It All Belongs to Me

Brandy and Monica first worked together in 1997, on a song titled "The Boy is Mine."{{Cite web|author=|date=October 10, 1997|title=Brandy Back In The Studio|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1426545/brandy-back-in-the-studio/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504144220/https://www.mtv.com/news/1426545/brandy-back-in-the-studio/|archive-date=May 4, 2016|website=MTV News|language=en}} Created as a solo track, Brandy recorded the song alone.{{cite web|url=http://www.soultracks.com/brandy.htm?|first1=David|last1=Nathan|first2=Chris|last2=Rizik|title=The Best of Brandy|publisher=Soul Tracks|date=January 12, 1999|access-date=March 4, 2012}} After listening to the result, however, she and Rodney Jerkins thought it would work better as a duet,{{cite web|first=Elysa|last=Gardner|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jul-07-ca-1304-story.html|title=Next From the Diva Machine|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 7, 1998|access-date=March 4, 2012}} an idea which was further inspired by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson's 1982 hit duet "The Girl Is Mine".{{cite web|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/1998-07-14/entertainment/18081346_1_miss-thang-clive-davis-rumor|title=Monica's Growing Success Teen Singer Has A 'Boy' Wonder Of A Hit – And A New Maturity?|first=Karen|last=Hunter|work=New York Daily News|date=July 4, 1998|access-date=March 4, 2012|archive-date=May 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515225119/http://articles.nydailynews.com/1998-07-14/entertainment/18081346_1_miss-thang-clive-davis-rumor|url-status=dead}} Jerkins, who produced the track, later claimed that both singers "didn't get along" during production and that he and Dexter Simmons remixed the track seven times to keep everything even.{{cite magazine|title=The 40 Biggest Duets of All Time|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/list/473075/the-40-biggest-duets-of-all-time|access-date=February 24, 2012|date=February 12, 2011}} Monica later spoke about her relationship with Brandy in an interview with WZMX, stating, "we were young. We could barely stay in the room with each other. By no means was it jealousy or envy. She and I are polar opposites and instead of embracing that, we used our differences as reasons not to be amongst each other."{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zf7OJuLbcY|title=Monica explains why she used to hate Brandy & talks about upcoming tour with Brandy|publisher=WZMX|via=YouTube|date=February 21, 2012|access-date=March 4, 2012}}

Later in 2011, it was reported that producer Rico Love was working with Monica on her seventh studio album, New Life.{{cite web|date=August 24, 2012|first=Devin|last=Lazerine |title=Brandy Crafts 'Classic R&B' Sound with Rico Love for New Album|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2011/08/24/brandy-crafts-classic-rnb-sound-with-rico-love-for-new-album/#more-94971|access-date=March 4, 2012|work=Rap-Up}} Love conceived "It All Belongs to Me" as a loose sequel to "The Boy is Mine." He stated that the song was essentially picking up where the 1998 duet left off, telling Rap-Up in 2012: "It's a very soulful R&B song with pop sensibilities. I wanted to make sure I made it a classic R&B record, but I definitely wanted to make sure that it had enough appeal to cross over and become a Top 40 record".{{cite web|first=Devin|last=Lazerine|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/01/12/exclusive-qa-rico-love-shares-details-on-brandy-and-monica-duet/|title=Exclusive Q&A: Rico Love Shares Details on Brandy and Monica Duet|access-date=March 4, 2012|work=Rap-Up|date=December 1, 2011}} In April 2012, Monica that the song was initially produced for and belonged to R&B singer R. Kelly and was intended to be part of his 2012 album Write Me Back. She further explained that she actually "had to really go to him and ask him: 'Can I take this song, I really wanna take this song and put it on my new album'." Kelly ended up giving the song to her, which resulted in Monica thanking him "from the bottom of [her] heart." The label then brought up the idea to her to put Brandy on the song, which was initially intended as a solo song.{{Citation|title=Monica Reveals 'It All Belongs to Me' Was Originally for R. Kelly|work=Rap-Up|via=YouTube|date=April 25, 2012|access-date=August 22, 2023|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5cKck4OJPE|language=en}}

