Rowdy Records to
Clive Davis's
Arista label, Rowdy's parent company, Monica's mainstream success was boosted when the
Diane Warren-written "
For You I Will", from the ''
Space Jam
''Space Jam'' is a 1996 American live-action/animated sports comedy film directed by Joe Pytka, with animation sequences directed by Bruce W. Smith and Tony Cervone, and written by Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick, Timothy Harris, and Herschel ...
'' soundtrack, became her next top-ten pop hit.
After the success of her debut, Monica entered recording studios in 1997 to start work on her second album. Again, she worked closely with
Dallas Austin
Dallas L. Austin (born December 29, 1970) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and film producer.
Biography
Early life
During a 2019 interview with DJ Vlad, Dallas Austin detailed previously unknown or unconfirmed events in ...
on the bulk of the album, who shared
executive producer credit with Davis on ''The Boy Is Mine''.
"Very personally involved" with the project, Davis consulted additional producers to work with the singer, including
David Foster
David Walter Foster (born November 1, 1949) is a Canadian musician, composer, arranger, record producer and music executive who chaired Verve Records from 2012 to 2016. He has won 16 Grammy Awards from 47 nominations. His music career spans mor ...
and
Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin (born September 23, 1972) is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, record executive, entrepreneur, and DJ.
Early life
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin was born on September 23, 1972, the son of Tina (Mosley) and Michael ...
, the latter of which would become a frequent collaborator on subsequent projects.
He also lined Monica up with several
Diane Warren songs.
A breakaway from the material on her debut, Monica considered the album a natural progression: "I was 13 then; the themes weren't as mature," she said. "I'm trying to portray a more assertive young female
..I'm 17 now; my lyrics aren't sexually explicit but are about love and being in love." While she reportedly co-wrote several tracks for the album, none of them made the final cut.
Promotion
On July 9, 1998, a listening party for the album was held in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
; another listening party was scheduled in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
at a later date.
Both of the listening parties were broadcast live via cyber cast on Arista Records website.
[ Arista Records also planned for internet chats as well as online contests for fans.][ The label also planned for an international promotional tour for Monica.][ Monica also appeared on late night talk shows such as '']The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that first aired from May 25, 1992, to May 29, 2009. It resumed production on March 1, 2010 and ended on February 6, 2014.
The fourth incarnation of the ...
'', ''Vibe
''Vibe'' is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down producti ...
'', and morning shows such as ''Good Day Atlanta''.[ In mid-June she shot the video for her second single "The First Night", and it was serviced to music video networks such as ]BET
Black Entertainment Television (acronym BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting African-American audiences. It is owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global via BET Networks and has offices in New York City, Los ...
, MTV and The Box.[ After the release of the album, Monica did in-store appearances and also went on a promotional radio tour.][ Radio ads were played with announcements about the "win it before you buy it" contests.][ Items that were given in the contest included posters, flats, pins, flyers, and streamers. A back-to-school promotional campaign featuring Monica on book covers was also launched.][
On July 7, 1998, Monica appeared on '']Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
''Live with Kelly and Ryan'' (or simply ''Live'') is an American syndicated morning talk show hosted by Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest. Executive produced by Michael Gelman, the ''Live with...'' show formula has aired under various hosts since ...
'' On August 21, she appeared on ''CBS This Morning
''CBS This Morning'' (''CTM'') is an American morning television program that aired on CBS from November 30, 1987, to October 29, 1999, and again from January 9, 2012, to September 6, 2021. The program was aired from Monday through Saturday. ...
''. On August 28 Monica performed on '' The View''. The next day, she made an appearance at KMEL's inaugural All-Star Jam in Mountain View, California
Mountain View is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. Named for its views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, it has a population of 82,376.
Mountain View was integral to the early history and growth of Silicon Valley, and is the ...
at the Shoreline Amphitheatre
Shoreline Amphitheatre is an outdoor amphitheater located in Mountain View, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The venue has a capacity of 22,500, with 6,500 reserved seats and 16,000 general admission on the lawn. When the parking lot ...
. In September, she performed at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, followed by a first time live performance of "The Boy Is Mine" with Brandy at the 15th annual MTV Video Music Awards. On October 5, 1998, Monica performed "The First Night" on ''Motown Live
Motown Live is an American television series showcasing live performances by music artists in the areas of rhythm & blues, hip hop, and popular music. The show had 13 episodes from 1998-1999.
