"Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Monie Love | ||||
from the album In a Word or 2 | ||||
Released | 9 February 1993 | |||
Studio | Paisley Park | |||
Length | 3:53 | |||
Label | Chrysalis | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Prince | |||
Monie Love singles chronology | ||||
|
"Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." is a song by British rapper, actress and radio personality Monie Love. It was written by Love with Prince and Levi Seacer Jr., and released in February 1993 by Chrysalis Records as the second single from her second album, In a Word or 2 (1993). B.R.E.E.D. is an acronym for "Build Relationships where Education and Enlightenment Dominate". A remix produced by Steve "Silk" Hurley was also included on the album. In Love's native UK, the single went to number 18 on the Top Singles chart. As well the song peaked at No. 7 on the Dutch and No. 21 on the New Zealand Top Pop Singles charts. "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." was Monie Love's most successful dance hit, reaching number one on the US Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart for one week. [1] The song also peaked at No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart. [2]
Hiedi Siegmund of The Los Angeles Times noted "Packing a proud feminist punch, the Prince-produced “Born 2 B.R.E.E.D.” smartly responds to last year’s single-mother brouhaha by attacking the notion that there’s a “by-the-book” method of parenting. The song also explores the deterioration of inner-city schools, angrily asking, “So tell me what do the kids learn at school / How to pack a pistol, how to play class fool?”". [3] Andy Beevers from Music Week gave the song four out of five and named it Pick of the Week in the category of Dance, noting that it is co-written and produced by Prince. He added, "Her catchy rap, based around her new status as a mother, is set against a ragga-style chorus and comes in a variety of strong mixes. Already picking up plenty of radio and club play, it is shaping up to be a pretty big hit." [4]
Music & Media wrote, "Add a female rap to the classic Chic sound of the '70s, and you got it. We love it. Period." [5] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel said, "The combination of a slinky beat and disco-style strings and backing vocals works nicely, and funk-dancehall passages enliven things further. However, the song delivers a rather clouded message." [6]
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
|
"Sexy MF" is a song by American musician Prince and the New Power Generation, released as a single from their 1992 album Love Symbol. The music and most of the lyrics were composed by Prince, while Levi Seacer Jr. came up with the chorus and the song's title. Tony M. also delivers a rap, which he wrote. The song and its refrain "You sexy motherfucker" caused some controversy, and edited versions were produced for radio, the music video and the US version of the album. The song was recorded in Paisley Park's Studio A in December 1991.
"My Name Is Prince" is a song by American musician Prince and his backing band the New Power Generation, released in September 1992 by Paisley Park and Warner Bros. as the second single from their 1992 Love Symbol album. The song is about Prince himself and his musical prowess. The rap sequence is performed by NPG member Tony M. The intro to the song features vocal samples from Prince's earlier songs "I Wanna Be Your Lover", "Partyup", and "Controversy". Its music video was directed by Parris Patton and featured Kirstie Alley and Lauren Green.
"The Morning Papers" is a song by American musician Prince and the New Power Generation from their 1992 album Love Symbol. It was released as the fourth worldwide single from the album in March 1993 by Paisley Park and Warner Bros.; the B-side is "Live 4 Love", a track from Prince's previous album, Diamonds and Pearls (1991). The UK CD single included "Love 2 the 9's" as well, also from Love Symbol. "The Morning Papers" peaked at numbers 44 and 35 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100.
"Damn U" is a song by American musician Prince and the New Power Generation, released in November 1992 as the fourth single from his fourteenth studio album, Love Symbol (1992). It is a slow-grooving romantic R&B ballad, featuring strings and violin. Prince sings of a woman who affects him greatly emotionally, and uses the term "damn u" as an expression of surprise at the woman's power over him. His vocal range shifts throughout the song from very high falsetto to his deeper lower baritone. The B-side was "2 Whom It May Concern", which was also available on the maxi single for "7". Its music video was directed by Randee St. Nicholas.
"Jump They Say" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie from his 18th album Black Tie White Noise (1993). It was written by Bowie, produced by Nile Rodgers and released as the first single from the album in March 1993 by Arista Records. While Bowie opted not to tour for the Black Tie White Noise album, the song was performed on his 1995–96 Outside Tour and released as part of the live concert No Trendy Réchauffé (2020). The accompanying music video for "Jump They Say" was directed by Mark Romanek and received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.
"Real Love" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige from her debut studio album, What's the 411? (1992). Based on real life experiences, it was written and produced by Cory Rooney and Mark Morales, and samples Audio Two's 1987 song "Top Billin'". The song was issued as the album's second single on July 28, 1992 by Uptown and MCA. It became Blige's first top-10 hit, peaking at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rhythmic charts and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 4, 1992. Marcus Raboy directed the song's music video. Rolling Stone included "Real Love" in their list of "500 Best Songs of All Time" in 2021 at number 327.
"Informer" is a song by Canadian reggae musician Snow, released in August 1992 by East West Records as the first single from his debut album, 12 Inches of Snow (1993). The song is well known for the line "a licky boom boom down" and for Snow's fast toasting and often unintelligible lyrics.
"Insane in the Brain" is a song by American hip hop group Cypress Hill, released in June 1993 by Ruffhouse and Columbia as the first single from the group's second album, Black Sunday (1993). The song was written by group members Louis Freese, Lawrence Muggerud and Senen Reyes, and produced by Muggerud. In addition to hitting number one on the US rap chart, it also was a mainstream hit, reaching number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1993. "Insane in the Brain" earned a 3× platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America and sold 3,000,000 copies domestically. The accompanying music video was directed by Josh Taft, featuring the group performing at a rave.
