It All Belongs to Me

Album: New Life (2012)
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Songfacts®:

  • This collaboration between Brandy and Monica was written and produced by Rico Love, who has also worked with Usher and Beyoncé. It marked the first pairing of the two '90s R&B hitmakers since the then-teenage duo's 1998 mammoth hit single "The Boy Is Mine." The song was released on February 6, 2012.
  • According to Rico Love, the collaboration was originally Monica's idea. He told Rap-Up.com: "Monica heard the record and she was so excited about it. She was like, 'Yo, I really think that this should be that thing, that next duet.' Then [RCA Records executive] Peter Edge and [Chameleon Records CEO] Breyon Prescott put it together."
  • Rico Love told Rap-Up.com he set out to pen a hit single for the two R&B femmes. "It's a very soulful R&B song with pop sensibilities," he said. "I wanted to make sure I made it a classic R&B record, but I definitely wanted to make sure that it had enough appeal to cross over and become a Top 40 record."
  • Brandy told Rap-Up.com that she was delighted to get back in the studio with her former "Boy is Mine" partner. "This business is all about competition," she said. "They forgot about what is the most important, which is two talents coming together. It's just great to come back and do something with [Monica]. This is definitely a blessing."
  • Speaking with Atlanta's V103 radio station, Monica explained the song is far removed from "The Boy Is Mine" as this time their giving their no-good guys the kiss-off. "At this point, this is where you're taking your power back and we gon' come together," she said. "This is totally different than that era and I hope it speaks to all the people who are making diss tracks and going hard on each other. Come together and watch the numbers move."
  • Both of the duets between the two singing stars have the subject matter of marking your territory. Brandy told Spinner that on hearing this song her father commented, "First it was the boy is mine, now the stuff is mine!"

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