The Makings of Me is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Monica, released by J Records on October 3, 2006 in the United States and October 10, 2006 in Canada (see 2006 in music). It was primarily produced by Missy Elliott and Jermaine Dupri, with additional production from Bryan Michael Cox, The Underdogs, Swizz Beatz, Sean Garrett, and others. The album was critically acclaimed, but failed to receive major commercial success, eventually becoming Monica's lowest selling album to date. Image File history File links Monicacoverqu7. ... A studio album is a collection of previously unreleased, studio-recorded tracks by a recording artist. ... Monica Denise Arnold (born October 24, 1980), professionally known as Monica, is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B singer, songwriter, composer and occasional actress. ... is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Hotlanta redirects here. ... Nickname: Location in Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida. ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the United States, the most densely populated major city in North America, and is at the center of international finance, politics, entertainment, and culture. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... J Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Sony BMG, and is distributed through the RCA Records Group. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Bryan Michael Cox (born December 18, 1977) is an award winning American songwriter and record producer. ... Jermaine Dupri also known simply as JD (born Jermaine Dupri Mauldin on September 23, 1973) is an American record producer and rapper. ... Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971 in Portsmouth, Virginia), better known as Missy Elliott, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, MC, and record producer. ... Sean Garrett is an American songwriter and record producer. ... Manuel Seal, Jr is a staff songwriter and producer at Jermaine Dupris So So Def Recordings. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Underdogs is an R&B/pop production duo comprised of Harvey Mason, Jr. ... Screenshot of About. ... Image File history File links 3. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ... Entertainment Weekly (sometimes abbreviated EW) is a magazine published by Time Inc. ... The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and the oldest to have been published continually as a daily. ... Image File history File links Stars430. ... Prefix logo Prefix Magazine is an online resource for daily music reviews, interviews, features and breaking news. ... Image File history File links Stars10070. ... USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. ... Image File history File links Stars430. ... Monica Denise Arnold (born October 24, 1980), professionally known as Monica, is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B singer, songwriter, composer and occasional actress. ... After the Storm is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Monica, released by J Records on June 17, 2003 in the United States, on June 24, 2003 in Canada and on September 21, 2003 worldwide (see 2003 in music). ... Monica Denise Arnold (born October 24, 1980), professionally known as Monica, is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B singer, songwriter, composer and occasional actress. ... J Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Sony BMG, and is distributed through the RCA Records Group. ... is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... See also: 2006 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2006 Record labels established in 2006 // January – James Nicholl, drummer of Pay*Ola became ill and was admitted to hospital. ... Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971 in Portsmouth, Virginia), better known as Missy Elliott, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, MC, and record producer. ... Jermaine Dupri also known simply as JD (born Jermaine Dupri Mauldin on September 23, 1973) is an American record producer and rapper. ... Bryan Michael Cox (born December 18, 1977) is an award winning American songwriter and record producer. ... The Underdogs is an R&B/pop production duo comprised of Harvey Mason, Jr. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Sean Garrett is an American songwriter and record producer. ...

History

Production and title

After giving birth to her son Rodney Ramone Hill III in May 2005, Monica entered recording studios to continue working on her then-untitled fourth album with producers Missy Elliott, Bryan Michael Cox, and executive producer Jermaine Dupri.^[1] While Elliott, and Dupri contributed most to the album, Monica also worked with producers Sean Garrett, Harold Lilly, Swizz Beatz, Tank, and The Underdogs. In addition, she also recorded about forty others songs with Dre & Vidal, Tricky Stewart, Scott Storch, Jazze Pha, No I.D., Akon, and rappers Mannie Fresh, and Young Jeezy, but none of the songs written with them made the final tracklisting.^[2][3] 2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Wikimedia Commons has media related to: May 2005 Deaths in May May 26: Eddie Albert May 25: Ismail Merchant May 25: Sunil Dutt May 25: Graham Kennedy May 22: Thurl Ravenscroft May 21: Howard Morris May 21... Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971 in Portsmouth, Virginia), better known as Missy Elliott, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, MC, and record producer. ... Bryan Michael Cox (born December 18, 1977) is an award winning American songwriter and record producer. ... Jermaine Dupri also known simply as JD (born Jermaine Dupri Mauldin on September 23, 1973) is an American record producer and rapper. ... Sean Garrett is an American songwriter and record producer. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Underdogs is an R&B/pop production duo comprised of Harvey Mason, Jr. ... Dre & Vidal is a songwriting and production duo, consisting of Davis Vidal and Andre Harris, who are best known as the main producers of Jill Scott and Glenn Lewis. ... Christopher Tricky Stewart is an American rap artist and music producer best known for his work with Blu Cantrell, for whom he produced much of the songs from her first two albums and who is signed to his label, RedZone Entertainment. ... Scott Spencer Storch (born December 16, 1973) is a Canadian[2] entertainment mogul, hip hop, pop, R&B and Reggeaton record producer of Jewish descent. ... Jazze Pha (pronounced Jazzie Fay) is the stage name of Phalon Anton Alexander (born 1975 in Memphis, Tennessee). ... No I.D. is a songwriter and record producer. ... Kishan Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Badara Akon Thiam,[1][2] often going by the shorter Aliaune Thiam[3] (born October 14, 1981),[4] and better known by his stage name Akon, is an American R&B singer, rapper, songwriter, record producer, and record executive. ... Mannie Fresh (born Byron Thomas on March 20, 1974 In New Orleans, Louisiana) is the former in-house producer for the successful New Orleans-based record label Cash Money Records. ... Jay Jenkins (born September 28, 1977 in Columbia, South Carolina) formerly known as Lil J currently known as Young Jeezy, is an American rapper. ...