The show was hosted by Robert Townsend and Montell J ...
'', and also sung a duet with Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Often referred to as the " Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and " Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Award ...
during the show as well. On October 11, Monica performed at the 4th annual International Achievement in Arts Awards. Also in October, MTV News reported that Monica was to participate in several fashion shows for the House of Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Otto Lagerfeld (; 10 September 1933 – 19 February 2019) was a German fashion designer, creative director, artist and photographer.
He was known as the creative director of the French fashion house Chanel, a position held from 1983 ...
in Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...
. On November 10, 1998, she performed "The First Night" on ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno''. On December 15, 1998, Monica went on ''The Rosie O'Donnell Show
''The Rosie O'Donnell Show'' is an American daytime variety television talk show created, hosted, and produced by actress and comedian Rosie O'Donnell. It premiered on June 10, 1996, and concluded after six seasons on May 22, 2002.
This talk sh ...
''; three days later she appeared on '' Good Morning America''.
In January 1999, MTV News reported that Monica was planning a possible joint tour with R. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and sex offender convicted of racketeering and multiple sex offenses.
During his recording career, Kelly sold over 75 million records worldwi ...
but no further news was mentioned regarding that tour. The same month, she performed on the Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its networks division's Kids and Family Group. It ...
sketch comedy show ''All That
''All That'' is an American sketch comedy television series created by Brian Robbins and Michael Tollin, Mike Tollin. The series originally aired on Nickelodeon from April 16, 1994, to October 22, 2005, lasting ten seasons, and was produced by ...
''. On February 5, she performed "Angel of Mine" on the '' Late Show with David Letterman'' In March 1999, Monica co-hosted and performed at the Soul Train Awards
The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show which previously aired in national broadcast syndication, and honors the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment. It is produced by the makers of '' Soul Train'', the ...
, which was held at the Shrine Auditorium
The Shrine Auditorium is a landmark large-event venue in Los Angeles, California. It is also the headquarters of the Al Malaikah Temple, a division of the Shriners. It was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (No. 139) in 1975, and ...
in Los Angeles. Also in March she performed "Angel of Mine" on ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno''. On April 23, 1999, it was announced that Monica would be a part of Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its networks division's Kids and Family Group. It ...
's first annual ''All That Music & More Fest'' with 98 Degrees
98 Degrees (stylized as 98°) is an American pop and R&B vocal group consisting of four vocalists: the group's founding member Jeff Timmons, brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, and Justin Jeffre. The group was formed by Timmons in Los Angeles, C ...
, Tatyana Ali
Tatyana Marisol Ali is an American actress and singer best known for her role as Ashley Banks on the NBC sitcom ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' from 1990 to 1996. She starred as Tyana Jones on the TV One original series ''Love That Girl!'', an ...
, and others. The tour began on June 17 in Indianapolis and ended on August 21 in Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
[ In the midst of the festival Monica partnered with the ]Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in the United States that helps fulfill the wishes of children with a critical illness between the ages of and 18 years old.
Make-A-Wish was founded in 1980 and headqu ...
to create skating parties. Also in April 1999 it was announced that Monica would perform on select dates during the third and final run of the Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair was a concert tour and travelling music festival, founded by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, Nettwerk Music Group's Dan Fraser and Terry McBride, and New York talent agent Marty Diamond. It took place during the summers of 1997 ...
tour. In May 1999, a special ceremony was held for Monica in her hometown of Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
in which she was honored with the Phoenix Award. On August 30, 1999, she made yet another appearance on ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'', performing "Street Symphony". In September 1999 Monica co-hosted and performed at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards. In November 1999, it was announced that Monica along with NSYNC, Wyclef Jean
Nel Ust Wyclef Jean (; born October 17, 1969) is a Haitian rapper, musician, and actor. At the age of nine, Jean immigrated to the United States with his family. He first achieved fame as a member of the New Jersey hip hop group the Fugees, a ...
and Destiny's Child would to perform at the Beacon Theater for a HIV
The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune ...
/ AIDS awareness concert put together by Life Beat.
