Monica

Solo Artist

Photo: WBLS · CC BY 3.0
Active 1991-present
Origin College Park, Georgia
Albums 8
Tracks 99
Most frequent collaborator Dallas Austin · 14 tracks
Genres R&BSoulHip Hop Soul
Co-Performer
34%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 34 of 99 tracks

Does Monica write her own songs?

Some of them, and never by herself. She is credited on 34 of the 99 tracks across her eight studio albums, and no track anywhere in the catalogue carries her name alone. The share swings hard by record: nothing at all on The Boy Is Mine in 1998, all 14 tracks on Code Red in 2015.

By the Numbers

8
Studio Albums
99
Tracks Credited
34%
Self-Written
25 million
Records Sold
35
Years Active
266
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 34 / 99 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 99 tracks: how many Monica wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Monica has a writing credit34%
34%
66%
Sole author0tracks0%
Co-written34tracks34%
Outside writers65tracks66%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Monica's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 99 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)34%
Composer (music)34%
Producer0%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Monica's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 34%
13%
0%
82%
38%
0%
20%
17%
100%
1995Miss Thang
1998The Boy Is Mine
2002All Eyez on Me
2003After the Storm
2006The Makings of Me
2010Still Standing
2012New Life
2015Code Red
Early · 28% written
Mid · 21% written
Late · 62% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

7%
1990s
Miss Thang, The Boy Is Mine
41%
2000s
All Eyez on Me, After the Storm +1 more
50%
2010s
Still Standing, New Life +1 more

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Monica sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Monica
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Whitney Houston5%
Xscape17%
Backstreet Boys25%
Joe54%
Mary J. Blige70%
Mariah Carey87%
R. Kelly100%
34%Monica
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)
Miss Thang
Written by Dallas Austin, Monica, Derrick Simmons, Willie James Baker, James Todd Smith, Quincy Jones III, Abrim Tilmon, Hank Shocklee, Eric Sadler, Carlton Ridenhour, James Brown, George Clinton, Monica Denise Arnold
Co-wrote
Like This and Like That
Miss Thang
Written by Dallas Austin, Colin Wolfe, Gabriel Jackson
Outside writers
Why I Love You So Much
Miss Thang
Written by Daryl Simmons
Outside writers
Before You Walk Out of My Life
Miss Thang
Written by Kenneth Karlin, Andrea Martin, Soulshock, Carsten Schack
Outside writers
The Boy Is Mine
The Boy Is Mine
Written by Brandy Norwood, Rodney Jerkins, Japhe Tejeda, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels
Outside writers
The First Night
The Boy Is Mine
Written by Jermaine Dupri, Tamara Savage, Marilyn McLeod, Pam Sawyer
Outside writers
Angel of Mine
The Boy Is Mine
Written by Rhett Lawrence, Travon Potts
Outside writers
For You I Will
The Boy Is Mine
Written by Diane Warren
Outside writers
All Eyez on Me
All Eyez on Me
Written by Monica, LaShawn Daniels, James Ingram, Quincy Jones, Monica Denise Arnold
Co-wrote
So Gone
After the Storm
Written by Missy Elliott, Kenneth Cunningham, Jamahl Rye, Zyah Ahmounel
Outside writers
U Should've Known Better
After the Storm
Written by Monica, Jermaine Dupri, Harold Lilly, Monica Denise Arnold
Co-wrote
Knock Knock
After the Storm
Written by Missy Elliott, Kanye West, Lee Hatim
Outside writers
Everytime tha Beat Drop
The Makings of Me
Written by Jamal Willingham, Jermaine Dupri, LRoc, Johntá Austin, Gerald Tiller, Bernard Leverette, Maurice Gleaton, Charles Hammond, Robert Hill, D'Angelo Hunt, James Phillips
Outside writers
Everything to Me
Still Standing
Written by Missy Elliott, Cainon Lamb, Jazmine Sullivan, Fritz Baskett, Clarence McDonald, Deniece Williams, June Deniece Williams
Outside writers
Love All Over Me
Still Standing
Written by Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Cristyle, Crystal Johnson
Outside writers
Until It's Gone
New Life
Written by Missy Elliott, Cainon Lamb, Jazmine Sullivan, Anthony Randolph, Thom Bell, Linda Creed, Scott La Rock, KRS-One, Melissa Elliott, Thomas Bell, Linda Epstein, Scott Sterling, Lawrence Parker
Outside writers
It All Belongs to Me
New Life
Written by Rico Love, Earl Hood, Eric Goudy II
Outside writers
Without You
New Life
Written by Polow da Don, Mansur Zafr, India Shawn, Jazmyn Michel, Kesia Hollins, Jamal Jones, India Boodram
Outside writers

Discography 8 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Monica99 tracks
DA14Dallas Austin, 14 tracks 12Missy Elliott, 12 tracks 11Jermaine Dupri, 11 tracks BC11Bryan-Michael Cox, 11 tracks HL9Harold Lilly, 9 tracks PD8Polow da Don, 8 tracks JJ8Jamal Jones, 8 tracks CS7Carsten Schack, 7 tracks S&7Soulshock & Karlin, 7 tracks CL7Cainon Lamb, 7 tracks SC6Shamora Crawford, 6 tracks J6Jozzy, 6 tracks B6Blanco, 6 tracks T&5Tim & Bob, 5 tracks RJ5Rodney Jerkins, 5 tracks CB5Craig Brockman, 5 tracks TK4Tim Kelley, 4 tracks BR4Bob Robinson, 4 tracks S4Soulshock, 4 tracks LD4LaShawn Daniels, 4 tracks JA4Johntá Austin, 4 tracks JS4Jazmine Sullivan, 4 tracks AR4Anthony Randolph, 4 tracks RL4Rico Love, 4 tracks EH4Earl Hood, 4 tracks EG4Eric Goudy II, 4 tracks E&4Earl & E, 4 tracks PC4Philip Constable, 4 tracks DH4DJ HardWerk, 4 tracks CW3Colin Wolfe, 3 tracks AH3Arnold Hennings, 3 tracks KK3Kenneth Karlin, 3 tracks FJ3Fred Jerkins III, 3 tracks DF3David Foster, 3 tracks KL3Kirby Lauryen, 3 tracks T3Timbaland, 3 tracks TM3Timothy Mosley, 3 tracks L"3Lindsay "Mavelle" Gilbert, 3 tracks DS2Derrick Simmons, 2 tracks DS2Daryl Simmons, 2 tracks DW2Diane Warren, 2 tracks DS2Damon Sharpe, 2 tracks SO2Shuggie Otis, 2 tracks PB2Peter Biker, 2 tracks KC2Kenneth Cunningham, 2 tracks JR2Jamahl Rye, 2 tracks ZA2Zyah Ahmounel, 2 tracks AM2Antoine Macon, 2 tracks RB2Ryan Bowser, 2 tracks CE2Corte Ellis, 2 tracks TU2The Underdogs, 2 tracks AD2Antonio Dixon, 2 tracks D&2Dawkins & Dawkins, 2 tracks T2Troop, 2 tracks T2Tank, 2 tracks ED2Eric Dawkins, 2 tracks SR2Steve Russell, 2 tracks C2Cristyle, 2 tracks CJ2Crystal Johnson, 2 tracks RG2Raymond Gordon, 2 tracks ME2Melissa Elliott, 2 tracks NB2Nick Brongers, 2 tracks J"2Jonathan "Anonymous" Solone-Myvett, 2 tracks WJ1Willie James Baker, 1 track LC1LL Cool J, 1 track QJ1Quincy Jones III, 1 track AT1Abrim Tilmon, 1 track HS1Hank Shocklee, 1 track ES1Eric Sadler, 1 track CD1Chuck D, 1 track on Public Enemy's page JB1James Brown, 1 track GC1George Clinton, 1 track GJ1Gabriel Jackson, 1 track MM1Mr. Malik, 1 track AH1Albert Hudson, 1 track JM1Jonathan Meadows, 1 track DR1Dave Roberson, 1 track GH1Glenda Hudson, 1 track GG1Gregory Greene, 1 track TM1Terry Morgan, 1 track TD1Theodore Dudley, 1 track JH1James Harris III, 1 track JJ1Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, 1 track TL1Terry Lewis, 1 track BL1Benny Latimore, 1 track U1Usher, 1 track AM1Andrea Martin, 1 track DT1David Townsend, 1 track DC1David Conley, 1 track DC1Derrick Culler, 1 track BN1Brandy Norwood, 1 track JT1Japhe Tejeda, 1 track B1Brandy, 1 track TS1Tamara Savage, 1 track MM1Marilyn McLeod, 1 track PS1Pam Sawyer, 1 track BM1Bobby Montgomery, 1 track RL1Rhett Lawrence, 1 track TP1Travon Potts, 1 track AB1Andre Benjamin, 1 track O1OutKast, 1 track S1Sting, 1 track on The Police's page LB1Leslie Brathwaite, 1 track RM1Richard Marx, 1 track TM1Tony Maserati, 1 track 11112, 1 track FB1Fatback Band, 1 track DK1Debra Killings, 1 track BC1Bill Curtis, 1 track DS1Danny Sembello, 1 track MS1Marti Sharron, 1 track AA1Andy Armer, 1 track RA1Randy Alpert, 1 track JI1James Ingram, 1 track QJ1Quincy Jones, 1 track YN1Young Noble, 1 track K1Kastro, 1 track YF1Yaleu Fula, 1 track JP1Joseph Paquette, 1 track TS1Tupac Shakur, 1 track HF1Hussein Fatal, 1 track TW1Tyrone Wrice, 1 track RC1Rufus Cooper, 1 track KC1Katari Cox, 1 track SD1Snoop Dogg, 1 track AJ1Awood Johnson, 1 track K1KLC, 1 track C1C-Murder, 1 track CB1Calvin Broadus, 1 track CL1Craig Lawson, 1 track CM1Corey Miller, 1 track HJ1Herbert Jordan, 1 track SS1Steve Standard, 1 track D1Dirtbag, 1 track DS1DJ Scratchator, 1 track S&1Spike & Jamahl, 1 track D1DMX, 1 track ES1Earl Simmons, 1 track on DMX's page KW1Kanye West, 1 track LH1Lee Hatim, 1 track A"1Andre "mrDEYO" Deyo, 1 track B&1BAM & Ryan, 1 track T1Tyrese, 1 track JP1Jazze Pha, 1 track BR1Busta Rhymes, 1 track JW1Jamal Willingham, 1 track L1LRoc, 1 track GT1Gerald Tiller, 1 track BL1Bernard Leverette, 1 track MG1Maurice Gleaton, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 260. DA Dallas Austin · BC Bryan-Michael Cox · HL Harold Lilly · PD Polow da Don