After "It All Belongs to Me" was presented to Monica, the singer revealed that she wanted to record a duet with Brandy, following their first released in 1998. Brandy also had plans to record a new duet with Monica. After talking to RCA and Chameleon Records executives Peter Edge and Breyon Prescott, both singers agreed to record the song. Monica, however, stated that she was not going to the studio without Clive Davis' permission. Brandy's team then contacted Davis, who authorized the duet. Brandy and Monica then recorded the song together in a recording studio located on Miami, Florida from January 6 to 8, 2012.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/brandy-and-monica-reunite-in-miami-studio-20120109|title=Brandy and Monica Reunite in Miami Studio|last=Perpetua|first=Matthew|date=January 9, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|magazine=Rolling Stone}} Brandy said that the energy of the recording sessions was "magical! I was just so excited to see her again, just to work with her again. The session was great. It was like it was meant to be. It was like we never missed a beat." The singers also took pictures and talked about their current lives. Brandy also revealed that she and Monica wanted to "give [their] best vocals ever on a song."

Monica revealed that, before passing, Whitney Houston came to her after hearing "It All Belongs to Me" and said, "You killin' that run at the end. And you know I know you stole that from me, right?"{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/monica_brandy_talk_whitney_houston/294037|title=Monica and Brandy Talk Whitney Houston Memories, Her Death and That Secret Note|last=Nessif|first=Bruna|date=February 14, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|publisher=E! Online}} Rico Love commented on the recording sessions of the song in an interview with magazine Rap-Up, saying that "it was a really interesting situation because of the history that was in the room and the energy was so positive. It was electric. I really wanted to try my best to pull the most explosive vocals out of them. ´... It kinda carried on the next part of the story, just showing their growth and their maturity, and making it real and true to both singers. It was an amazing energy, an amazing vibe. The girls were all positive. It was just fun. We had a great time and I learned so much from both of them during the session." Love also revealed that they did alternate versions of the song for both Monica and Brandy's albums but also noted that the changes were minimal. "It All Belongs to Me" was later omitted from Brandy's next project Two Eleven (2012).

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"It All Belongs to Me" is a midtempo pop and R&B song that lasts for four minutes and six seconds. A ballad, the first verse starts with Brandy singing, "No, no, no, sugar/You must be blind/You must be dumb/You must be tripping/You must be crazy/To think I'm gonna let you off that easy."{{cite web|url=http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2012/02/07/monica-brandy-it-all-belongs-to-me/|title=New Song: Monica And Brandy, 'It All Belongs To Me'|date=February 7, 2012|access-date=March 4, 2012|publisher=MTV|last=Rubenstein|first=Jenna|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511210732/http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2012/02/07/monica-brandy-it-all-belongs-to-me/|archive-date=May 11, 2012}} As the chorus follows, Monica starts to sing along with Brandy, with both stating that they do not belong to their boyfriends, "But put that back/That ain't yours/Have a fit/Slam the door/But leave them bags/On the floor/That s--- belongs to me/Those clothes, cars, those rings/And that MacBook/That s--- belongs to me/So log off your Facebook, it all belongs to me." Sowmya Krishnamurthy of MTV said the track "is all about girl power and kicking that no-good-low-down-dirty-dog guy to the curb."{{cite web|url=http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/02/07/brandy-monica-new-song-all-belongs-to-me/|title=Brandy, Monica Reunite On Single 'It All Belongs To Me'|date=February 7, 2012|access-date=March 4, 2012|publisher=MTV|last=Krishnamurthy|first=Sowmya|archive-date=February 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210192612/http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/02/07/brandy-monica-new-song-all-belongs-to-me/|url-status=dead}} According to John Mitchel also of MTV, "the fierce twosome are joining forces against to kick the no-good men in their lives to the curb."{{cite web|url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2012/02/07/brandy-monica-reunite-it-all-belongs-to-me-the-boy-is-mine/|title=Brandy And Monica Reunite For R&B Ballad 'It All Belongs To Me'|date=February 7, 2012|access-date=March 4, 2012|publisher=MTV|last=Mitchell|first=John|archive-date=May 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507025454/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2012/02/07/brandy-monica-reunite-it-all-belongs-to-me-the-boy-is-mine/|url-status=dead}} Towards the end of the song, Brandy and Monica starts to sing in a melismatic form, with the latter singing the last line.