"Love Can Move Mountains" is a song by Canadian singer Celine Dion, recorded for her second English-language studio album, Celine Dion (1992). Written by Diane Warren and produced by Ric Wake, it was released as the fourth single in October 1992. It is an up-tempo pop song drawing influence from gospel and dance music, and its lyrics detail the abilities that love has as an emotion. "Love Can Move Mountains" was later included on Dion's greatest hits albums, All the Way... A Decade of Song in 1999 and My Love: Ultimate Essential Collection in 2008.
"Tennessee" a song by American hip hop group Arrested Development, released in March 1992 by Chrysalis and Cooltempo as the first single from their debut album, 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... (1992). The song was produced by group member Speech and contains a sample of Prince's 1988 hit "Alphabet St.". "Tennessee" peaked at number six in the United States and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1993. The accompanying music video was directed by Milcho Manchevski. A 2007 poll of VH1 viewers placed the song at number 71 on the list of the "Greatest Songs of the 90s" and is listed as one of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It was also ranked number 78 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop".
"I'm So into You" is a song by American R&B vocal trio SWV from their debut studio album, It's About Time (1992). Written and produced by Brian Alexander Morgan, the song was released in January 1993 by RCA Records as the second single from the album. It was commercially successful, becoming their first top-10 single in the United States, peaking at number six on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100. It also reached number two on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales and streaming figures exceeding 1,000,000 units.
"Change" is a song by British singer-songwriter and actress Lisa Stansfield from her second album, Real Love (1991). The song was written by Stansfield, Ian Devaney and Andy Morris, and produced by Devaney and Morris. It was released as the lead single on 7 October 1991 by Arista Records. "Change" was remixed by Frankie Knuckles and Driza Bone.
"Lovely Day" is a song by American soul and R&B singer Bill Withers. Written by Withers and Skip Scarborough, it was released on December 21, 1977, and appears on Withers's sixth album, Menagerie (1977). Withers holds a sustained note towards the end which, at 18 seconds, is one of the longest ever recorded on an American pop song. The song was listed at No. 402 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time" in 2021.
"Don't Look Any Further" is a song by American singer Dennis Edwards featuring American singer-songwriter Siedah Garrett, released in April 1984 by Motown from the singer's debut album by the same name (1984). The song is written by Franne Golde, Dennis Lambert and Duane Hitchings, while Lambert produced it. It peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard Black Singles chart and No. 72 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, the song peaked at No. 45.
"Your Body's Callin'" is a song by American singer and songwriter R. Kelly, released in March 1994 by Jive as the third single from his debut album, 12 Play (1993). The song, both written and produced by Kelly, peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 40 in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Kelly also released a remix as a B-side to the single featuring Aaliyah called the "Your Body's Calling His N Hers Mix". Millicent Shelton directed the song's music video.
In a Word or 2 is the second and final studio album by English rapper Monie Love. It was released on 23 March 1993 by Warner Bros. Records and was mostly produced by Marley Marl. Prince cowrote and coproduced the title track and "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." Monie and producer Aaron "Freedom" Lyles produced the song "I'm a Believer," while producer/remixer Steve "Silk" Hurley was brought in for additional production and remix for the first single "Born to B.R.E.E.D."
"Heaven Knows" is a song by American singer-songwriter Luther Vandross, released in September 1993 by Epic and Sony as the second single from his eight studio album, Never Let Me Go (1993). The song was written by Vandross with Reed Vertelney and produced by Marcus Miller. It peaked in the top 30 on both the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles and Hot Dance Club Play charts, and also at thirty-three on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Singles chart. "Heaven Knows" was nominated for Best R&B Song alongside "Little Miracles " at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards in March 1994, losing to "That's the Way Love Goes" by Janet Jackson.
"Pressure" is a song recorded by British techno group Sunscreem, written and produced by band member Paul Carnell and lead singer Lucia Holm for the act's debut album, O3 (1993). Released in 1991 by Sony Soho Square/Epic, it was the group's first single in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number 60. It became a major club hit in the United States in wake of the success of "Love U More", where it was released as "Pressure US" with a new remixed version and went to number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart for one week in June 1993, their second of three number ones. The re-released version reentered the UK charts afterwards, peaking at number 19 in 1993.
"Dream On Dreamer" is a song by British acid jazz and funk group the Brand New Heavies, released in March 1994 by FFRR as the lead single from the group's third album, Brother Sister (1994). The song is also featured on their remix album, Excursions: Remixes & Rare Grooves (1995), that was released in the US. It remains one of their most successful hits, peaking at number 15 in the UK and number 19 in Scotland. In the US, it reached number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100, while in Canada, it hit number 47 on the RPM Top Singles chart. The accompanying music video for "Dream On Dreamer" was directed by American director Josh Taft.
"Caught in the Middle" is a song by British singer-songwriter Juliet Roberts, originally released in July 1993 by Cooltempo Records and Slam Jam. In June 1994, the song was re-released as a remix and became a club hit. Written by Roberts with Danny Poku, who also produced the song, it was well received among music critics, reaching number-one on both the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and the UK Music Week Dance Singles chart, where it peaked atop both in 1993 and 1994. Additionally, the single peaked at number 14 in the UK, and number 31 in Scotland, while on the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 43. "Caught in the Middle" was included on her debut album, Natural Thing (1994), and it won the Record Mirror Club Cut of the Year honour at the 1994 Music Week Awards.