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Monica

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5 Questions With ... Monica

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GRAMMY-winning artist visits The Recording Academy
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

GRAMMY-winning R&B artist Monica recently visited The Recording Academy's headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., for an installment of 5 Questions With … . The singer discussed the importance of music education, mentoring, her favorite GRAMMY moment, social networking, and the importance of being an Academy member.

"I came not expecting to win at all," said Monica of her GRAMMY win in 1998 for "The Boy Is Mine." "I was honored in my heart to be nominated. Winning never crossed my mind. I had never won any award in any form. [I] was just simply surprised, and looking back at the moment, just excited."

5 Questions With... Monica



Monica was born Monica Denise Arnold in Atlanta. As a young girl she performed in local churches and talent show contests, and by the age of 10 she joined the traveling gospel choir Charles Thompson And The Majestics. At age 11 she was discovered by producer Dallas Austin, who offered a record deal with Rowdy Records. In 1995 Monica released her debut album, Miss Thang, which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hits "Before You Walk Out Of My Life," "Why I Love You So Much" and "Don't Take It Personal (Just One Of Dem Days)." Her sophomore album, The Boy Is Mine, was released in 1998 and yielded two No. 1 hits, "The First Night" and "Angel Of Mine." The album's title track featured a duet with Brandy and earned them each a GRAMMY for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals. Monica received two GRAMMY nominations in 2010, including a nod for Best R&B Album for Still Standing. She is currently working on her latest album, New Life, which is tentatively scheduled for release later this year.

Click on the "5 Questions With ... interviews" tag below for links to other GRAMMY News stories in this series.

GRAMMYs

Missy Elliott

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Femme It Forward Reveals Slate Of 2020 Artists & Events: Missy Elliott, Brandy, Tinashe, SWV, More

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Lil Kim, Ashanti, Teedra Moses, Kiana Lede and Melanie Fiona will also appear in the organization's programming
Onaje McDowelle
GRAMMYs
Feb 25, 2020 - 4:41 pm

Live Nation Urban's Femme It Forward has revealed its 2020 slate of upcoming multi-format events and female-owned business partnerships, including concerts, festivals and panel discussions. GRAMMY-winning artists like Missy Elliott, Brandy, Monica and Ashanti have all been announced as performers at various shows and events throughout the series.

As an organization, Femme It Forward looks to celebrate the depth and power of women in music and entertainment by “provid[ing] platforms and events to spotlight the entertainment industry’s most creative and accomplished female visionaries, both on the stage and behind the scenes.” Originally founded in 2019, the organization quickly made a splash as a source of impact and empowerment in the industry according to FEF President, Heather Lowery.

"The launch of Femme It Forward exceeded any expectations that we had as an organization, the amount of love and support from our community was powerful," she said in a statement. "Recruiting a team of powerhouses going into this new decade was a priority of mine and as a female CEO, I’m incredibly passionate about working with other like-minded women to further celebrate the depth, talent and power we possess in this industry."

"Women have always played a pivotal role in the entertainment industry, whether we’re behind the scenes or center stage; but it’s rare that those stories make it to the forefront,” said GRAMMY-winning rapper Lil' Kim a statement regarding the organization. "Femme It Forward is a game-changer! I’m excited and appreciative to be a part of this major movement."

The organization recently announced new partners in CEO's and businesswomen Tina Farris, Diana Dotel, Dina LaPolt, Lou Taylor and Carleen Donovan. Additional partnerships will be announced at a later date.

Femme It Forward will host events like a Los Angeles International Women’s Day Celebration hosted by Capitol Music Group, a Funk Fest in Atlanta this May and a Love Language concert at LA’s Microsoft Theater on April 30. Additional artists who will be featured within the 2020 series of events are Xscape, 702, Amerie, Keri Hilson, Lucky Daye, The-Dream, Rapsody, Trina, Ludacris and others.

Tickets are now on sale via Live Nation. For event dates, details and full lineups, visit Femme It Forward here.

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(L-R) Usher, Ludacris and Lil Jon perform at the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Festival

(L-R) Usher, Ludacris and Lil Jon perform at the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Festival

Photo: Ethan Miller/WireImage

 
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Brand-New Lovers & Friends Fest: Ms. Lauryn Hill, Usher, Ludacris, Lil Jon, TLC, Megan Thee Stallion, Monica, Nelly, Sean Paul & Many More Announced

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Goldenvoice's latest one-day Southern California music festival extravaganza features huge names from '90s R&B and hip-hop and beyond, with T-Pain, Brandy, Ja Rule, Fat Joe, SWV, Twista, Eve and more also slated to perform
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Feb 19, 2020 - 6:25 am

Los Angeles music event tastemakers Goldenvoice and Soulection announced the latest spring 2020 music festival to get excited about: Lovers & Friends Fest, featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill, Usher, Ludacris, Lil Jon (gimme a "Yeah!") and TLC as headliners. The brand-new one-day extravaganza features your favorite '90s and '00s R&B and hip-hop acts, with T-Pain, Brandy, Ja Rule, Monica, Fat Joe, Nelly, Sean Paul, SWV, Eve and many more also slated to perform.