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Monica is credited on 34 of her 99 studio tracks and on none of them alone. The distribution is the story: nothing on The Boy Is Mine, the album with three Hot 100 number ones, and all 14 tracks on Code Red, the one that stopped at number 27. Missy Elliott, Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox carried the writing through the middle of her career, and she took it over at the end of it.

Quick Facts

  • Self-writtenCredited on 34 of her 99 studio tracks
  • Never aloneNo track in the catalogue carries her name by itself
  • The flipNothing on The Boy Is Mine, all 14 tracks on Code Red
  • Career salesOver 25 million records worldwide, more than five million in the United States
  • Number onesThree Billboard Hot 100 number ones, all from one album
  • Closest writerMissy Elliott, credited on 12 tracks

Creative Fingerprint

A voice for hire on the hits, a writer on the records nobody bought.

The Story

Monica Denise Arnold was singing in a travelling gospel choir by the age of ten and signed to Dallas Austin's Rowdy Records in 1993, still in her early teens. Miss Thang followed in 1995. Eight studio albums have come out since, and she has sold over 25 million records worldwide.

Awards & Recognition

Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, "The Boy Is Mine" (41st Annual Grammy Awards)
Billboard Music Video Award
BET Award
Soul Train Music Award
Lady of Soul Honor (2009)

Frequently Asked Questions Monica

Does Monica write her own songs?
Some of them, and never by herself. She is credited on 34 of the 99 tracks across her eight studio albums, and no track anywhere in the catalogue carries her name alone. The share swings hard by record: nothing at all on The Boy Is Mine in 1998, all 14 tracks on Code Red in 2015.
Who wrote "The Boy Is Mine"?
Brandy Norwood, Rodney Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III and Japhe Tejeda. Monica sings half of it and has no writing credit. It spent 13 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Who wrote "So Gone"?
Missy Elliott, with Monica credited alongside her. It reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and is the biggest single from After the Storm.
How many albums has Monica released?
Eight studio albums: Miss Thang (1995), The Boy Is Mine (1998), All Eyez on Me (2002), After the Storm (2003), The Makings of Me (2006), Still Standing (2010), New Life (2012) and Code Red (2015).
Which album did she write the most of?
Code Red, her last album for RCA. Her name is on all 14 tracks, more than the other seven albums put together.
Which album sold the most?
The Boy Is Mine, at 2,016,000 in the United States and certified 3x Platinum. Miss Thang sold 1,500,000 and is also 3x Platinum. She has no writing credit on either album's biggest songs.
Has she won a Grammy?
One, for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "The Boy Is Mine" at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. She has been nominated five times.
Who writes with her most?
Missy Elliott, on 12 tracks. Dallas Austin has 11, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox nine each, and Harold Lilly nine, six of them on All Eyez on Me.
What happened with All Eyez on Me?
It came out in Japan only in 2002 and did poorly. A partly reworked version became After the Storm the following year, which went to number one on the Billboard 200.
Is she related to any other artists?
Yes. Polow da Don and Ludacris are both cousins of hers, and Polow da Don produced and co-wrote on Still Standing and Code Red.

Sources

Wikipedia: Monica Wikipedia: Monica discography