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{{quote box|width=30%|align=right|quote=Each is special in her own right, and each clearly has had much success. ... The fact that they have gotten back together to reunite with a duet recording, we're gonna celebrate and we're gonna have a great time Saturday night. |source=—Clive Davis reflects on the duet.{{cite web|url=http://foxuscc-extreme.mobile.msn.com/entertainment/wonderwall/article/brandy-and-monica-dish-on-their-musical-reunion/1666299|title=Brandy and Monica Dish on Their Musical Reunion|last=Silverstein|first=Rebecca|date=February 10, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|publisher=MSN. Microsoft|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104003656/http://foxuscc-extreme.mobile.msn.com/entertainment/wonderwall/article/brandy-and-monica-dish-on-their-musical-reunion/1666299|archive-date=January 4, 2013}}}}

In an interview with Yahoo! Music, Brandy told that she was expecting female listeners to love the song. According to HitFix, the track was well received by the public, being ranked as B+ on the reader's rating. However, "It All Belongs to Me" received mixed reviews from contemporary critics. Andrew Hampp of Billboard gave the song a mixed review, saying "it's about five notches below Beyoncé's 'Irreplaceable' in the sass department, and could use an extra hook or two. Still, the four-minute track finishes on a familiar note, with the two singers delivering melisma after melisma, trying to outdo the other over whom all the stuff belongs to (for the record, Monica gets the last word)."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1067111/track-review-monica-brandy-it-all-belongs-to-me|last=Hampp|first=Andrew|title=Track Review: It All Belongs to Me|magazine=Billboard|date=February 16, 2012|access-date=March 4, 2012}} Billy Johnson Jr. of Yahoo! Music, however, said that the song's message "is tougher and more humiliating to the male ego than Beyoncé's 'Irreplaceable'," while describing it as a "fluttering piano ballad."{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/hip-hop-media-training/brandy-monica-release-emasculating-breakup-anthem-belongs-213211836.html|title=Brandy And Monica Release Emasculating Breakup Anthem 'It All Belongs To Me'|last=Johnson Jr.|first=Billy|date=February 7, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|publisher=Yahoo!}} Bill Lamb of About.com ranked "It All Belongs to Me" as the eight best pop song of the week ending on February 16, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://top40.about.com/od/top10newpopsongs/tp/Top-10-New-Pop-Songs-February-16-2012.htm|title=Top 10 New Pop Songs|date=February 16, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|last=Lamb|first=Bill|publisher=About.com. Rovi Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530104612/http://top40.about.com/od/top10newpopsongs/tp/Top-10-New-Pop-Songs-February-16-2012.htm|archive-date=May 30, 2012}} Elena Gorgan of Softpedia said that the collaboration was "worth the wait,"{{cite web|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Monica-Brandy-Sing-It-All-Belongs-to-Me-on-Leno-253479.shtml|last=Gorgan|first=Elena|publisher=Softpedia|date=February 17, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|title=Monica & Brandy Sing "It All Belongs to Me" on Leno}} while Michael O'Connell and Shirley Haperin of The Hollywood Reporter thought that it "serves as a solid showcase for two voices that reached their pop culture pinnacle 14 years ago."{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/earshot/brandy-monica-reunion-all-belongs-to-me-boy-mine-jay-leno-292456|title=Brandy and Monica Take Reunion Single to 'Tonight Show' (Video)|last1=O'Connell|first1=Michael|last2=Haperin|first2=Shirley|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 17, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012}}

