Over the next few months, we’ll be spotlighting features from our e-zines from the last 25 years. T M H Entertainment, T M Hxone and Urban Bridgez.
As the longest running website for R&B online, since 1999 – We’ve been able to conduct some amazing interviews with R&B Royalty, as well Hip Hop Legends.
Brandy is adoringly known as “the Vocal Bible,” and her decades-long career has more than proven that she deserves the title. With a singular voice that swells from subdued and reserved to powerful and emotive, she has enraptured audiences since her 1994 self-titled debut.
The quadruple platinum album was steeped in relatable R&B, and served as an introduction to her signature sound.
Brandy’s ability to bring love and loss to light can be traced to a voice that she controls like an instrumentalist.
1998‘s “Never Say Never,” made impact all over the world, it’s first week out. It debuted at #3 in the US, #3 in Canada, #16 in Germany, and #22 in the UK.
The album scored two #1 hits “The Boy is Mine” and “Have You Ever?”
“Never Say Never” was the album that almost didn’t happen. Before recording started for the album, Brandy simply didn’t want to sing. She just didn’t feel it.
“If I can’t feel it, then I won’t sing it,” said the then 19-year-old singer. “And many of the songs I heard were not ‘me.’ They didn’t express what I wanted to say at this point in my career. And I critiqued myself. I’m not the little girl I was when I made my first record. My voice is a stronger instrument now, my vocals come from both my heart and my diaphragm. My heart, because I’ve matured in the four years since the last album, I’m more emotionally there. The diaphragm because I’ve been practicing, doing more scales with my father, just strengthening my sound.”
“Never Say Never“, Brandy’s smash sophomore album, was certified 5-times platinum by the RIAA, with a near six million additional copies sold around the world. The album, which hit #2 on the Billboard 200, spent well more than a year on the chart.
The success of “Never Say Never” was spurred by four consecutive hit tracks: the RIAA double-platinum, Grammy Award-winning “The Boy Is Mine w/ Monica,” which spent a remarkable thirteen weeks at #1 on Billboard’s “Hot 100” chart; the #1 Urban smash, “Top Of The World”; “Have You Ever?,” the #1 Billboard “Hot 100” hit written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster; and the top 20 “Hot 100” hit “Almost Doesn’t Count.” “U Don’t Know Me (Like U Used To)” was the album’s fifth released single, a remix version featured Da Brat and Shaunta.
During that era, Brandy earned high praise for her role in Double Platinum, the hit, made-for-TV movie starring Brandy and Diana Ross. Brandy drew raves in her starring role alongside Whitney Houston in ABC’s Cinderella, which remains a top-selling home video, and the scream-inducing I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER.
In 1999 Brandy appeared on VH1’s Divas Live with Whitney Houston, Tina Turner and Cher. Also that year Brandy became a Covergirl and Mattel announced the release of the Brandy doll collection. If that wasn’t enough, through her music and television star power, she hosted the American Music Awards.
During the same era Brandy taped episodes for the forth & fifth seasons of her smash UPN television series, Moesha.
Though she was still in her teens, Brandy was among the biggest and brightest new stars to emerge during the 1990s.
When “Full Moon” dropped in 2002, it made a triumphant #1 debut on Billboard’s “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” chart, marking Brandy‘s first time at the top of the magazine’s urban chart!
The album also premiered at #2 with-a-bullet on the Billboard 200, her highest-ever first-week position on the chart. As a result, “Full Moon” earned dual “Hot Shot Debut” crowns. In addition, the album a was huge international success, quickly achieving gold certification in the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan.
Brandy scored her 7th Top 10 Pop hit and her 9th Top 10 R&B single with “What About Us” on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.
“Full Moon” the single reached the top 20 of Billboards Pop and R&B charts. “He Is” was released as the third single but failed to chart outside of #86 on Billboards R&B charts. Brandy was close to delivering her daughter Sy’Rai during the period of that single and a video was never shot.
“Human is my most personal album to date,”Brandy said at the time. “I have grown so much since my last album. Being able to express myself and my journey through my music is a feeling I can’t describe.”
