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Brandy and Monica to go head-to-head in Verzuz battle

Artists were subject of feud rumours for years after the release of their hit collaboration, ‘The Boy is Mine’

Roisin O'Connor
Sunday 23 August 2020 15:31 BST
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Promotional artwork for the Brandy vs Monica Verzuz battle
Promotional artwork for the Brandy vs Monica Verzuz battle (Instagram/Apple Music)

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Brandy and Monica have been announced as the latest artists who will square off on Timbaland and Swizz Beatz’s Verzuz series.

The competition, which sees a number of music heavyweights facing one another with their biggest hits, was launched in March.

So far has included guests such as Erykah Badu vs Jill Scott, 2 Chainz vs Rick Ross, and DMZ vs Snoop Dogg.

More than 20 years since the release of their R&B hit “The Boy is Mine”, Brandy and Monica will now appear in a livestream on Monday 31 August, 8pm EST (1am BST).

Brandy released her first album in eight years, B7, last month. Monica’s latest studio release was Code Red in 2015, which included guest features by Missy Elliot, Lil Wayne, Timbaland and Akon.

The pair were the subject of major tabloid scrutiny during the Nineties, over speculation that the feud in their song had spilled over into a real-life one.

While they consistently denied any rift, a planned performance at the 1999 Grammy Awards – where “The Boy is Mine” won Best R&B Song by a Group or Duo – was called off.

Just two years ago, Brandy changed the lyrics to “the song is mine” during her set at the 2018 Essence Fest.

The Brandy vs Monica Verzuz episode will be streamed live from Tyler Perry Studios on Monday 31 August.

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