Entertainment Weekly writer April Daley found surprising that Monica and Brandy didn't collaborate earlier in their career, as they've reportedly been close friends for years.{{cite magazine|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/02/07/brandy-and-monica-new-single/|last=Daley|first=April|date=February 7, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|title=Brandy and Monica reunite on 'It All Belongs to Me' – hear it here|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} Daley, however, noted that "unlike their '98 hit, this sleeper isn't likely to make a major dent in your Most Played list — while it seems to have the right ingredients, strong vocals, and an empowering message, it suffers from watered-down couplets about Facebook and Macbooks and a beat that isn't quite catchy enough." She also compared it to Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable", commenting that the duet is a new version "with two leads and more juvenile lyrics." Becky Bain of Idolator considered it a "snappy R&B tune", and said that it's "nice to see these two ladies finally getting along!"{{cite web|url=http://idolator.com/6168562/brandy-monica-it-all-belongs-to-me|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709065631/http://idolator.com/6168562/brandy-monica-it-all-belongs-to-me|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2012|title=Brandy And Monica Team Up For New Single "It All Belongs To Me"|date=February 6, 2012|access-date=March 4, 2012|publisher=Idolator. Buzz Media|last=Bain|first=Becky}} AOL Music's Kenneth Partridge commented on the track, saying, "they've been burned by their fellas, and they they're not shy about showing some sisterly solidarity and standing up for themselves."{{cite web|url=http://m.aol.com/music/blog/theboombox/2012/02/06/brandy-monica-it-all-belongs-to-me/?icid=music_bbx_art|title=Brandy and Monica's 'It All Belongs to Me': Singers Offer 'Boy Is Mine' Sequel|date=February 6, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|last=Partridge|first=Kenneth|publisher=AOL Music|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710095406/http://m.aol.com/music/blog/theboombox/2012/02/06/brandy-monica-it-all-belongs-to-me/?icid=music_bbx_art|archive-date=July 10, 2012}} Danielle Cheesman of MSN Entertainment criticized "It All Belongs to Me", saying, "let's face it, [the song is] never ever going to be as big as 'The Boy Is Mine'."{{cite web|url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/groove-blogpost.aspx?post=ed059afc-6ecf-40ff-8067-f5de9126f5a8|title=Estelle & Janelle Monae Teach How To "Do My Thing"|date=February 28, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|publisher=MSN. Microsoft|last=Cheesman|first=Danielle|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302190022/http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/groove-blogpost.aspx?post=ed059afc-6ecf-40ff-8067-f5de9126f5a8|archive-date=March 2, 2012}}

Dan Martin of NME commented that "It All Belongs to Me" is "not the gold comeback standard" that people were expecting, and stated that despite "groovy references to 'Facebook' and such, this neither a) picks up the story of the original song or b) pits the ladies against each other."{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/brandy-and-monica/12728|title=Brandy & Monica – 'It All Belongs To Me'|date=February 10, 2012|access-date=March 4, 2012|work=NME|last=Martin|first=Dan}} The Guardian journalist Michael Cragg noted that the hype behind the song was big, however, he expressed that it actually "sounds disappointing." He continued, "while 'The Boy is Mine' brilliantly played the two singers off against each other, fuelling the supposed rivalry the song itself generated, 'It All Belongs to Me' is a fairly rudimentary 'man's done me wrong and he needs to leave' mid-paced strumalong."{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/feb/07/brandy-monica-all-belongs-to-me|title=New music: Brandy and Monica – It All Belongs to Me|date=February 7, 2012|access-date=March 4, 2012|work=The Guardian|last=Cragg|first=Michael}} HitFix blogger Chris Eggertsen rated the song a D+, saying that it has been many years since "The Boy is Mine" came out, and wondered if people would actually care about a Brandy/Monica reunion.{{cite web|url=http://www.hitfix.com/articles/listen-do-the-time-warp-with-new-brandy-and-monica-duet-it-all-belongs-to-me|title=Listen: Do the time-warp with new Brandy and Monica duet 'It All Belongs to Me'|last=Eggertsen|first=Chris|work=HitFix|date=February 6, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|archive-date=February 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208073844/http://www.hitfix.com/articles/listen-do-the-time-warp-with-new-brandy-and-monica-duet-it-all-belongs-to-me|url-status=dead}} Eggertsen also noted that the song's production sounded quite dated, and finished his review saying that both singers will need a stronger single for a real comeback. Amanda Dobbins of New York said the track is basically a "karaoke-friendly answer" to "Irreplaceable", "though B&M are more concerned with itemizing what, exactly, is still theirs (clothes, cars, rings, and, hilariously, that Macbook) than directing the gentleman where to put his things."{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/02/brandy-and-monica-are-friends-now.html|title=Brandy and Monica are Friends Now|date=February 6, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|work=New York|last=Dobbins|first=Amanda}}