The project reunited Brandy with songwriter/producer Rodney Jerkins, who first worked with Brandy on the multi-platinum sophomore set, “Never Say Never.” Rodney, executive produced “Human,” and also produced the first two singles, “Right Here (Departed)” and “Long Distance,” a ballad co-produced with Bruno Mars. “We have great musical chemistry,” Rodney Jerkins stated. “‘Departed’ was the first song we did together after reuniting. And that says a lot: Most of the time you don’t find the single until you’re at the end of a project.”
“Afrodisiac” came in 2004, reaching #4 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album released three singles, “Talk About Our Love” featuring Kanye West, which reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, followed by “Who Is She 2 U” and the title track.
“Human is my most personal album to date,”Brandy said at the time of her 2008 release. “I have grown so much since my last album. Being able to express myself and my journey through my music is a feeling I can’t describe.”
The project reunited Brandy with songwriter/producer Rodney Jerkins, who first worked with Brandy on the multi-platinum sophomore set, “Never Say Never.” Rodney, executive produced “Human,” and also produced the first two singles, “Right Here (Departed)” and “Long Distance,” a ballad co-produced with Bruno Mars. “We have great musical chemistry,” Rodney Jerkins stated. “‘Departed’ was the first song we did together after reuniting. And that says a lot: Most of the time you don’t find the single until you’re at the end of a project.”
Brandy stated; “Rodney really wanted to make a classic album, and so did I. The chemistry gave us exactly what we wanted.”
Additional collaborations included, Brian Kennedy, Toby Gad, James Fauntleroy, Frank Ocean, Tiyon Mack and RedOne.
Brandy reflects on the joys and pitfalls involved with just being human on the album.
“Human” debuted at #15 on the Billboard 200 chart. Brandy co-wrote several songs, including “Fall” with Natasha Bedingfield.
The lyrics drew inspiration from a daily journal Brandy began keeping. “Getting in touch with how I felt made me want to sing about it,” Brandy stated. “This entire album is about life and what we all experience – that we’re not alone and sometimes need to be uplifted.”
Speaking on the lead single “Right Here (Departed),” Brandy stated; “In the last couple of years, there’s been different circumstances in my life and I felt like what I needed was extra support, extra encouragement, extra love. That song was written for that purpose in my life. And it was very inspirational and as soon as I heard it, I knew that was a song that I was supposed to sing.” The single reached #1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart.
Which was Brandy‘s first single to top that chart. The second single “Long Distance” became her second song to top Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart.
Brandy also spread her wings artistically and experimented with new vocal arrangements and fresh sounds on “Human.” “I just had a great time making the album,” she stated. “Recording this album I met great people, great producers, great writers. And this is the first album I kind of ventured out and explored and it was a lot of fun.”
2012‘s “Two Eleven” debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #3 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. Featuring the singles “Put It Down” featuring Chris Brown and “Wildest Dreams.”
Brandy‘s last album release “b7,” debuted at #1 on the R&B/Hip Hop and the Independent chart.
In 2020 Brandy partnered with Stella Rosa wine and released her own flavors including; Smooth Black, Tropical Passion, and Honey Peach Brandy.
Brandy‘s last film appearance was in the Netflix original film “Best. Christmas. Ever!”
This last holiday season, Brandy finally treated fans with a Christmas album entitled “Christmas with Brandy.”
In this UB Anniversary ReVisit, we celebrate one of our favorites Brandy.
Brandy is performing tonight live on the Grammy‘s, with Burna Boy and 21 Savage, at 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT) on CBS.
Over the years Aries from UBG has interviewed Brandy on various occasions. To celebrate the music icon, we’ve put together some of our favorite excerpts from our interviews with Brandy over the years.
Brandy talks, favorite songs, her amazing vocal runs, what alcoholic drink she prefers, her idea of a great date, the most emotional song she’s ever recorded and so much more.
UrbanBridgez.com: What type of album did you set out to make when you started “Full Moon?”
Brandy: One based on my experiences over the past three years. Falling in love, falling out of love, being hurt, – and then finding someone really special.UrbanBridgez.com: What do you want your fans to know about you & your life now at this point?
