The Aaliyah-Brandy-Monica Trinity Of The 90s

‍ ‍ Aaliyah

First of all, my theory on these three amazing singers is that they are middle GenXers, and not late ones as marketed. Knowing what I know about the music industry, image is everything and lies are weaponized to manipulate, craft and shape public perception of music artists. Marketed as teenage artists, I believe they were already at the cusp of adulthood, in their late teens when they were first launched to the world. Yes, skepticism is my forte!

Aaliyah with her delicate and breathy vocals framed round a lean tomboyish image and bandana-street attire walked on her own unique musical lane. Who would have thought that the Aaliyah Dana Haughton who made an unimpressionable mark at the TV show Star Search would eventually make the headlines with her debut album Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number (1994) few years later and further manifest this reality by marriage at age 15 to R Kelly, her music mentor and producer of her initial album and sound.

Following the annulment of that marriage, she returned in 1996 in collaboration with Missy Elliot and Timbaland to create One In A Million which became a successful venture and partnership. The two producers brought out her full potential creating an Aaliyah that a legion of teenage fans would come to love and adore. “Baby girl”, as she was fondly called by Timbaland bloomed into a stunning woman to become a triple threat- singer, dancer and actress at the turn of the millennium. And just when fans looked forward to future projects, she died prematurely at age 22 in an airplane crash in the Bahamas in August 2001.

For us 90s teens, the trinity embodied who we were or wanted to be. They influenced the early process of identity formation. As a high schooler at the time, several peers identified with Aaliyah. These were the early bloomers who already boasted of ambitious love relationships with older males. Others were set to tie the matrimonial knot after O levels. Strangely and unsurprisingly, “Age Aint Nothin’ But A Number” was their favourite Aaliyah song and Aaliyah was their heroine. They were sexually advanced for their young age and Aaliyah framed and mirrored their lived experiences. They were ambiguous creatures, young but mature, innocent but sophisticated. Just like Aaliyah!

Brandy

Brandy Norwood, on the other hand, was America’s sweetheart, seemingly pure, untainted and the perfect star. She achieved crossover appeal and successes in the 1990s. Before the debut album Brandy was ever conceived, she had appeared on the set of Thea a short-lived TV series at age 14. The album boasted of hit singles like “I Wanna Be Down” and “Baby”, which became one of the fastest-selling platinum singles in history. Her appeal was further reinforced by “Sittin’ Up In My Room” , a soundtrack to the critically-acclaimed movie Waiting To Exhale (1995) which starred Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett.

By 1998, her sophomore album Never Say Never would hit the market and featured the pickmesha’s anthem and hit duet “The Boy Is Mine”, with Monica which spent thirteen weeks at #1 and was followed by the Diane Warren-written power ballad “Have You Ever?” in 1999. At the turn of the millennium, the adult Brandy would release Full Moon (2002) and Afrodisiac (2004).

Yours sincerely drew inspiration from Ms. Norwood who had an easy laid-back girl-next door vibe. Just like me, I saw a talented unambiguous black teenager and braid-wearer. Nonetheless, she possessed a refined vocal timbre and loved her brother, Ray. J to whom she dedicates the song “Best Friend”. She also enjoyed a close affinity with Whitney Houston who is my favourite singer of all times. Like me, she had a christianized background and she could do no wrong. Neither could I!

Monica

And then came the original Miss Thang, Monica Arnold with the super mature soulful pipes and unmistakable sound which garnered six platinum singles in four years. Often pitted against Brandy and portrayed as rivals, Arnold was discovered by Dallas Austin who signed her to his Rowdy Records in 1995. Her debut album Miss Thang was a container of hit-singles like “Don’t Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)”, which reached #1 on the R&B chart and #2 pop, “Before You Walk Out Of My Life”, “Like This And Like That” and “Why I Love You So Much”.

However, her biggest songs which helped shape her crossover appeal were “For You I Will” which was a soundtrack to the movie Space Jam (1997) starring ace basketballer Michael Jordan. “The Boy Is Mine”, a duet with Brandy, which went double platinum and spent 13 weeks at #1 in 1998 wrote her name in the annals of R&B history. And the stunning R&B ballad “Angel Of Mine” which was a cover of the 1997 hit by British girl group Eternal topped the Billboard chart for four weeks straight.

Monica is a ghetto-fabulous chick who presented herself authentically to the world. Her sound was raw and unapologetic. You either loved or hated it! Just like Aaliyah, she was old but young and knew the ways of the world before time. She epitomized the young girl who had experienced the downsides of life, yet survived.

These were the R&B teenage divas/icons of the 1990s. While Aaliyah walked as a lone wolf, Monica was always pitted as Brandy’s competition. It felt scripted this rivalry, especially in the wake of the duet-duel “The Boy Is Mine”, when the listening public could hardly discern reality from fiction. These three have a rich catalogue of pickmesha songs and can’t be blamed for being the delivery conduit for a patriarchal programming.

Nevertheless, they would always be loved!