RCA Records commissioned a music video to be directed by Chris Robinson. According to Rap-Up, the video was filmed at a luxurious house in the Los Angeles area.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/03/02/on-set-of-brandy-and-monicas-it-all-belongs-to-me-video/#more-115355|title=On Set of Brandy and Monica's 'It All Belongs to Me' Video|date=March 2, 2012|access-date=March 4, 2012|work=Rap-Up}} Brandy described it to Rolling Stone as a girl empowerment video, "sort of like a 'Thelma & Louise',"{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/brandy-on-her-new-album-outlook-and-reunion-with-monica-20120301|title=Brandy on Her New Album, Outlook and Reunion With Monica|last=Crosley|first=Hillary|date=March 1, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|magazine=Rolling Stone}} and revealed that, according to the storyline, they're "both in dysfunctional relationships, ... helping each other through both situations." She also commented that Waiting to Exhale (1995) was another inspiration for the music video.{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2012-03-04/how-waiting-to-exhale-and-thelma-and-louise-inspired-brandy-and-monicas-new-music-video/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306054317/http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2012-03-04/how-waiting-to-exhale-and-thelma-and-louise-inspired-brandy-and-monicas-new-music-video/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 6, 2012|title=How Waiting To Exhale And Thelma And Louise Inspired Brandy And Monica's New Music Video|last=Graham|first=Mark|date=March 4, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|publisher=VH1. MTV Networks}} On February 13, 2012, Monica shared two pictures from behind the scenes. One of the pictures features Monica wearing a shirt with a picture of Whitney Houston.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/02/14/brandy-and-monica-shoot-it-all-belongs-to-me-video/|title=Brandy and Monica Shoot 'It All Belongs to Me' Video|date=February 14, 2012|access-date=March 4, 2012|work=Rap-Up}} On March 2, 2012, a thirty-second preview of the video was posted online. A behind the scenes teaser was also posted on MTV Hive,{{cite web|url=http://www.mtvhive.com/artist/monica__3_/videos/745101/monica_amp_brandy_it_all_belongs_to_me_teaser|title=Monica & Brandy 'It All Belongs To Me' Teaser|access-date=March 4, 2012|publisher=MTV}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} while VH1 News released an interview with both singers during the filing of video.{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/video/misc/744955/behind-the-scenes-of-brandy-and-monicas-big-reunion.jhtml#id=1680223|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305013108/http://www.vh1.com/video/misc/744955/behind-the-scenes-of-brandy-and-monicas-big-reunion.jhtml#id=1680223|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 5, 2012|title=Behind The Scenes of Brandy and Monica's Big Reunion|date=March 1, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|publisher=VH1. MTV Networks}} The full video premiered on March 5, 2012, through music channel VH1 at 11 PM ET/PT.{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2012-03-02/exclusive-sneak-peek-brandy-monica-re-team-for-it-all-belongs-to-me-video/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303182215/http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2012-03-02/exclusive-sneak-peek-brandy-monica-re-team-for-it-all-belongs-to-me-video/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 3, 2012|last=Graham|first=Mark|title=EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK: Brandy & Monica Re-Team For "It All Belongs To Me" (VIDEO)|date=March 2, 2012|publisher=VH1. MTV Networks|access-date=March 4, 2012}}

File:Monica and Brandy - It All Belongs to Me.png

The video opens with Brandy giving her fictional boyfriend a watch. However, the couple starts to fight after a few seconds, leading Brandy to drive the boyfriend to the middle of a road and leaving him alone. She then changes her Facebook status to 'Single'. Next, we see Monica giving her lover a new car. The scene then cuts to both having a discussion on their room, that ends with Monica cutting her boyfriend's necktie with a pair of scissors. The singers are then seen together dressing black leather clothes in a bathroom. As they leave, they carry a MacBook, a golden box and a suit, while placing the items inside the car Monica had previously given her lover. As the lover watches both from afar, Monica and Brandy wave him goodbye. They leave on Brandy's car, as the other explodes in front of Monica's old house. The video ends with a dedication to Whitney Houston. Some of the video shows scenes of Brandy and Monica sitting the same way from Brandy's left and Monica's right with their chairs, Monica singing in the light with a hat and black clothing and later a beret headband from the 70s, Brandy and Monica singing in their dress and signing behind the mirror with the light.