Singles
''The Boy Is Mine'' produced several singles. Its release was preceded by the lead single of the same name, a duet with fellow R&B singer Brandy, which was released on May 19, 1998. The collaboration received favorable reviews from contemporary music critics and became the first number-one pop record for both artists, both stateside and internationally. Exploiting the media's presumption of a rivalry between the two young singers, "The Boy Is Mine" became the best-selling song of the year in the United States, spending 13 weeks on top of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Internationally, the single also charted strongly, peaking at number-one in Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand, while reaching the top five on most of the other charts on which it appeared. It was awarded the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group and received nominations for both Record of the Year
The Grammy Award for Record of the Year is presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without reg ...
and Best R&B Song
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (sometimes known as the R&B Songwriter's Award) has been awarded since 1969. From 1969 to 2000, it was known as the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song. Beyoncé has won it a record four times, while Bab ...
in 1999. At the Billboard Music Award
The ''Billboard'' Music Awards are honors given out annually by ''Billboard'', a publication covering the music business and a music popularity chart. The ''Billboard'' Music Awards show has been held annually since 1990, with the exception of t ...
s, the song won in three categories, including Hot 100 Sales Single of Year.
Dupri-produced " The First Night" was released as the album's second single, serviced to radio a week ahead of the album release and issued physically on July 28, 1998. Another commercial success, it became her second number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for six consecutive weeks. It remained within the top forty for 20 weeks and was ranked at number 18 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 year-end charts in 1998. Outside the United States, "The First Night" reached the top ten in Canada and the United Kingdom. "Angel of Mine
"Angel of Mine" is a song by British R&B girl group Eternal from their first compilation album, ''Greatest Hits'' (1997). It was written by Rhett Lawrence and Travon Potts, produced by Lawrence, and released on 29 September 1997. The song bec ...
", a cover version
In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
of British R&B trio Eternal
Eternal(s) or The Eternal may refer to:
* Eternity, an infinite amount of time, or a timeless state
* Immortality or eternal life
* God, the supreme being, creator deity, and principal object of faith in monotheism
Comics, film and television
* ...
's 1997 hit single, was released as the album's third offering single on November 9, 1998. The ballad became Monica's third chart topper for four consecutive weeks in United States, and finished third on ''Billboard''s 1999 year-end chart, making Monica the only artist to place within the year-end top ten in both from 1998 to 1999. While the song was less successful in territories where Eternal's version had charted the year before through Monica's rendition peaked at number two in Canada and reached the top 20 of the Australian Singles Chart.
"Inside
Inside may refer to:
* Insider, a member of any group of people of limited number and generally restricted access
Film
* ''Inside'' (1996 film), an American television film directed by Arthur Penn and starring Eric Stoltz
* ''Inside'' (2002 f ...
", serving as the album's fourth single, was released in Europe only on April 5, 1999, but failed to chart. A fifth single, " Street Symphony", received a US release as the fourth single on May 31, 1999, featuring orchestral background in the song performing by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is an American orchestra based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The ASO's main concert venue is Atlanta Symphony Hall in the Woodruff Arts Center.
History
Though earlier organizations bearing the same name date b ...
. It peaked at number 50 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by ''Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 p ...
chart. Monica's rendition of Richard Marx's 1989 single "Right Here Waiting
"Right Here Waiting" is a song by American singer and songwriter Richard Marx. It was released on June 29, 1989, as the second single from his second album, ''Repeat Offender''. The song was a global hit, topping charts in many countries aroun ...
", a duet with boy band 112, also received a promotional release in 1999. The single was only released as a limited vinyl format with no promotional video, but peaked at number one on ''Billboard''s Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by ''Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 p ...
chart. Similarly, " Gone Be Fine", a collaboration with OutKast, reached number five on Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles.
Critical reception
Upon its release, ''The Boy Is Mine'' garnered generally mixed to positive reviews from contemporary music critics, many of whom liked the album's ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...
s and classic sound, praising Monica for her vocal performance. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
gave the album four out of five stars, complimenting the album as a whole, claiming it to be "as good as mainstream urban R&B gets in 1998." He felt that ''The Boy Is Mine'' compromised "a better, more consistent batch of songs" when in comparison to her debut album ''Miss Thang
''Miss Thang'' is the debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Monica. It was released by Rowdy Records and distributed through the Arista label on July 18, 1995, in the United States. Recorded throughout her early teenage years, the ...
