Verzuz With Brandy and Monica - The RnB Reunion That 2020 Needed

What’s the ultimate musical artist feuds from back in the day? Brandy and Monica definitely come to mind, as ”The Boy is Mine” starts playing in our heads.

Verzuz Battles are the latest way for celebrities to prove their chops on line, providing tons of entertainment music lovers all over the world. It was created by producers Timbaland and Swiss Beatz as a form of quarantine entertainment.

It’s certainly surreal to be seeing your favorite artists live-streamed from your computer screen, as they battle each other for your affection and validation. While some of these battles have been disappointing, Brandy vs. Monica was the opposite.

New RnB queens like Snoh Alegra and Kehlani might be slaying in 2020, but where would RnB be at all without divas Monica and Brandy? The two of them represented a fleeting era of music that we’ll never get back. So of course when the two of them got back together, they broke the internet.

While many of us thought it would be a fiery shadefest (anyone remember when the two literally fought in 1999?) it was a gorgeous example of women supporting women. The reunion was a result of Missy Elliot working hard to get the two ladies together in the same room, and we thank the queen of hip hop for her adamance.

It had been a whopping eight years since the two were physically with each other. Monica told Brandy “I really do admire what you’ve done musically and what you have also had to endure personally.” With Brandy responding “I just need you to know I have the utmost love and respect for you as well. No matter the time where it seemed like I didn’t.”

It was a poignant reminder that women are often pitted against each other in Hollywood and by the media, and seeing the two of them hash it out in person gave us the feels. Further, Monica later admitted to Essence.com that the conversations had off camera were “bigger for me. You didn’t really get to see the authenticity of us having a real conversation as adult women.”

They each play fans 20 of their best songs, in a glorious and soul-feeding performance that felt cathartic for performer and audience. Watching these two songbirds jamming together side by side and cheerleading each other made us want to hop in a time machine ASAP.

And what did they finish off the Verzuz with? Their most famous duet of course: ”The Boy is Mine.” While her upcoming album “B7” was fire, we’re so ready for a future Brandy and Monica collaboration. 2021’s just around the corner - what do you say, ladies?