A Rap-Up reviewer and Byron Flistch of MTV praised the looks of both singers in the video.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/03/05/video-brandy-monica-it-all-belongs-to-me/|date=March 5, 2012|access-date=March 23, 2012|title=Video: Brandy and Monica – 'It All Belongs to Me'|work=Rap-Up}}{{cite web|url=http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2012/03/06/monica-brandy-it-all-belongs-to-me-video/|last=Flistch|first=Byron|title=New Video: Monica And Brandy, 'It All Belongs To Me'|date=March 6, 2012|access-date=March 23, 2012|publisher=MTV|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524104935/http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2012/03/06/monica-brandy-it-all-belongs-to-me-video/|archive-date=May 24, 2012}} Flistch also commented, "not that we promote arson or anything, but we're just super happy Brandy and Monica are getting along – clearly, no man is worth holding on to a years-old grudge." According to Fashion Bomb Daily, Brandy was styled in a Versace Barocco Printed Silk-Twill Shirt that costed $1,275.{{cite web|url=http://fashionbombdaily.com/2012/03/06/wardrobe-query-brandys-it-all-belongs-to-me-video-versace-barocco-printed-silk-twill-shirt/|title=Wardrobe Query: Brandy's 'It All Belongs to Me' Video Versace Barocco Printed Silk-Twill Shirt|author=Claire|date=March 6, 2012|access-date=March 23, 2012|publisher=Fashion Bomb Daily|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309040250/http://fashionbombdaily.com/2012/03/06/wardrobe-query-brandys-it-all-belongs-to-me-video-versace-barocco-printed-silk-twill-shirt/|archive-date=March 9, 2012|url-status=dead}} Robbie Daw of Idolator also said that Monica and Brandy looked "stunning", but added that the plotline of the video could have been more creative.{{cite web|url=http://idolator.com/6208502/brandy-monica-it-all-belongs-to-me-video-watch|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708225031/http://idolator.com/6208502/brandy-monica-it-all-belongs-to-me-video-watch|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 8, 2012|title=Brandy & Monica's "It All Belongs To Me" Video: Watch|last=Daw|first=Robbie|date=March 6, 2012|access-date=March 23, 2012|publisher=Idolator. Buzz Media}} Maritess Calabria of RyanSeacrest.com thought that the video reflects on how women can be powerful in terms of money in a relationship, and completed, "just as easily as they give it, they can take it all away."{{cite web|url=http://ryanseacrest.com/2012/03/05/brandy-monica-release-new-music-video-for-it-all-belongs-to-me-video/|date=March 5, 2012|access-date=March 23, 2012|title=Brandy & Monica Release New Music Video for 'It All Belongs To Me' (VIDEO)|last=Calabria|first=Maritess|publisher=RyanSeacrest.com. Ryan Seacrest}} Chris Eggertsen of Hitfix gave the video a negative review, and said "that it feels as lifeless and pre-fab as the song it's been built around."{{cite web|url=http://www.hitfix.com/articles/watch-brandy-and-monicas-it-all-belongs-to-me-video-comes-to-an-explosive-end|title=Watch: Brandy and Monica's 'It All Belongs to Me' video comes to an explosive end|last=Eggertsen|first=Chris|work=HitFix|date=March 6, 2012|access-date=March 23, 2012}} New York journalist Amanda Dobbins said that the video "isn't exactly a barn-burner" as the song either, and joked that a large part of the production's budget "was blown on the Macbook in question."{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/03/all-belongs-to-me-video-brandy-and-monica-reunited-with-macbook.html|title='It All Belongs to Me' Video: Brandy and Monica Reunited, With Macbook|date=March 6, 2012|access-date=March 23, 2012|work=New York|last=Dobbins|first=Amanda}}

