With the right promotion behind her Mona Lisa did have the talent to do much better in music. She had a one of a kind voice, just not the support to be a star.
So true. This is why underground artists have such a following today. The industry does not consistently give pure artistry true shine.They manufacture stuff and make tons of money, even if the stuff (artist) is undeveloped, talentless and clearly suspect.
Can't Be Wasting My Time is a forever timeless NY classic! She could have been bigger but she made her mark. Plus, her religious beliefs took over and she exited stage left.
@@baconeggcheesepodcast9390 Meaning she returned to her religious roots (possibly inspired or influenced by her family) and probably began to perceive the industry differently as she aged. Hence, her exit. This type of journey has happened with a lot of artists throughout history.
I was just talking about 702 defined that 90s era. Mona Lisa was one of the queens of R&B along with Aaliyah that year in 96. 1996 was a amazing year for Hip Hop n R&B
702??!!!!!! "Defined that 90s era"?????!!! Nah.. 702 is NOT the first group or solo that comes to mind if someone asked me "who defined 90s r&b music?" ... they were good.. had hits.. but DEFINED??? nah
Groove Theory/Joe/Case/Mary J Blige/Blackstreet/Aaliyah/702/Monica/Brandy/Toni Braxton/Mariah Carey/Chante Moore/Jade/Brownstone.... whew!!!! List don't stop.... I LOVE BEING A 90'Z BABY!!!!
Can you do Sunshine Anderson? She was good but fell off. She did an interview where she admitted that she fell into drugs but didn't specify which one. Might have just been weed. I don't know but do a video on her, if you can.
Was just thinking about Sunshine Anderson the other day. People often talk about the 90s but there were also so many artists from these last couple 2000s decades that seem like they should be/should've been way bigger than they are. (Sunshine Anderson, Amel Larrieux, Amerie, Blu Cantrell, Chrisette Michele, Dawn Richard, Devin Morrison, Elle Varner, Keri Hilson, Masego, Melanie Fiona, Teairra Mari, Teedra Moses, Teyana Taylor, Tinashe, Vivian Green)
If the song starts off with Kim saying "peace to all the gods, peace to all the earths" you already KNOW it was bout to be some different, next level shit... 😂💯
I think you should do one about mokenstef. In the 90's there were plenty of female r&b groups like swv, Xscape, en vogue, destiny's child, 702 just running things, but mokenstef wasn't as big as the others and only came out with one album, but that album flowed. They had that big single he's mine with that prince sample, but that had some great songs on that album that should have been singles or had better promotions such as sex in the rain, it happens, don't go there, azz izz (which is the album title as well), laid back, it goes on. They were rapping on some of the songs which they never got a chance to showcase that to mainstream cause those songs were not released as singles. Mokenstef also reminds me of electrik red as well. Electrik red also was a group that only released one album, they were singing and did some rapping on some tracks. Had that single so good ft lil Wayne. Their album flowed too, whole album produced and written by the dream which was very hot at the moment as a singer songwriter, all that and didn't blow up. I originally requested mokenstef, but you can do electrik red as well.
She was a breath of fresh air in music at the time! A voice so powerful that she can hang like the vets in the 80's and early 90's! If her 2nd album would've came out I would've been bought it a long time ago! She has edge too to do songs with the L.O.X, Lost Boyz and Lil Kim! It really seemed like the label that she was on didn't really give a sh-t about promoting her first 2 albums properly! It would've been a good look for her to be on the "Panther(95)" soundtrack with all if the female artists on that one song posse cut! That would've been a good look for her to be on! From what I've read online that these days she does behind the scenes stuff in music. So in this point in time she's still active. As far as being on songs the last song Ive heard her on was a song she did the hook for the female rapper Sonja Blade around 2008. Imo she was a PROBLEM in the rnb space!! Id be glad af if she would make a comeback in music. But only time will tell. But I hope that she wont wait too long! We've lost a chunk of celebs this year! Whoever had the suggestion for her story to come on this channel SALUTE TO YOU🥂🍾!!
Let’s keep it real. Mona Lisa wasn’t going to get the publicity like her other counterparts because her parents didn’t want her on the dark side of the industry. She had the look, the voice and even collabs! So it’s no reason why she couldn’t blow up. We have “pushed” social media algorithms now - meaning if the industry want you to be famous they just gotta make your song on Tik Tok viral and that’s it. Back then it was more manual. A&R had to be involved as well as just putting a budget behind her to elevate her. She had the star appeal, but maybe didn’t want to give up anything with her soul to get there and her parents protected her. I wish we weren’t in a world where dark forces could make or break your career. She was definitely in the Monica, Brandy, Aaliyah peer group and would of done just as well as them. I hope she is doing well in life despite the industry not giving her a fair chance.