'', led by productions from Dallas Austin
Dallas L. Austin (born December 29, 1970) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and film producer.
Biography
Early life
During a 2019 interview with DJ Vlad, Dallas Austin detailed previously unknown or unconfirmed events in ...
who "not only does he give her songs immaculately crafted musical backdrops – both ballads and up-tempo dance numbers sound irresistible – but he helps her cultivate her voice so she sounds more mature than her 17 years." Paul Verna from '' Billboard'' gave the album a mixed review. Although he thought the ballads on the album showcased Monica's vocal maturity and range, he felt the material didn't have the same "bite" and "attitude" like songs from her debut album. Connie Johnson, writing for the ''Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the U ...
'' rated the album three-and-a-half out of a possible four stars. After comparing her to Brandy, she found that Monica "really has more in common with label-mates Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed " The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston i ...
and Toni Braxton
Toni Michele Braxton (born October 7, 1967) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, actress and television personality. She has sold over 70 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling female artists in history. Braxton has won ...
. Like them, she's a major league talent who knows it takes more than a great and memorable voice to bat the ball out of the park – and it's a pleasure to recommend someone with that type of professional savvy."
Natasha Stovall from the ''Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'' gave ''The Boy Is Mine'' a mixed review, describing it as "a more classic path, with help from the cool hand of producer Dallas Austin." She found that the songs "hearken back past hip-hop songbirds like Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Often referred to as the " Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and " Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Award ...
and adult-contemporary sirens like Toni Braxton to someplace closer to soul's source." Praising her vocals, Stovall commented that "Monica uses her honey-dipped, church-worthy voice to lift her radiofriendly tunes – and, hopefully, the rest of contemporary R&B – to a higher plane." ''Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...
'' was critical on the amount of "mid-tempo ballads about love lost", but was positive towards the other songs on the album, writing that "much of this groove-driven disc, like the Jermaine Dupri-produced " The First Night", should keep her airwave run alive. Transcendent nuggets like " Street Symphony" showcase her voluptuous vocals." Generally positive toward ''The Boy Is Mine'', ''Vibe
''Vibe'' is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down producti ...
'' magazine felt that "no longer encumbered by the extreme youth that made some of the more sensuous moments on ''Miss Thang'' vaguely embarrassing, Monica embraces womanhood with the full force of her raspy, resonant alto and flourishing postadolescent libido."
Accolades
In 2007, ''The Boy Is Mine'' was featured on British publication ''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
''s "1000 Albums To Hear Before You Die" list, the publication praised the album and thought that it was the template for "21st-century soul."
Commercial performance
''The Boy Is Mine'' debuted and peaked at number eight on the ''Billboard'' 200, with first-week sales of 91,000 copies; opening to nearly three times as many units as her debut album in 1995. It marked her first top ten entry on the chart, as well as her first album to reach the top three on '' Billboard''s Top R&B Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated Ja ...
chart, debuting at number two behind Noreaga
Victor James Santiago Jr. (born September 6, 1977), better known by his stage names Noreaga and later N.O.R.E., is an American rapper. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Santiago first rose to prominence as one half of the East Coast hip hop ...
's ''N.O.R.E.
Victor James Santiago Jr. (born September 6, 1977), better known by his stage names Noreaga and later N.O.R.E., is an American rapper. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Santiago first rose to prominence as one half of the East Coast hip hop du ...
'' (1998). The album sold nearly 526,000 during the first two months of its release, and 860,000 copies by the end of December 1998. In January 1999 the album was ranked as the 76th best-selling album of 1998 with sales of 1.1 million copies sold. By March 2002 the album had sold 1.96 million copies, and as of August 2010 it has sold 2,016,000 copies, according to ''Billboard''. In June 2000, ''The Boy Is Mine'' was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for shipments of three million copies.
In Canada the album debuted on ''RPM s Top Albums/CDs chart at number eleven, on the issue dated August 3, 1998. Eight weeks later, on the issue date of September 28, 1998, the album reached its peak at number ten. Overall, the album spent a total of 49 consecutive weeks on the Top Albums/CDs chart. To date, the album is certified triple-platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a dense, malleable, ductile, highly unreactive, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name originates from Spanish , a diminutive of "silver".
