Songoftheday 11/28/24 - Oh I didn't ask to go with you to Mexico, I really didn't need the shopping spree in LA or Melrose...

 

 

"U Should've Known Better" - Monica

from the album After The Storm (2003)

Billboard Hot 100 peak: #19 (one week)

Weeks in the Top-40: 14

 

Today's song comes from R&B singer Monica, who had returned to the top ten on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 chart in the summer of 2003 with "So Gone". That came from Monica's third album After The Storm, which came after a tumultuous time when her planned set All Eyez On Me was scuttled after leaks, and her ex-boyfriend took his life in front of her, leaving a child that wasn't hers that she took in. The second single from the record, a newer track "Knock Knock", peaked at #24 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart and stopped at #75 on the Hot 100.  Meanwhile, another track from the record, "Get It Off" was remixed by That Kid Chris and promoted to clubs, and rose to #13 on Billboard's Dance Club Play chart. 

The fourth and final single from the record was like "So Gone" a track recorded for All Eyez On Me, "U Should've Known Better". Written by Monica with producer Jermaine Dupri and Harold Lilly, the song has her explaining to her ex that his insecurity about her fidelity and intentions were completely unfounded. Monica sings about being in it for the long haul, and the material things he gave her wasn't what made her love him. Considering her recent history, it's sad to think she could be pulling this from her own real life. The production from Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox was slow jam soul with a touch of rock-style guitars to freshen it up. The music video is a cinematic tale of her consoling then getting her lover (rapper Young Buck from 50 Cent's G-Unit group) out of prison in Mexico...

 

 "U Should've Known Better" became Monica's ninth, and so far last, top-40 hit on the Hot 100 in July of 2004, while peaking at #6 on their R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, lasting eight months (32 weeks) on the latter. On the radio, the song rose to #5 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop chart, #17 on the older-skewing Adult R&B list, and #20 at the dance/R&B-oriented Rhythmic format. 

In 2006, Monica returned with her fourth album The Makings Of Me, which was her first to go to #1 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart, while scoring a third top ten placing on the Billboard 200 sales tally at #8. The lead single, "Everytime Tha Beat Drop", tried to cast her on the modern hip-hop scene pairing her up with rappers Dem Franchise Boyz. However, while the song stopped just short of the top ten on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles at #11, it stalled under the top-40 on the Hot 100 at #48. 

To try to juice up anticipation for her fifth set on J Records, Still Standing, Monica appeared on a reality show on the BET Network that aired in 2009 centered around her life and recording the album. The result was another #1 showing on the R&B Albums list the following year, as well as being #2 on the Billboard 200, going on to sell over a half million copies. The first single, "Everything To Me", topped the R&B Singles chart for seven weeks, as well as the Adult R&B list for four, but again stalled under the Hot 100 top-40 at #44. The gospel-tinged tune was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Performance, losing to American Idol winner Fantasia's "Bittersweet". The Still Standing album was also up for Best R&B Album, which went home with John Legend and the Roots for their collaborative album Wake Up!. The second single from the record, "Love All Over Me", did pretty well as well on urban radio, taking three weeks at #2 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, but again stopped at #58 on the Hot 100. 

J Records was folded into parent RCA in time for Monica's next release, New Life, in 2012, which came in at #4 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the R&B Albums list. While four of its track made the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, only "Anything (To Find You)" with rapper Rick Ross even managed to "bubble under" the Hot 100 at #119, while peaking at #25 on the R&B list. The fourth of those hits, "Without You", is her most recent appearance on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart at #91. 

Her most recent studio album, Code Red, arrived in 2015, and placed at #27 on the Billboard 200 and #4 on the R&B Albums chart. While nothing from the set made the Hot 100 or R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, her track with rapper Lil' Wayne, "Just Right For Me", it went to #16 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, and #12 on the Adult R&B station list. 

Since then, Monica has released a series of singles on her own Mondineese "label". The first of them, "Commitment", topped the Adult R&B chart for two weeks. In 2021, a collab with rapper Lil' Baby, "Trenches", went to #17 on that format. Most recently, she reunited with Brandy as featured singers on the remix of Ariana Grande's "The Boy Is Mine" (not the same as their own #1 duet). Although their version wasn't on the chart except on the Rhythmic format, it's nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in the awards given next year. Also, her solo single "Letters" came out in 2023. 

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Here's Monica singing on the Regis And Kelly morning show in 2004...

And lastly, in concert in 2010...

Up tomorrow: Country crossover band wants a reunion.