The heroes in this story are the parents. They did the right thing. Get her away from the business. Mona Lisa was never going to blow up huge anyway. Her competition was too much at the time. 90s R&B was incredibly well made. You had to be really good to stand out. At least she didn't end up all crazy and stuff. I wonder if she made something out of her life
"Mona Lisa " had a good run.... considering the stiff competition among 90's R&B girl groups such as "Total", "3LW", "SWV", "Blaque", "702" "X-Scape" & "Nuttin' Nyce". However, her team should of promoted her more by pushing her music to the next level. More guest features on other artist albums. More tour openers, coming through popular rapper radio friendly remixes & movie appearances. If her team would of done it like that...she would of been larger than "Keyshia Cole", "Mya", "Brandy", "Ciara" & "Monica". She wouldn't be "Beyonce" level yet but she would have a good start of the cat race 🤔😎🤓🤔😎🤓🤔😎
I saw her perform in the summer of 96 @ the Hunka Bunka Ballroom in Sayreville , NJ on teen night. That club in 96 was lit, her one Friday, a young Jay-Z another one, and Lost Boyz all that same summer. The Fugees performed there too but I missed that Friday.
Mona Lisa was young, beautiful and can sing her butt off. But she had so much competition in regards to female R&B. You had The Queen Mary J Blige, Mariah Carey, The Queens En Vogue, Brandy, Monica, Aaliyah, Zhane, Faith Evans, Total, 702, Mya, Monifah, Toni Braxton and her sisters, SWV, Xscape, Kut Klose, Sparkle, Kelly Price, Chante Moore, MoKenStef, Changing Faces, Brownstone, Jade, Allure, Divine, Destiny's Child, Nicole Wray and Blaque. They all surpassed Mona Lisa.
Sheek was only 4 yrs older then her so he probably felt ok saying that but in general them older generations were strange cuz they never viewed ppl who were 3-5 yrs apart as that much different.
Mona Lisa wasn’t a priority for her label. I think that’s the main factor why she didn’t blow up. The 90’s was packed with talent and Mona had. She didn’t have much sex appeal and she was fully clothed but she had a voice that matches Monica. Look at Whitney Houston, she didn’t have sex appeal but she had an amazing voice. All this to say, Mona’s label didn’t invest in her. They also didn’t help with developing her.
I remember in school we had a talent show of sorts where we played a famous person. When I told my teacher I was going to be Mona lisa she balled her face up and asked me in the nastiest tone she could muster "your going to be a picture?" When I explained to her she a singer she rolled her eyes and walked away. Shout out to Mrs. Edward's punk ass.
Damn that sounds like a "positive" sounding story!! I just like it when you explain to an older person a celebrity they've never heard of and when they find out your information is FACTUAL they'll give you a foul look of embarrassment to hide the fact you've schooled them in something! I know you felt proud at that moment didn't you👍🤣?!
I just thought of some people Tank queen pen Rico nasty Carl Thomas lil Cory sammie naughty by nature Jacob latimore speaker knockerz khia Trina azealia banks manio red man Brutha Jacki o Mia x
Aaliyah had R. Kelly looking back now people can judge critically and reasonably. But please believe having an album called Age ain't Nothing but a Number was one of the things that helped give her the mentioned "Edge" alongside her talent.
Please do a story on Gina Thompson and Shae Jones!! I ran that Shae Jones cd into the ground lol. It was 🔥. Also do one on KP & Envy! I heard Envy (the singer) had passed, but idk if it's true. She disappeared after she auditioned for that gospel competition on BET years ago. Swing My Way will always be a fav for me!
You're right fam! Mona Lisa was a verrry talented singer. Even in a A capella. She didn't lip-sync or none of that. I was kinda sad to not hear anything else from her come out.
Aww man! I remembered her! This was a good episode! Too bad she didn't blow up in such a competitive era, the '90s. P.S. You got do an episode of either Tony, Toni, Tone', Rafael Saddiq or Brownstone
Talk that talk Bro! This place is unrecognizable now, literally all the music sound the same if I'm not mistaken they all talk the same to I'm talking about from coast to coast. The people at the top has done what we was trying to prevent for 20 years 🤷🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️
I feel like brandy growth wasn’t stunted . She just went as far as she was gonna go she’s had a great career . Monica as well . Now azealia banks I wouldn’t even waste time with that psychopath
Loved how you dug in the crates for this one, SGM! I am unsure what her success would have been like. Vocally, I don't think she was as strong as others but a good artist nonetheless.
Everybody loved her song time to shine & her featured on lil kins version. Her label dropped the ball & I'm suspecting it's because she didn't " play ball " 👀... or with'em 😱
Mona Lisa was essentially a Mary J Blige copycat. Faith Evans and Monica blew up because they were good copies but only but so much artists can blow up. How much room does radio have for everybody? Monica, Brandy, Faith, Aaliyah, Whitney, Toney. Not to mention you got male R&B singers as well as groups. On top of that? Rappers. So what room would be for her? She has an amazing voice. She was on the song It’s My Time To Shine with Lil Kim. Amazing voice but she had too much to go against.
Sometimes it is better to not be a showcase success in this industry especially when you have these companies deposing you like cheap laundry when all is said and done.