Brandy: My fans should know that I’m still a human being, I should be able to grow and make mistakes like everyone else, I should be able to have a private life, I’m happy, looking forward to being a mom and appreciate all of their support over the years.UrbanBridgez.com: The album comes on Tuesday, it’s called “Human.” How does this album compare to your past records and what makes it different, would you say?
Brandy: Um, well all of my albums are from the heart, all of my albums are passionate and I feel like the songs I’ve done in the past have been quality and relatable and this album is the same way. The difference I feel is that I’m a different person, I’ve evolved and my music has evolved with me and so the topic matters are a little different. They’re about self and being a better me and things like that. So they’re a little more inspirational and message driven than my old stuff.UrbanBridgez.com: You were talking about songs being message-driven and inspirational, Right Here (Departed), the first single, is such an emotional song. You sing that song with such conviction and the vocal performance is so soulful and it’s touched and inspired so many people. Why do you think that song is so powerful?
Brandy: I think because people understand that everybody needs somebody at the end of the day. It just feels good to have people that you can depend on and just the lyric itself “I’ll be right here with you, You’ll be right here with me,” everybody has that person in their life. And I definitely connected to it when I first heard it. I was like “Oh my God this sounds like something that I actually sat down and wrote myself. So I just love singing that song and I love performing it live too, that’s a lot of fun.UrbanBridgez.com: Now speaking of how you sound, everybody knows you have the craziest vocal runs and that beautiful texture in your voice that has inspired so many vocalists. How do you come up with those runs? What’s your process in recording?
Brandy: I just hear crazy things in my head and just go with it. I’ve been hearing different melodies and different things in my head since I was a kid and my dad used to have this 4-track and I would just always record on it and put it down. So I started very young doing that and I do the same thing in the studio to this day. I just do it and even if I mess up. It’s interesting because even when I mess up in the studio, that’s when something good is born. I always mess up in the studio (laughs).UrbanBridgez.com: What are Brandy’s favorite Brandy songs? Like top 4 or 5?
Brandy: Top 4 or 5? Hmm, I gotta get these answers together (laughs) like… I don’t even know. Let me see! One of my favorite songs would have to be “Almost Doesn’t Count.” I love that song. I love “Nothing,” too, as well. I also love “When You Touch Me” off of the Full Moon album. And then some other songs that I’ve done that have never been released. Like a song called “Sweet Nothings” I love. It’s been all over the internet but it’s never been on an album. And I love a song called “Open” I did on the Osmosis Jones Soundtrack.
UrbanBridgez.com: I heard J.Lo is one of your favorites.
Brandy: I like J.Lo’s voice and I like her song choices and I love the way she dances. She’s very pretty and she can act! She has a lot going on there man!UrbanBridgez.com: So if you are dating a guy, what is Brandy’s ideal evening out?
Brandy: Well I’m a simple girl so if we’re just going anywhere just to have a good time and to just laugh and to get to know each other that’s it for me I don’t need much. I just wanna be able to talk to somebody about anything and just laugh.UrbanBridgez.com: But speaking of going out, what do you order to drink. What’s Brandy’s go to drink at the bar of the restaurant?
Brandy: Now are little girls gonna be reading this, because I don’t want nobody to think I’m an alcoholic…UrbanBridgez.com: No! I don’t think anyone thinks you’re an alcoholic Brandy! But everyone has a drink when they go out.
Brandy: No but when I tell you the drink that I like, you’re gonna be like “oh that is strong!”UrbanBridgez.com: Is it a tequila shot?
Brandy: (Laughs) No, it’s not! If I go out and just have the feeling of wanting to have a drink it would have to be a Long Island. You know, the Long Island, they put all (stresses all) the different alcohols in the Long Island.UrbanBridgez.com: No problem! What’s the best part for you doing press for this project?
Brandy: I think the best part for me is to really be able to promote a song that I believe in. Some of the records in the past I didn’t believe in, in certain eras that represented me in music wasn’t my favorite stuff to do. So to promote a song that I believe in and an album that I’m totally confident in. I feel like my fans will fall in love with it, that’s been the best part because it just feels like how it did when I was doing the first three albums.UrbanBridgez.com: Wildest Dreams just dropped and the feedback is crazy good!
