The Boy Is Mine Tour

In 1998, Brandy and Monica collaborated on the song "The Boy Is Mine." Released as the lead single from both singers' second albums from 1998, Never Say Never and The Boy Is Mine, it became the first number-one pop hit for both artists, in the US and internationally, ultimately selling 2.6 million copies and spending thirteen weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, making it the best‑selling single in the US that year.^[1] Though both Brandy and Monica consistently denied that the song reflected any genuine rivalry between them, emphasizing that its intent was to convey the opposite, tabloid media often portrayed their collaboration as evidence of a feud.^[2] Sustained media attention, record‑label dynamics, and competing fanbases contributed to strains in their relationship.^[1] After years of limited contact, they collaborated again on the 2012 single "It All Belongs to Me" and later appeared together on a Verzuz battle in 2020, four years before reuniting once more on Ariana Grande's remix of her 2024 song "The Boy Is Mine."^[3]

With Brandy having hinted at the idea of a joint tour multiple times during their Verzuz battle, often as playful banter,^[3] the singers officially announced their co-headlining tour on June 24, 2025, accompanied by a cinematic short film directed by filmmaker and production designer Ethan Tobman.^[4] Set in a maximum-sound asylum, the tour trailer finds Brandy and Monica using their powerful and "forbidden" harmonies to break free.^[4] Produced by Black Promoters Collective and initially comprising 24 arena dates, the tour expanded the following month with three additional concerts in Florida, featuring Kelly Rowland, Muni Long, and 2025 American Idol winner Jamal Roberts joining as supporting acts.^[5] Brandy and Monica framed the tour as a celebration of their shared history, growth, and enduring fan support, emphasizing that it was more than a musical reunion but honoring their journeys, their impact on R&B, and the bond with their fans, highlighting themes of sisterhood, respect, and purpose.^[6] Both noted that the timing felt right to come together and give audiences what they had long hoped to see.^[6]

In a review for Variety, Steven J. Horowitz described the November 9 show at Kia Forum as a "ceaseless conveyor belt of hits," noting that while past their commercial peak, Brandy and Monica are "far from being nostalgia acts." He praised their contrasting styles, writing that "their performance styles never felt at odds."^[7] Similarly, Billboard editor Gail Mitchell called the same show "chock-full of boisterous sing-alongs, rigorous seat-dancing and lively shout-outs," praising the duo for showcasing their "estimable catalogs of hits and fan fave tracks" across a six-act performance.^[8] Joey Guerra of Houston Chronicle described the December 7 show as "a perfect musical close to a year that needed one last blast of joy." He emphasized the concert’s nostalgic power, noting that "nostalgia becomes a shared language, a communal experience that allows us to relive the music," and praised both singers' enduring artistry, writing that Brandy's "Never Say Never [...] still sounds ahead of its time" and Monica's hits like "Before You Walk Out of My Life" and "So Gone" highlighted her influence on fans’ personal histories. He also noted the tribute to Whitney Houston.^[9] For the Detroit stop, Metro Times critic Kahn Santori Davison highlighted the duo's enduring chemistry, describing their six-act show as "curated into forty songs" and noting that both singers "looked and sounded as amazing as they did three decades ago." He emphasized special moments, including Monica bringing out Detroit rappers Kash Doll, Skilla Baby, and Icewear Vezzo, and tributes to Whitney Houston and Aaliyah.^[10]

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tamia Fowlkes praised the final show at Fiserv Forum for reclaiming Brandy and Monica's narrative, blending hits like "Full Moon" and "Street Symphony" with tributes to Whitney Houston. She highlighted the dynamic staging, fashion, and choreography, noting the finale’s puppet imagery symbolized unity and a legacy "defined not by competition, but by sisterhood and perseverance."^[11] Carlos Omar Gardinet from The Miami New Times described the Miami performance as a "full-on time machine," praising how the tour combined nostalgia with powerful live vocals. He noted that the performance of "The Boy Is Mine" "no longer felt like a battle; it felt like closure," emphasizing the singers’ technical skill: "Brandy's technical precision paired beautifully with Monica's raw emotional delivery. Every note landed. Every harmony hit."^[12] Owen Myers of The Guardian offered a more mixed take on the November 20 concert at Barclays Center, describing it as a "sometimes strange, sometimes soaring throwback night." He noted that the rivalry-themed staging could feel like a "variety segment," with some songs cut to "90 seconds apiece." Myers praised the solo performances, highlighting Brandy's virtuosic vocals and Monica's "pristine" delivery, but criticized the lack of live instrumentation, "elaborate and strange video interludes," and a "slightly perplexing" lineup of guest appearances.^[13]

As the Black Promoters Collective announced in July 2025, the Boy is Mine Tour helped the company to reach more than $100 million in projected sales for the first half of 2025.^[14]

This set list is from the concert in Cincinnati on October 16, 2025.^{[23][better source needed]}