Although the album was tentatively titled Street Butterfly, Raw, or A Dozen Roses at one time or another, the longplayer was eventually named after Curtis Mayfield's "The Makings of You," which is sampled in the album's second single "A Dozen Roses (You Remind Me)": "This album is really the makings of me because it talks about so many different scenarios, both good and bad, that have pretty much brought me to the point where I'm at mentally," Monica told in an interview with Billboard, comparing it with a "musical diary where people can really see me in a lot of different lights for once."^[4] Curtis Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American soul, funk and R&B singer, songwriter and guitarist best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions and composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Superfly. ... A Dozen Roses (You Remind Me) is an R&B song written by American rapper-songwriter Missy Elliott, and Corte Ellis for Monicas fourth studio album The Makings of Me (2006). ... Billboard can refer to: Billboard magazine Billboard (advertising) Billboard antenna In 3D computer graphics, to billboard is to rotate an object so that it faces the viewer. ...

The singer also attributed the personal sound of the album to the words of her self-written poetries, and her friendship to Elliott and Dupri, and other songwriters like Tank, who "could really get a good feel of what" she was talking about, and created much of the album off of her poems. "This album is very, very different from the other ones, because of me personally," Monica said to MTV News. "Now, at 26, the way I look at things, even relationships, I was really able to involve more of my life experiences in the album."^[5] MTV News is the news division of MTV, the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTVs related channels around the world. ...

Release and reception

The Makings of Me received a positive reception from most professional music critics, with All Music Guide calling it a "concise and mostly sweet (if occasionally unremarkable) set of songs"^[6] and Entertainment Weekly declaring it "a solid addition"^[7] to Monica's discography, widely comparing it to 2003 After the Storm’s "excellent songwriting and song production."^[7] About.com’s Mark Edward Nero however, cited a "lack of emotion" in Monica's powerful voice,^[8] also criticising the relative shortness of the album.^[8] One week after its release, The Makings of Me debuted at number one on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart, and at number 8 on the official Billboard 200, with moderately successful first week sales of 92,935 copies (up to 90,000 less than her previous number-one album After the Storm); so far the album has sold 270,000 copies domestically,^[9] making it Monica's lowest selling album to date. In Canada, the album opened at number 23 on the R&B Top 50 Chart. The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. ... Entertainment Weekly (sometimes abbreviated EW) is a magazine published by Time Inc. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... After the Storm is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Monica, released by J Records on June 17, 2003 in the United States, on June 24, 2003 in Canada and on September 21, 2003 worldwide (see 2003 in music). ... Screenshot of About. ... Billboard can refer to: Billboard magazine Billboard (advertising) Billboard antenna In 3D computer graphics, to billboard is to rotate an object so that it faces the viewer. ... The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. ... After the Storm is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Monica, released by J Records on June 17, 2003 in the United States, on June 24, 2003 in Canada and on September 21, 2003 worldwide (see 2003 in music). ...

As of May 2007, The Makings of Me has spawned four singles: The lead album's first single, Dupri-produced "Everytime tha Beat Drop" barely made it to top fifty on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart with a peak position of number 48 only, becoming Monica's least successful lead single since 2002's "All Eyez on Me". It, however, reached number 11 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and number 7 on the World R&B Top 30 Singles chart. The second and third singles from the album, "A Dozen Roses (You Remind Me)" and "Sideline Ho," underquoted this success with peak positions of number 48 and 45 respectively on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, never making it to the official Hot 100. A fourth single, "Hell No (Leave Home)" was serviced to U.S. radios on May 14, 2007. May 2007 is the fifth month of that year. ... Everytime tha Beat Drop is a snap-R&B song written by Johnta Austin, Jermaine Dupri, Charles Hammond, Robert Hill, Deangelo Hunt, James Phillips, and Dem Franchize Boys for Monicas fourth studio album The Makings of Me (2006). ... Billboard can refer to: Billboard magazine Billboard (advertising) Billboard antenna In 3D computer graphics, to billboard is to rotate an object so that it faces the viewer. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the main singles chart used by Billboard magazine. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... All Eyez on Me is an R&B-dance song written by American singer-songwriter Monica Arnold, and LaShawn Daniels for Monicas original third studio album, All Eyez on Me (2002). ... Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, formerly known as Top Soul Singles, Top Black Singles, and Top R&B Singles (before the hip-hop term was added in the late 1990s), is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. ... A Dozen Roses (You Remind Me) is an R&B song written by American rapper-songwriter Missy Elliott, and Corte Ellis for Monicas fourth studio album The Makings of Me (2006). ... Sideline Ho is an R&B song written by Harvey Mason Jr. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the main singles chart used by Billboard magazine. ... Hell No (Leave Home) is an R&B song written by Bryan Michael Cox, Sean Garrett, and Carl Mitchell for Monicas fourth studio album, The Makings of Me (2006). ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

On April 3, 2007, Wal-Mart released Deluxe Digital version of the album featuring free ringtones for "The First Night", a free cellphone wallpaper, and a blow-in card with a code to redeem bonus content. It is available online and in Walmart stores now. is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ... The First Night is a 1998 number-one hit single by American R&B singer Monica from her second album, The Boy is Mine. ...

