After a successful debut album, a number one sitcom on television and movie roles underneath her belt, this 18 year old was on a different high, a different kind of successful that was extremely inspiring to little Black girls all over the world. She dropped her debut album in late 1994 with a innocence of a young girl who just wanted to be “down.” 4 years later, it was her time to make a comeback but things weren’t working in her favor in the beginning. The songs weren’t right, the producers she wanted weren’t coming to her, it was all the signs of the classic “sophomore album jitters.” So she had a new plan, a whole new idea that was going to take her to another level and with that, another masterpiece was born. On June 9th, 1998, Brandy Norwood released her sophomore album “Never Say Never.” This album was more mature sound than her previous work and there was definitely a more mature look and an even bigger step than her first album. Brandy takes it to another level when she did the classic duet with Monica called “The Boy Is Mine.” The perfect song at the time when everyone thought they weren’t getting along. Great marketing and play along. Other singles like “Top of The World” featuring Mase, touches on the subject of the media depicting her as a lost successful girl “on top of the world”, “Have You Ever”, a slow love ballad that’s easily one of her best vocally. With seven singles released, the album reached Number 3 on the Top 100 and it became and is still is Brandy’s most successful and highest selling album to date. She went from that innocent 14 year old to a mature, more bolder 18 year old and even still after “Never Say Never”, Brandy continues to keep on doing her thing. “Moesha” lasts until 2001, and she kept dropping more albums and more hits becoming one of the greatest singers on the planet with an impact that’s hard to ignore and a resume that proves her work ethic and legacy.
Never Say Never: The 20th Anniversary