The first-ever Lovers & Friends takes place Saturday, May 9, at Dignity Health Sports Park—the stadium where the L.A. Galaxy play—in Carson, Calif.

The nostalgia-inducing lineup also features Cam'ron, Tweet, Amerie, Mario, 112, Montell Jordan and Dru Hill. Newer R&B and hip-hop queens Jhené Aiko, Summer Walker and Megan Thee Stallion will also bring the sultry vibes.

Following the lineup announcement, a few of the artists included on the bill, including Lil Kim, Mase and Twista, denied any affiliation with the event, causing confusion about the festival's roster and legitimacy; Twista later redacted his statement on social media. Prayer hands that the rest of the artists will be making the incredibly epic lineup very real come May.

Pre-sale tickets go on sale this Thursday, Feb. 20, at 10 a.m. PT. General on-sale tickets will be available starting Friday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. PT.

Visit the festival's official website to sign up for the pre-sale and for more info on the big event.

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GRAMMYs

V.V. Brown visits The Recording Academy for 5 Questions With…

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V.V. Va-Voom

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5 Questions With… V.V. Brown
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

Energetic R&B singer/songwriter V.V. Brown visited The Recording Academy headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., on July 29 for a performance and an installment of 5 Questions With…, a new Academy series designed to engage recording artists and professionals on a variety of topics.

Through five simple questions, Brown provided a glimpse into who she is as a person and artist. With influences ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to the Sex Pistols (with the obvious bridge of Grace Jones in between), Brown describes herself as a creative person, which she means literally. In addition to writing and performing her own work, she has also produced a comic book and is currently working on a novel.

Born Vanessa Brown in England, she began her career co-writing the Pussycat Dolls' "I Don't Need A Man" for their 2005 PCD album. Her debut single "Whipped" appeared on the soundtrack for the NBC TV series "Las Vegas," billed as Vanessa Brown. As a solo artist, she emerged as V.V. Brown, a genre-bending R&B singer with roll-up bangs and a novel approach to music that puts her in a similar camp to another noteworthy new star, Janelle Monáe. Her debut album, Travelling Like The Light, is an adventurous hybrid of soul, rock and pop ripe with fresh sounds and attitude.

Asked about her biggest career moment to date, Brown said, "Today…to be sitting here at The Recording Academy itself for me is a massive big dream." Oh, and hanging out with the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea, of course.

 

 

5 Questions With... V.V. Brown

More 5 Questions With... video: V.V. Brown, Jakob Dylan, Alejandro Fernández, Florence + The Machine, Rosi Golan, K'Naan, John Legend, Bruno Mars, Janelle Monáe, and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart

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Wake Up With Legend

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5 Questions With… John Legend
Crystal Larsen
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

On Aug. 19 John Legend dropped by The Recording Academy headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., to perform a few songs, chat with GRAMMY.com and even pick up a surprise replacement GRAMMY Award. Legend is in the midst of a tour with the Roots supporting their new album Wake Up, a collection of classic '60s and '70s R&B. During his visit, Legend played a few solo songs at the piano, including the album's title track, originally a hit for Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (and their vocalist, Teddy Pendergrass), and "Shine," the album's only original song.

"[These] songs evoke an era of activism and a time when musicians were really a part of the social movements that were happening, and their music reflected that," says Legend on why the concept of the album appealed to him.

Legend himself has always leaned toward a rich, classic R&B sound with piano-based arrangements. His roots lie in traditional gospel singing, and his piano skills landed him an early role backing Lauryn Hill on her "Everything Is Everything" track from the GRAMMY-winning The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill album in 1998. By 2004 he had formally launched his solo career with a live album, Solo Session, Vol. 1: Live At The Knitting Factory, which was followed by Get Lifted and a slew of GRAMMY Awards.

"It's great!" laughs Legend about receiving GRAMMYs. "It means that the people who know music said that you've made something that was great."

 

 

 

5 Questions With... John Legend

More 5 Questions With... video: V.V. Brown, Jakob Dylan, Alejandro Fernández, Florence + The Machine, Rosi Golan, K'Naan, John Legend, Bruno Mars, Janelle Monáe, and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart