Miss Thang

Miss Thang
Studio album by Monica
Released	July 18, 1995
Recorded	1993–1995[1]
Genre	R&B hip hop soul
Length	69:33
Label	Rowdy, Arista
Producer	Dallas Austin, Tim & Bob, Soulshock & Karlin, Arnold Hennings, Daryl Simmons, Colin Wolfe
Monica chronology
Miss Thang (1995) The Boy Is Mine (1998)
Singles from Miss Thang
"Don't Take It Personal" Released: April 10, 1995 "Before You Walk Out of My Life" Released: August 3, 1995 "Like This and Like That" Released: February 13, 1996 "Why I Love You So Much" Released: May 21, 1996

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
NME	(4/10)[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[4]

Miss Thang is the debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Monica. It was released by Rowdy and Arista Records on July 18, 1995 in the United States, featuring main production by mentor Dallas Austin protégés from his DARP production camp such as Tim & Bob, Daryl Simmons, Colin Wolfe and Soulshock & Karlin.

The album went to number thirty-six on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number seven on Billboard's Top R&B Albums, and reached the top ten of the New Zealand Albums Chart.^[5] In the United States, Miss Thang sold more than 1.5 million copies and over 2 million World Wide certifications.^[6] and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for more than three million store-shipped copies.^[7] In Canada, it was certified gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association in 1995.^[8]

Writing and development

After signing a recording contract with Rowdy Records, at the age of 12, Arnold released her 1995's debut album Miss Thang; under the Arista record label.^[9] Guided by Rowdy head Dallas Austin and developed by his protégés Tim & Bob, much of the album was recorded during the years of 1993 and 1995, a period that the singer described as hard work. "It was more from the stress I put on myself than it was pressure from others," she said. "There were so many young artists releasing records, and I wanted to stand out. I was a regular female growing up in the inner city, and I wanted to be who I was."^[10] Throughout the recording process, Arnold ensured the album's music and lyrical content reflected her persona. As a result, she vetoed some of the songs selected for the album. "I was very assertive in making sure the album was really me," she said in an interview with Billboard. "How can you show your feeling in a song when it's about something you don't know about?"^[11]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 36 on the US Billboard 200 selling 31,500 copies during its first week ^[12] and at number 7 on the Billboard's Top R&B Albums charts.^[5] In the United States, it scored a domestic sales total of about 1.5 million copies, over 2 million copies worldwide.^[6] The album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for more than 3 million copies shipped to music stores in the United States.^[7] In Canada, the album peaked at number 58 only, but had a long run at these charts, resulting into a gold certification by the Canadian Recording Industry Association in 1995.^[8]

The album was supported by four singles—"Don't Take It Personal", a double-A-side "Before You Walk Out of My Life" / "Like This and Like That" (which both of these singles on topped on the Billboard's Hot R&B Songs, making this singer to become the youngest recording artist to have two consecutive number-one hits to charted on this particular chart, at the age of 14),^[13] and "Why I Love You So Much" (which it became another top 10 entry in the year of 1996).^[5]

Track listing

Samples credits

• "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" contains elements of The Detroit Emeralds' 1973 "You're Gettin' a Little Too Smart", LL Cool J's 1993 "Back Seat (of My Jeep)" and Public Enemy's 1987 "Bring the Noise".
• "Like This and Like That" contains elements of Spoonie Gee's 1979 "Spoonin' Rap".
• "Skate" contains elements of One Way's 1982 "Cutie Pie".
• "Tell Me If You Still Care" is a cover version of S.O.S. Band's 1983 original recording.
• "Let's Straighten It Out" is a cover version of Benny Latimore's 1974 original recording.
• The remix of "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" contains elements of Jermaine Jackson's 1989 "Don't Take It Personal".

Charts and certifications

Credits and personnel

Musicians

• Colin Wolfe – bass
• Kenneth Crouch – piano
• Derrick Edmondson – flute, saxophone, horn
• Tommy Martin – guitar
• Derek Organ – drums
• Sandy Lawrence – art direction
• Tim Kelley – producer, arranger, drum programming, keyboards,
• Bob Robinson – keyboard, product
• Dallas Austin, Ron Gresham, Ron Gresham, Michael Patterson, Darin Prindle – mixing

Production

• Vocal assistance: Debra Killings, Monica, Lysette Titi, Usher
• Creative Director: Naim Ali, Dallas Austin, Caron Veazey
• Programming: Arvel McClinton III

References

External links

• Monica.com — official site