Brandy: Do you like it?UrbanBridgez.com: I love, love, love it!
Brandy: Good, thank you! I’m so glad.
UrbanBridgez.com: With Whitney being partially the inspiration for the album title and such a close friend to you, what song if any on the album when you listen to you think of her, either by the vocals, lyrics or whatever it may be?
Brandy: So many of my vocals, from riffs to phrasing — I try to emulate her here and there. Of course I try to stay true to myself. But naturally because she was really the only person that I listened to non stop growing up. So naturally there are her reflections on some of the things I do on the songs. But just my behavior and my dedication to my music and really just my commitment is my tribute to Whitney. Because that’s what I promised her that I would do and I promised her that I would stay true to myself. So that’s my whole life and behavior and how I am with my career, is my tribute to her. For some reason I just feel like…I don’t want to say she passed the torch, because clearly my voice isn’t as strong as Whitney’s and only she could do what she could do. But to pass on my birthday I feel like she passed something to me to continue to do because she’s not here anymore. So I just want to do that, whatever that thing is. I know I can’t come close to her, so I’m not saying that at all but I’m going to try my hardest to live out something that she would do if she was still here. And I say that in the most humble way, please don’t take it like oh I’m going to fill Whitney’s shoes, that’s not what I’m saying (laughs).UrbanBridgez.com: What’s the most emotional song you’ve ever recorded?
Brandy: Most emotional, oh my god I got so many emotional songs (laughs). My whole life before I even knew what love was (laughs). This is a hard one, I might need you to help me a little bit with that. I’m trying to think. You know what — I would have to say one of the most emotional songs I’ve ever done is not even on an album. It’s called Freedom, it was very emotional for me because that was the time I was going through the whole accident experience. I was very sad and I didn’t know how to feel at that time. That song came to me through Frank Ocean and TK, his writing partner at the time. I just wanted to be free from the slander, I wanted to be free blame, I wanted to just be happy again. Apart of me at that time didn’t even feel like I deserved to be or whatever because I was apart of something that was so tragic. It was a crazy time, that was one of the songs I was able to go in the studio and really release. Freedom means so many things, I know in the song the lyrics describe it to be freedom in terms of just being free. But it meant alot of different freedoms for me at that time. But I sang my heart out on so many songs, Never-SAY-Never was about a breakup. So that whole album was just…but Freedom is a very special song for a very interesting growing time for me.UrbanBridgez.com: If for whatever reason, the stars didn’t align up and you were not an entertainer, what career path would you have taken?
Brandy: I would of been a kick ass Lawyer! Oh my god, I would of won all my cases. Specially like an negotiator, I would definitely want to represent the innocent and really try to win the case for them. If I didn’t do that, because I’m not good at studying, I’ve never been good at that. Sorry young fans, stay in school! I love doing hair and I love doing make-up, so I definitely would have like my own Salon. I would sell hair and have celebrity clients as well as normal clients. I love hair and make-up and making people feel beautiful. Like I do Shay’s make-up all the time and everytime I finish doing her make-up or doing her hair she just makes me feel like I created her. That feels good, so I would definitely do that. I love doing Sy’Rai’s hair, I straightened her hair today for the first day of school. She always says you’re my personal hairstylist mommy (both laugh). It’s fun.UrbanBridgez.com: On YouTube everybody from Teyana Taylor, Ciara & Keke Palmer and others have sung your songs, how do you feel about being an icon for a generation?
Brandy: It’s amazing because all of those girls I love! So for them to love me and give me props and pay homage to me and to say I inspire them…that means alot because everybody doesn’t do that. Everybdy doesn’t take the time to do that and I know I did that to the people that influenced me and encouraged me. So for them to say that about me is amazing. But it’s kind of weird because when I was growing up and dreaming about being a singer, I never thought people would feel about me the way I have felt about certain people that have influenced me. So that’s a blessing, I never thought that. That’s why when people come up to me and they cry, I look at them like why it’s me. I get it, but I don’t get it which is a good thing. I think not getting it, keeps my grounded, keeps me humble and striving to continue to inspire people.
UrbanBridgez.com: They say use them as your motivators, how do your haters motivate you?
