I wanna be down: The essential Brandy playlist

The ‘90s was a prime time for young R&B stars to break out and shine alongside veterans. Brandy’s debut single “I Wanna Be Down” is all about the singer flirting with a potential lover and trying to convince him of her interest. The song became a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100. She also released a remix that featured some of the hottest female rappers including Queen Latifah, Yo-Yo, and MC Lyte.

On Brandy’s sophomore album Never Say Never, she began collaborating with producer and songwriter Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins to help elevate her sound. One of the most popular songs in Brandy’s discography is “The Boy Is Mine,” a duet with fellow R&B star Monica. The song is all about the two women finding out that they’re dating the same guy and their contrasting vocal tones complement each other effortlessly. The hit song helped earn the singers their first Grammy Award.

On her single “Full Moon,” Brandy sings about a guy who caught her eye in the club and hopes it could be the start of something new. In the second verse she says, “Why is this the first time I’m seeing you around? / Could you be visiting or are you new in town? / Whatever the case, I’m feeling you right here and right now.” She reflects on the meeting feeling like a full moon type of night—hence the title.

Brandy teamed up with her frequent collaborators Darkchild and the late LaShawn Daniels on her single “Top of the World.” Joined by rapper Mase, Brandy stresses that people seem to think she’s changed and her life is divine since gaining some success, but she’s adamant about proving that she’s still the same person. On the hook she sings, “I’m just trying to be me, doing what I got to do / Some people think that I’m just sitting on top of the world.”

Brandy continued working with longtime collaborator Darkchild on her third album Full Moon. The album’s lead single “What About Us” brought a more futuristic production to Brandy’s sound as she sings about a relationship that is no longer serving her. In the second verse, she says, “Thought you said you were different / Was that what I heard you say? / Said that you’d love only me / Thought that you’d be all I need / What happened to promises?”

Brandy’s second single “Baby” is all about the singer showing her infatuation with a lover. She doesn’t shy away from telling her lover about her attraction to him and how he stays on her mind. In the second verse she sings, “Cause we fit together like a hand in glove / Just to be with you is all I’m thinking of.” The song earned Brandy a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards. 

On Brandy’s fourth album Afrodisiac, she decided to try new sounds with some producers she hadn’t previously worked with before. The album’s lead single “Talk About Our Love” was produced by Kanye West and also featured a verse from the rapper. The song is all about addressing rumors and lies being talked about in relationships. On the hook she sings, “The more they talk about our love / The more they make it obvious / The more they seem so envious.”

Brandy’s third single “Best Friend” is all about friendship and loyalty. She stresses how some friends may come and go, however, a best friend will always be around through the thick and thin. It’s evident from the first verse when she sings, “Whenever I’m down, I call on you, my friend / A helping hand you lend in my time of need / So I’m calling you, just to make it through.” The song was a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

As the first single on her Two Eleven album, Brandy teamed up with Chris Brown on “Put It Down.” Brandy sings about the traits that a potential lover has, from his looks to his success, to his money, but she still needs a little more convincing that he’s the one for her. On the hook, she says, “If you put it down right like the way I want it / Play your cards right, maybe we can fall in love.”

On “Almost Doesn’t Count,” Brandy reflects on the ups and downs in a relationship. She feels like she’s putting 100% in the relationship, but her lover is “almost” there and she realizes the feelings and commitment needs to be an equal effort. She says in the hook, “I can’t keep on loving you one foot outside the door / I hear a funny hesitation of a heart that’s never really sure / Can’t keep on trying if you’re looking for more.”

Brandy’s final single “Brokenhearted” from her debut album showcased that she could also deliver a love ballad. The singer stresses how she wants to take her time before falling in love again, because this time, the heartbreak is too agonizing to deal with. She knows her heart and mind and can’t endure the toll of falling in and out of love.

A song that could have been a great single from Two Eleven is the Mario Winans-produced track “Wish Your Love Away.” Brandy is seen reflecting on a lover who always told her the right things, but she felt all that talk was cheap, so now she can’t get him out of her head because she still has love for him.