Pla ...
by Music Canada, for denoting shipments of over 300,000 units. In Japan, ''The Boy Is Mine'' debuted at number 69 on the official Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in ...
chart, Elsewhere, the album became a top twenty success in the majority of the charts it appeared on, reaching number 13 on the Dutch Albums Chart
The Dutch Album Top 100 or Album Top 100 is a weekly hit list of music albums, compiled by Dutch Charts. List shows the 100 best-selling music albums of the moment in the Netherlands
)
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, number 17 on the New Zealand Albums Chart
The Official New Zealand Music Chart ( mi, Te Papa Tātai Waiata Matua o Aotearoa) is the weekly New Zealand top 40 singles and albums charts, issued weekly by Recorded Music NZ (formerly Recording Industry Association of New Zealand). The Music ...
, number 19 on the Swiss Albums Chart and number 20 on the French Albums Chart
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...
. It also charted in Australia, Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. In the UK ''The Boy Is Mine'' was certified Silver by BPI on July 22, 2013, for shipments of 60,000 copies.
Track listing
Notes
* denotes co-producer
* denotes additional producer
Sample credits
*"The First Night" samples Diana Ross' 1976 "Love Hangover
"Love Hangover" is a song by the Motown singer Diana Ross, recorded in 1975 and released as a single on March 16, 1976. It rose to number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and Hot-Selling Soul Singles. It also hit number one on the Record World ...
".
*"Take Him Back" samples Sting's 1993 " Shape of My Heart".
*"Cross the Room" samples The Fatback Band's 1980 "I Like Girls".
*"Angel of Mine" is a cover version
In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
of Eternal
Eternal(s) or The Eternal may refer to:
* Eternity, an infinite amount of time, or a timeless state
* Immortality or eternal life
* God, the supreme being, creator deity, and principal object of faith in monotheism
Comics, film and television
* ...
's 1997 original recording.
*"Misty Blue" is a cover version
In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
of Dorothy Moore
Dorothy Moore (born October 13, 1946) is an American blues, gospel, and R&B singer best known for her 1976 hit song, "Misty Blue".
Career
Moore's parents were Mary Moore and Melvin Hendrex Senior. Her father performed under the stage name Melv ...
's 1976 original recording.
*"Right Here Waiting" is a cover version of Richard Marx' 1989 original recording.
Personnel
Credits are taken from the album's liner notes.
Musicians and performers
* Background vocals
A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are us ...
– Monica, Darcy Aldridge, Sue Ann Carwell, Chelle Davis, Debra Killings, Pamela Major, Jeff Pescetto
* Bass guitar
The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...
– Ronnie Garrett, Colin Wolfe
* Drums – Tom Knight
* Guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strin ...
– Sonny Lallerstedt, Tomi Martin, Isaac Phillips, Michael Thompson
* Piano
The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keybo ...
– Dean Gant
* Percussion
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Ex ...
– Scott Meeder
* Strings – Darkchild Orchestra
Technical and production
* Executive producers – Clive Davis
* Engineering
Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more speciali ...
– A. Baars, G. Crawford, Felipe Elgueta, Ben Garrison, Humberto Gatica
Humberto Gatica is a Chilean-born American recording engineer, mixing engineer and record producer, best known for his work with Celine Dion, Chicago, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban and Michael Bublé. Gatica's inte ...
, Thom "TK" Kidd, Carlton Lynn, Ricco Lumpkins, Chris Tergesen
* Engineering assistants – John Horesco IV, Ty Hudson, Tim Lauber, Kevin Lively, Andrew Lyn, Vernon Mungo, Claudine Pontier, Mike Wilson
* Mixing – Leslie Brathwaite, Jermaine Dupri, Mick Guzauski, Rodney Jerkins, Dexter Simmons, Phil Tan
* Mixing assistants – Tom Berner, Kevin Lively, Marnie Riley
* Programming – Felipe Elgueta, John "J.R." Robinson, Glen Woodward
* Remixing – Tony Maserati
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
References
External links
*
* Monicaat Billboard.com
''Billboard'' (stylized as ''billboard'') is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style related to the music ...
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boy Is Mine, The
1998 albums
Albums produced by Dallas Austin
Albums produced by Jermaine Dupri
Albums produced by Rodney Jerkins
Arista Records albums
Monica (singer) albums