Monica is back. The legendary singer has returned with her new single “Friends” featuring Ty Dolla $ign. It was produced by Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Tasha Catour (Lecrae, Jacquees, Keke Palmer).
At first listen, “Friends” comes close to past heights in Monica’s elite romantic songbook. Her emotions of an unbreakable bond for a special someone swell over the acoustic-lined production, which has a hard-hitting bass.
She sings, “I got your back yeah (I got your back) / You got my front yeah (you got my front) / That’s what we love (that’s how we love) / We do what we want (do what we want) / They don’t notice all the little things / Notice all the little things / And everything you do (everything you do).”
Ty is as heartfelt as Monica, explaining to his lady that they must not sweat the small things if they want to progress their love. The real magic of the ode comes when Monica and Ty’s voices blend together as one across the guitar strums and bass.
Speaking of the new track, Monica says, “‘Friends’ is about keeping people in their place and handling your own relationship.”
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“Friends” is the follow-up to Monica’s Lil Baby-assisted “Trenches,” released on Aug. 31, 2020, the same day of her Verzuz celebration with Brandy. Monica shared the supporting music video later that fall.
Both tracks are expected to make the tracklist of Trenches, Monica’s first album since 2015’s Code Red. The new album, slated to arrive this fall, will be released under Monica’s imprint, MonDeenise Music.
It is not certain if the previously shared “Commitment” and “Me + You” will make the forthcoming album. The former track, produced by female duo Nova Wav, topped the R&B charts in July 2019.
Throughout the last few years, Monica spent time in the studio working on Trenches with PJ Morton, The Neptunes, Tank, Missy Elliott, Yung Miami of City Girls and many more.
In June, NPR tapped Monica to celebrate Black Music Month with a Tiny Desk (Home) concert. It followed her debut appearance at the CMT Music Awards, where she performed “Pray” with Jimmie Allen and Little Big Town. At that ceremony, Monica revealed the title of her pending country album, Open Roads.
Since Monica collaborated with Lil Baby, she has stayed engulfed in hip-hop, working with A$AP Ferg and BLEU (then Yung Bleu) on their respective tracks.
Listen to Monica’s new song “Friends” with Ty Dolla $ign below.