Songwriter Diane Warren has always been a master at penning a hit ballad, it was evident when she worked with Brandy on her single “Have You Ever.” On the Never Say Never album, Brandy wanted to showcase her growth as an artist and young woman to create songs that more young adults could relate to. “Have You Ever” is all about unrequited love as Brandy sings, “Have you ever been in love / Been in love so bad / You’d do anything to make them understand / Have you ever had someone steal your heart away / You’d give anything to make them feel the same.”

On her single “Who Is She 2 U,” Brandy worked with producer and songwriter Timbaland. On the song, she sings about her boyfriend’s infidelity and is trying to get some clarity about his actions. On the hook she sings, “Who is she to you / Don’t lie to me / Who is she to you / My eyes can see / Something’s going on between you two / I think you better let me know.”

A deep album cut on Full Moon that could have been a solid single is “When You Touch Me.” Brandy sings about missing a lover and hoping that he was around. Her feelings are evident from beginning to end as she sings, “Wish I could hold you just for a little while, let me / I wish I could see you right now / But you’re so far way right now / But you’re so far away / It’s driving me crazy / I’m missing you baby.”

On Brandy’s fifth album Human, she teamed back up with producer Darkchild. The album’s lead single “Right Here (Departed)” is all about being present and reliable for a person that one cares about. On the hook, she sings, “When you feel your heart’s guarded / And you see the break’s started / When the clouds have all departed / You’ll be right here with me.”

Legendary singer, songwriter, and producer Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds was responsible for creating the soundtrack for the film Waiting to Exhale. He called on Brandy for the hit single “Sittin’ Up In My Room.” The song showcases Brandy’s lower octaves as she stresses being smitten over a potential lover. Her feelings are evident throughout the song as she sings, “Seems like ever since the first day that we met / There is no one else I think of more than you / Can’t seem to forget, can’t get you out of my head / Guess the verdict’s in, I’m crazy over you.”

Brandy went on an eight-year hiatus until she released her 2020 album b7. The album’s second single “Borderline” tackles how unrequited love can sometimes affect one’s emotional and mental health. The song was a top ten hit on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.

On her album Two Eleven, Brandy expanded her sound by working with different producers including Mike Will. He produced the album cut “Do You Know What You Have,” a song in which Brandy stresses how a lover didn’t realize what he had with her until he lost her for good.

Another Never Say Never album standout is “Angel in Disguise.” Brandy sings about her lover leaving her for another woman. While her lover may have thought his new flame was better, ultimately she wasn’t the angel he thought she was. On the hook, she says “An angel in disguise she was / But somehow you fell for her / And though she broke your heart that day / And left you in the rain / But still I love you.” The background vocals by fellow R&B star Joe helps take the track to another level. 

It had been several years since Brandy’s previous album, so fans got a sweet surprise in 2016 when she released her single “Beggin & Pleadin.” The song sounds like nothing Brandy had ever released before as blends sounds of blues, folk, and gospel. The song proves how much the R&B sensation can take on any genre and succeed with ease.

An all-female R&B collaboration in the ‘90s felt like heaven to a music nerd’s ears. In 1996, Brandy teamed up with Tamia, Gladys Knight, and Chaka Khan on “Missing You,” a single from the Set It Off soundtrack. Each singer brings their own style of vocal tone and ability as the song reflects on dealing with losing a friend. 

In 2019, fans were excited to hear that Brandy was working on a new album. Rising R&B star Daniel Caesar was working on his sophomore album and recruited Brandy for their sweet duet “Love Again.” Brandy’s lower octave range complements Caesar’s tone perfectly as the two sing about a relationship that has fizzled and hoping they’ll find love in the future.

Never Say Never had a number of album cuts that could have succeeded as singles, one being “Put That on Everything.” The track reflects on what people would do to prove their love. On the first verse she sings, “I will pull a star out of the sky for you / Yes, I would / To the edge of the earth, I’ll go to see you / Yes, it’s true.”

It’s always refreshing to see veteran artists team up with the newer generation. That’s exactly what happened when rising R&B star Gallant recruited Brandy on his single “Dynamite.” The piano ballad finds the singers reflecting on the destruction in a relationship, but they're trying to save their love while the world around them falls apart.