Samples

• "Everytime tha Beat Drop" samples Dem Franchize Boyz' 2006 "Lean wit It, Rock wit It"
• "A Dozen Roses (You Remind Me)" samples Curtis Mayfield's 1972 "The Makings of You"
• "Doin' Me Right" samples The Whispers' 1976 "Chocolate Girl"

Dem Franchize Boyz is an American hip hop group from Atlanta signed to So So Def Records. ... Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It is a song by Atlanta rap group Dem Franchize Boyz. ... Curtis Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American soul, funk and R&B singer, songwriter and guitarist best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions and composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Superfly. ... The Whispers are a R&B/ dance vocal group from Los Angeles California. ...

Track listing

Everytime tha Beat Drop is a snap-R&B song written by Johnta Austin, Jermaine Dupri, Charles Hammond, Robert Hill, Deangelo Hunt, James Phillips, and Dem Franchize Boys for Monicas fourth studio album The Makings of Me (2006). ... Dem Franchize Boyz is an American hip hop group from Atlanta signed to So So Def Records. ... A Dozen Roses (You Remind Me) is an R&B song written by American rapper-songwriter Missy Elliott, and Corte Ellis for Monicas fourth studio album The Makings of Me (2006). ... Sideline Ho is an R&B song written by Harvey Mason Jr. ... Hell No (Leave Home) is an R&B song written by Bryan Michael Cox, Sean Garrett, and Carl Mitchell for Monicas fourth studio album, The Makings of Me (2006). ... Carl Terrell Mitchell (born on November 27, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois) is a rapper known as Twista (formerly Tung Twista), who once held the title of fastest rapper in the world. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Credits and personnel

• Adelaide Federici - violin
• Karen Freer - cello
• P. David Hancock - cello
• Helen Kim - violin
• Tom Knight - drums
• Alice Lord - viola
• PJ Morton - piano, keyboards
• Tania Maxwell Clements - viola
• Jackie Pickett - double bass

The violin is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. ... The violoncello, almost always abbreviated to cello, or cello (the c is pronounced as the ch in cheese), is a bowed stringed instrument, the lowest-sounding member of the violin family. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... The viola (French, alto; German Bratsche) is a bowed string instrument. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Side and front views of a modern double bass with a French bow. ...

Production

• Album Producers: Clive Davis, Monica, Lary Jackson
• Executive producers: Monica Arnold, Jermaine Dupri
• Assoctiate executive producer: Melinda Dancil
• Vocal assistance: Missy Elliott, Tweet
• Engineers: Angelo Aponte, Corte Ellis, Paul J. Falcone, John Horesco IV, Samuel "Vaughan" Merrick, Tadd Mingo, Vernon Mungo, Sam Thomas
• Mastering: David Kutch
• Design: Jane Morledge
• Art Direction: Chris Lebeau
• Photography: Markus Klinko and Indrani

Clive Jay Davis (born April 4, 1932) is a Grammy Award winning record producer and a leading music industry executive. ... Monica Denise Arnold (born October 24, 1980), professionally known as Monica, is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B singer, songwriter, composer and occasional actress. ... Jermaine Dupri also known simply as JD (born Jermaine Dupri Mauldin on September 23, 1973) is an American record producer and rapper. ... Tweet can mean: A phonetic rendering of a small birds call. ...

Leftover tracks

• "Dance wit U" (written by Tricky Stewart, Shamora)^[10]
• "Something to Wrap" (written by Kim Cantade) ^[10]
• "Stop" (written by Dre & Vidal, Claudette Ortiz, Ryan Toby)^[10]
• "Thought You Had Me" (written by Dre & Vidal, Ryan Toby, Yummy Bingham)^[10]
• "Wonder Why I'm Mad" (written by Tricky Stewart)^[10]
• (see Monica: Made for more tracks)

Christopher Tricky Stewart is an American rap artist and music producer best known for his work with Blu Cantrell, for whom he produced much of the songs from her first two albums and who is signed to his label, RedZone Entertainment. ... Dre & Vidal is a songwriting and production duo, consisting of Davis Vidal and Andre Harris, who are best known as the main producers of Jill Scott and Glenn Lewis. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Ryan Toby (born November 26, 1978 in Willingboro, New Jersey, USA) is an American soul singer, songwriter and producer, best known as the baritenor in the group City High. ... Elizabeth T. Wyce Bingham a. ...

Charts

Notes