Brandy and Monica first performed the song together on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2012/02/grammys-2012-clive-davis-brandy-monica.html|title=Grammys 2012: Clive Davis sets the stage for Brandy/Monica redux|date=February 10, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|last=Kennedy|first=Gerrick|work=Los Angeles Times}} Rickey Minor and Kim Burse, who previously worked with Beyoncé and Ciara, were among the creative team of the performance. Robbie Daw of Idolator considered the performance as impressive and soulful, noting, however, that listeners seemed to prefer the singers

feuding days.{{cite web|url=http://idolator.com/6187752/monica-bandy-tonight-show|title=Monica & Brandy Perform "It All Belongs To Me" On The 'Tonight Show'|last=Daw|first=Robbie|publisher=Idolator. Buzz Media|date=February 17, 2012|access-date=March 4, 2012}} Michael O'Connell and Shirley Halperin of The Hollywood Reporter thought the performance was nostalgic, and concluded that "the two can also still give a pretty good live performance." A reviewer of Rap-Up said that Monica and Brandy "put their powerful pipes on display" on the presentation.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/02/16/brandy-and-monica-perform-it-all-belongs-to-me-on-leno/|title=Brandy and Monica Perform 'It All Belongs to Me' on 'Leno'|date=February 16, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|work=Rap-Up}} The singers were also going to perform the track on Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy Party in 2012, along with "The Boy is Mine". When asked about the performance, Brandy revealed that she was scared, "I'm just scared of everybody in that room. I think that's why it's going to be a really cool performance because I do a little bit better when I'm afraid."{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/redcarpet/2012/grammys/news/where-will-britney-spears-and-miley-cyrus-be-on-saturday-night/293200|last=Malkin|first=Marc|title=Where Will Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus Be on Saturday Night?|date=February 10, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012|publisher=E! Online}} Monica, on the other hand, revealed that she "don't get nervous. I thank God for that because I don't know what I would do if I did." However, following Houston's passing, the performance was cancelled.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisrnb.com/2012/02/monica-brandy-talk-whitney-houston-with-e-news/|title=Monica and Brandy talk Whitney Houston with E! Online|publisher=This is RnB|date=February 15, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2012}}

To further promote the song, Monica and Brandy did several appearances on television and radio. The singers visited BET's 106 & Park to premiere the music video for the show and talk about their tour, comeback and Whitney Houston.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/03/13/brandy-and-monica-talk-tour-remember-whitney-houston-on-106-park/|title=Brandy and Monica Talk Tour, Remember Whitney Houston on '106 & Park'|date=March 13, 2012|access-date=March 23, 2012|work=Rap-Up}} They also visited WWPR-FM's The Breakfast Club, and participated on VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live, where they played a game inspired by the song. They picked items out of a box and said which of them it belonged to.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/03/14/brandy-and-monica-brave-the-breakfast-club-visit-vh1s-big-morning-buzz/|title=Brandy and Monica Brave 'The Breakfast Club,' Visit VH1's 'Big Morning Buzz'|date=March 14, 2012|access-date=March 23, 2012|work=Rap-Up}} During their promotional tour, both singers were interviewed on SiriusXM's Sway in the Morning,{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/03/19/brandy-and-monica-visit-sway-in-the-morning/|title=Brandy and Monica Visit 'Sway in the Morning'|date=March 19, 2012|access-date=March 23, 2012|work=Rap-Up}} while Brandy appeared on a Reebok Classics Icons campaign during a New York Knicks game on the week of March 23, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/03/15/brandy-hangs-with-rick-ross-and-swizz-beatz-at-reebok-classics-launch/|title=Brandy Hangs with Rick Ross and Swizz Beatz at Reebok Classics Launch|date=March 23, 2012|access-date=March 23, 2012|work=Rap-Up}} They also did an intimate interview and performance in Atlanta for V-103's Conversation/Soul Session. Aside the performances of "It All Belongs to Me" and "The Boy is Mine", Brandy did a tribute to Houston, and performed a live cover of "I Will Always Love You" (1992).{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/03/23/brandy-and-monica-pay-tribute-to-whitney-houston-in-atlanta/|title=Brandy and Monica Pay Tribute to Whitney Houston in Atlanta|date=March 23, 2012|access-date=March 23, 2012|work=Rap-Up}} More performances of the song occurred on Good Morning America and Live! with Kelly.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/04/11/brandy-and-monica-perform-on-live-with-kelly/|title=Brandy and Monica perform on 'Live! with Kelly'|date=April 11, 2012|access-date=April 16, 2012|work=Rap-Up}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/04/10/brandy-and-monica-perform-it-all-belongs-to-me-on-gma/|title=Brandy and Monica perform 'It All Belongs to Me' on GMA|date=April 10, 2012|access-date=April 16, 2012|work=Rap-Up}} Monica performed a solo rendition of "It All Belongs to Me" during a promotional concert held by AOL on April 5, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/04/05/monica-performs-old-and-new-material-for-aol-sessions/#more-119268|title=Monica Performs Old and New Material for AOL Sessions|date=April 5, 2012|access-date=April 16, 2012|work=Rap-Up}}

