Joe CarrollAnd we’re here for it! In 1998, two teenage R&B prodigies collaborated on a track that took the world by storm, causing fans to take sides in a widely hyped “feud.” This ultimately culminated in the full-circle “The Boy is Mine” Tour, co-headlined by Brandy and Monica, which landed at the Kia Forum last Thursday, Nov. 6, and Sunday, Nov. 9, one of the most anticipated tours of 2025.
A little backstory: Brandy, known as the “vocal bible,” and Monica, “The Princess of R&B,” were both positioned as the “next big thing” in R&B, often compared by radio stations and magazines.
In 1994, at just 15, Brandy released her self-titled debut album, featuring the hit “I Wanna Be Down,” which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her follow-up single “Baby” solidified her as a fresh-faced R&B sensation. Then in 1995, Monica, also 15 at the time, dropped her debut Miss Thang. The lead single “Don’t Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)” hit No. 1 on the Hot 100, making her the youngest female artist to top the chart. Her album went double platinum.
(Courtesy of The Boy Is Mine Tour)
In 1997, producers pitched a duet inspired by a Jerry Springer episode about two women fighting over a man. Brandy and Monica recorded “The Boy Is Mine” without meeting in person — Brandy laid her vocals in LA, Monica in Atlanta. Released in 1998 as the lead single from Brandy’s Never Say Never and later on Monica’s remix album, it exploded, holding the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 spot for a record-tying 13 weeks and selling over 4 million copies in the U.S. It won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group.
Tensions flared from there, with the song’s narrative mirroring real-life rumors, hyped by media speculation that the duo hated each other, and with industry execs fanning the flames. Fans picked sides, with Brandy repping LA’s polished pop-soul vibe and Monica embodying Atlanta’s raw edge.
Things boiled over during rehearsals for the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards. Reports claim the two got into a heated argument over performance details and perceived slights. Tabloids went wild and the story dominated headlines for months. They still performed, but the awkwardness was palpable:
Despite the drama, both thrived. They each released more albums but avoided direct collabs. Rumors persisted but public spats quieted, and the duo rarely acknowledged each other, instead focusing on their individual careers and personal lives.
The conflict was revisited during the Swizz Beatz/Timbaland Verzuz series in 2020, where Brandy and Monica again faced off. It was electric, with millions of viewers tuning in to hear their hits and subtle jabs, but it ended in hugs and mutual respect, and paved the way for this 2025 tour.
At last Sunday’s show, the R&B songstresses again went toe-to-toe in a versus-style showcase, lasting about two hours. Nostalgia swept the arena as Brandy carefully rendered her singles, including “What About Us?,” “I Wanna Be Down,” and “Best Friend,” while Monica gave robust deliveries of “Knock Knock,” “Don’t Take It Personal,” and “Like This and That.” After opening the show together in a rousing first set, the two powerhouses separated, going hit for hit, alternating between fast-paced and soft, melodic sequences across roughly half a dozen acts.
The Forum was illuminated with enthralling lighting and elaborate sets. A team of charismatic background dancers and three background singers supported the headliners and took the stage to perform medleys between sets, while Brandy and Monica disappeared down an elevator for a number of swift wardrobe changes that the audience gobbled up.
The tour has made headlines for its special guests, and Sunday night was no exception, as the audience was treated to surprise performances from O.T. Genasis, Mario, Blxst, and ‘90s R&B heartthrob LL Cool J.
In the final set of the night, the two ladies came together on stage, sharing an intimate moment of graciousness toward both the audience and to each other, ending with each performing more of their top-performing ballads, including Brandy’s “Have You Ever” and Monica’s “For You, I Will.”
The set also featured touching tributes to the late Whitney Houston, exhibiting video montages of the women’s first interactions with Houston and concluding with both women performing “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”
After a high-energy interlude from the tour’s dancers, the ladies returned for the final time to perform the tour’s confrontational namesake title, “The Boy is Mine,” though notably leaving out the bridge and skipping ahead to the final chorus. Fans stayed on their feet as they watched the two leave hand-in-hand after bidding their audience thank you and good night.
(Courtesy of The Boy Is Mine Tour)