Brandy: I try not to pay attention to the haters because I understand what hate really is. I’m trying to win, just so I can show them — sometimes I have moments like that, but I feel bad for them. I really, really do. Because if they really got to know the people that they hate, they would feel really stupid. Like if they really got to know me and hung out with me for 5 minutes. First of all they would forget that I ever sang a song, they would probably think that I was like the best friend that they’ve never had. They would forget how much they hate me in 5 minutes, they would feel stupid. And probably be so apologetic. It’s crazy, but that’s just the way it is. But the hatred doesn’t have anything to do with me, it has to do with something about how they feel about them. Sometimes people hate themselves so much and because they’ve done so much hating on their self they need someone else to put that energy out on. They can continue to hate on me, I’m going to continue to do what I do and do it with love and strive to be the best me that I can be. Really soak in all the love that is out there for me and that is really what motivates me more than the hate is the love out there for me. Those Starz really keep me shining seriously! The Starz are the bomb.UrbanBridgez.com: Everytime a Moesha marathon is on GMC it’s trending on Twitter, thinking back did you ever imagine the show would be so legendary so to speak?
Brandy: I had no clue, I knew I loved Moesha and I loved all her friends. I knew the show related to every teenage girl out there. I didn’t know it was going to be the way it was, I didn’t know that I would get the chance to work with Maya Angelou and Jamie Foxx to Nia Long was going to come on the show. I mean everybody just came in and out on that show. It was just really a blessing to work with alot of people that are huge today and that it has inspired so many people today. For it to still be around and people to still get excited about it is great. Now Sy’Rai is interested in watching it, she just told me today mom I wish Moesha was on today on the Disney channel. I said I know and she said she wants to see the Moesha meets Brandy episode, but I can’t find it! I can not find it.UrbanBridgez.com: I have it on VHS.
Brandy: Send it to me! I need that for Sy’Rai!UrbanBridgez.com: I can do that, it’s VHS now.
Brandy: That’s fine, we still got a VCR (laughs).UrbanBridgez.com: What’s the best part about motherhood to you?
Brandy: Being able to get better and better and better! It starts with you and you have to really want to be a good parent. You really want to lead by example, so she keeps me on my toes. I just learn so much from her, like she’s so forgiving. Children are really forgiving like if you make a mistake, they love you unconditionally. She loves me if I look crazy, she loves me if I don’t ever sing again in my whole life. She loves me for me, is what I’m trying to say. We just have a good time, we’re very affectionate and we have a great relationship. The communication is amazing, so all of that is good. it just keeps you on your toes, I really want to be a great example to her. That keeps me being a great example to other little girls who are watching me too.UrbanBridgez.com: Before we wrap up, what is something you want to share or leave with the Starz who have been supporting/promoting you hardcore in preparation for Two Eleven?
Brandy: It’s our time and we’re going to continue to strive, continue to be a unit! This is our time, claiming it, keep praying and supporting. Just know that I love the Starz as much as you love me! I really do, like I’m watching you guys, I listen to everything you guys say, I read everything you guys say and you guys are my babies. You guys are my extended family. Really and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
UrbanBridgez.com: I’ve been meaning to tell you this. But I just want to say I really feel blessed to have been in the house when you performed in the Whitney tribute (BET Awards 2012) and to say I was proud is an understatement! To see you on that stage with so much confidence and honoring Whitney at the same time making your official return was amazing! You’re back, I just hope they’re ready!
Brandy: Thank you! I’m so happy you were there to experience that!Tishelle from UB spoke to the “vocal bible“, as she was preparing to head to the studio. Brandy was candid and opened up with us about many things. Including the process it took for her to complete “b7,” how she developed her confidence for songwriting and she tells us the song that took the longest to record, and why.
Brandy shares her experience with mental health and gives advice to those suffering. She also gets candid on her sound and creativity, when others bit her style she tells us how she found another way. Brandy speaks on Black Lives Matter & the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and explains to us why love is the answer.
If that’s not enough, we also take questions from the Starz. Plus Brandy plays the UBLyric Game and shares with us what she misses most about the late great Whitney Houston.
UB Anniversary ReVisit: Sonja Norwood Talks ‘Business’ In Two-Part UB Interview