{{track listing

| headline = Digital download{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/it-all-belongs-to-me-single/500995157|title=It All Belongs to Me|date=February 10, 2012|access-date=March 4, 2012|publisher=iTunes Store. Apple Inc}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = It All Belongs to Me

| note1 = album version

| writer1 = {{hlist|Rico Love|Earl Hood|Eric Goudy II}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Love|Earl & E}}

| length1 = 4:04

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Digital download – remix{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007PFN4Q0/|title=It All Belongs to Me: Monica & Brandy: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads|website=Amazon UK |date=April 6, 2012|access-date=August 22, 2023}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = It All Belongs to Me

| note1 = High Level radio mix

| writer1 = {{hlist|Love|Hood|Goudy}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Love|Earl & E|High Level{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length1 = 4:18

}}

{{track listing

| headline = UK digital download{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/preorder/it-all-belongs-to-me-single/id506939042|access-date=August 22, 2023|title=It All Belongs to Me – Single by Brandy and Monica|publisher=iTunes Store. Apple Inc}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = It All Belongs to Me

| note1 = radio edit

| writer1 = {{hlist|Love|Hood|Goudy}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Love|Earl & E}}

| length1 = 4:04

| title2 = It All Belongs to Me

| note2 = album version

| writer2 = {{hlist|Love|Hood|Goudy}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Love|Earl & E}}

| length2 = 4:04

| title3 = Anything (To Find You)

| note3 = featuring Rick Ross

| writer3 = {{hlist|Cainon Lamb|Henry Fuse|Jazmine Sullivan|Miguel Castro|Missy Elliott|William Roberts}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Elliott|Lamb}}

| length3 = 3:42

}}Sample credits{{cite AV media notes |title=New Life |author=Monica |year=2012 |type=liner notes |publisher=RCA Records}}

• "Anything (To Find You)" contains a portion of the composition "Who Shot Ya?", written by Christopher Wallace, Sean Combs, Nashiem Sa-Allah Myrick, Herbert Magidson and Allie Wrubel; contains a portion of the composition "You're All I Need to Get By", written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson; contains a sample from "I'm Afraid the Masquerade Is Over", as performed by David Porter.

Notes

• {{sup|{{note|a|a}}}} denotes additional producer

On the chart issue dated February 23, 2012, "It All Belongs to Me" debuted at number 66 on Billboard{{'}}s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. It peaked at number 23.

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk7P1lKkCG0 Official music video on "YouTube"] — YouTube.

{{Monica songs}}

{{Brandy Norwood singles}}

Category:2012 singles

Category:Monica (singer) songs

Category:Brandy Norwood songs

Category:Contemporary R&B ballads

Category:Female vocal duets

Category:Songs written by Rico Love

Category:Music videos directed by Chris Robinson (director)

Category:Songs written by Earl Hood

Category:Songs written by Eric Goudy

Category:Pop ballads

Category:2010s ballads

Category:Sequel songs

Category:Songs with feminist themes