The Makings Of Me

Monica | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 3, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: J-Records
• ASIN: B000HA4WES
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (91 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,357 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #75 in Music > R&B > Contemporary R&B

Track Listings

1. Everytime Tha Beat Drop featuring Dem Franchize Boyz

2. A Dozen Roses (You Remind Me)

3. Sideline Ho

4. Why Her?

5. Hell No (Leave Home) featuring Twista

6. Doin' Me Right

7. Raw featuring Swizz Beatz

8. My Everything

9. Gotta Move On

10. Getaway

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Few can coo a love song as convincingly as Monica, but The Makings of Me confirms what many have suspected since the ATL-based firebrand lit up the charts with Brandy in 1998: it's when she's digging through the wreckage of a busted-up relationship that she dishes up her best work. Makings, luckily, is littered with liars, cheats, and assorted degenerates--when Monica's not wagging her finger in the face of a "Sideline Ho" ("Ain't you tired of spending all the holidays alone?" she wants to know), she's dismissing the fiancé who dissed her with a brisk, silk-voiced "Hell No." Appealing brassiness aside, Makings benefits from excellent production (Missy Elliot slinks up "Gotta Move On" with Far East flavor and lets flecks of Curtis Mayfield fly on "A Dozen Roses") and a handful of hip-hop luminaries. While the Twista-boasting "Hell No" gives off heat courtesy of the sheer speed of its rap exchange, it's Dem Franchize Boys who rule this particular guest list: The Jermaine Dupri-produced "Everytime Tha Beat Drop" doesn't play--it demands a dance floor. Instantly. Every time. --Tammy La Gorce

Product Description

The Makings Of Me (CD Album) by Monica (Denise Arnold) - 10 Tracks: 1. Everytime Tha Beat Drop o Featuring - Dem Franchize Boyz 2. A Dozen Roses (You Remind Me) o Vocals [Additional] - Missy Elliott 3. Sideline Ho 4. Why Her? 5. Hell No (Leave Home) o Featuring - Twista 6. Doin' Me Right o Vocals [Additional] - Missy Elliott 7. Raw o Featuring - Swizz Beatz 8. My Everything 9. Gotta Move On o Vocals [Additional] - Missy Elliott o Vocals [Background] - Charlene Keys 10. Getaway - Album Producers: Clive Davis, Monica & Larry Jackson - Executive Producers: Monica & Jermaine Dupri - Associate Executive Producer: Melinda Dancil

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Makings of Me - 3.5 stars, February 11, 2007

By 

Geminigirl (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Makings Of Me (Audio CD)

Two things made me delay getting this disc - I hated Monica's cover shot and wasn't sure what the purpose of her posing like that was AND the release of EVERYTIME THE BEAT DROPS as the lead off single. I was very disappointed in this choice and feared that the entire album would contain songs like this & being unfamiliar with the "snap" music craze, I just didn't get it.

With the release of A DOZEN ROSES (YOU REMIND ME) - my interest was piqued enough for me to give the disc a chance. I really love the use of the Curtis Mayfield sample from THE MAKINGS OF YOU (one of my fave tracks from the CLAUDINE soundtrack!) and I LOVE the video, Monica looks fabulous and she & Jamie Hector sizzle as a screen couple!

I had problems with the following tracks:

SIDELINE HO - although her vocal performance is beautiful & the music production is pretty, I don't care for the lyrics at all so I usually skip this track.

HELL NO (LEAVE HOME) - although her vocal performance is strong, the lyrics and music production are unremarkable

RAW - awful track, can't say anything complementary about this one

The others that stood out to me in a good way & that I enjoy listening to in addition to A DOZEN ROSES are:

WHY HER? - really pretty mid-tempo song featuring an exceptional chorus

GETAWAY, DOIN' ME RIGHT & MY EVERYTHING - are vintage Monica tracks featuring strong vocal & music production

GOTTA MOVE ON - the melody reminds me of A Taste of Honey's hit, SUKI YAKI; it's a catchy track with one negative - Missy Elliot's shout outs during the track

I'd recommend this disc to Monica fans with a word of caution - it's not a strong/cohesive album like THE BOY IS MINE or even AFTER THE STORM. I gave it 3.5 stars because there are more than a few enjoyable mid-tempo & ballady songs that are truly vintage Monica but I'm confused as to what direction she & her producers were going with this project. I hope this doesn't spell the end of her recording career as Monica is one of the more talented songstresses on the r&b scene who just needs to get with producers who can fully utilize & showcase her beautful voice.

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another good CD by Monica!, October 3, 2006

By 

Mirage08 (VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Makings Of Me (Audio CD)

If you want to know what's going on with her or where her mind is at listen to her CDs. I feel that someone espically females can relate to her songs. They CD flows from beginning to end. And when you listen to some of the words to the songs you'll be like "what the" or just say damn! Hopefully Monica has some staying power in this business b/c she is truly talented. Definite reommendation.
Fav Tracks: Everytime the Beat Drop, Hell No, A Dozen Roses, Why Her

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars R&B singer or Rapper, November 7, 2006

By 

Renaissance "Truth" (All Over) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Makings Of Me (Audio CD)

I've been down for Monica since the beginning; but now I am FINISHED, I love Monica's voice, but whats up with all these singers wanting to be rappers...WTF!!! I want the soulfoul Monica from the first CD, "Sideline Ho" ARE YOU SERIOUS!!! again WTF!! Could someone please come out with a soulful mature CD, cause this one aint even close.