Brandy and Monica appeared on the cover of Essence Wednesday (Oct. 1) to discuss their upcoming co-headlining The Boy Is Mine Tour — and how the song that started it all in 1998 has brought them closer together over the years after being torn apart.
“I think that even though the lyrical content and some of what started to play out created more division than it did togetherness, we’ve taken control of that, and we’re making what the legacy of this song would be totally different for the next generation. And that’s what I’m most proud of, when I look at what is happening now with ‘The Boy Is Mine,’” Monica tells the publication.
While their timeless duet about fighting over a boy spent 13 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned both women a Grammy for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal, the success of the record couldn’t always sweeten the unsavory parts of Brandy and Monica’s relationship. The two allegedly got into an altercation during rehearsal for their performance at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, which caused a years-long rift. When they went head-to-head for a Verzuz battle in 2020, they openly discussed their feud, and Brandy revealed in a later interview on Ebro In The Morning that she had apologized to Monica behind the scenes.
When Ariana Grande reimagined “The Boy Is Mine” on her 2024 album Eternal Sunshine — and tapped Brandy and Monica for the official remix that scored a Grammy nod for best pop duo/group performance — Monica adds, “it was that subtle reminder for us of how special that moment was,” adds Monica. “And what I love so much about it was that we were young, living in the moment and creating. We were creating without critics. We were creating without anything outside of ourselves. And that was the part that I think made it so great and made it so timeless.”
“I see it as so much bigger than just a hit record. At the time, it was two young women coming together, bringing our voices and our stories into one moment — and the world connected with it in a way we couldn’t have imagined. To see how that song connected with people all over the world — and still does — is such a blessing,” says Brandy. “For me, it represented sisterhood and the power of collaboration. Now, all these years later, it feels like a landmark in R&B history, but also a reminder of how far we’ve come as women and as artists. It’s humbling to know that a song can stand the test of time like that, and it inspires me to keep creating music that resonates across generations.”
In a couple of weeks, Brandy and Monica will bring “The Boy Is Mine” to U.S. arenas for The Boy Is Mine Tour, which kicks off on Oct. 16 at Cincinnati’s Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati and goes through major cities including Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York before wrapping up on Dec. 7 at Houston’s Toyota Center.
Brandy also tells Essence that making the setlist was “definitely one of the hardest parts, because so many songs hold a special place in our hearts and in the fans’ hearts. We thought about what records shaped the culture, what moments people connect with most, and how to create a flow that takes the audience on a journey. Of course, the classics are there, but we also wanted surprises — songs people might not expect to hear live, and even some new touches, to make the music feel fresh again. I might even throw in some unreleased music!”