Monica Reflects on Career and the Feeling of Being an R&B Underdog

Monica, the celebrated R&B singer known for ’90s chart-toppers like “For You I Will” and “Angel of Mine,” recently shared her perspective on her music career during the final stop of The Shop’s UNINTERRUPTED Live Tour in Atlanta.

In the conversation, published on Wednesday, October 11, Monica opened up about her journey in the music industry, emphasizing that her career was driven by a passion for her craft rather than the pursuit of accolades. She expressed that, despite her numerous chart-topping hits, she feels somewhat forgotten compared to her R&B peers and considers herself an underdog in the industry.

“I was able to really enjoy my career because I didn’t have any expectations,” Monica began. “I was not looking at stats, I was not worried about awards. I’m actually a person that, for all the records I’ve broken, I really have never won any awards. I’m really the most forgotten if you think about it.”

She continued, elaborating on her comfort with the underdog status: “I’m pretty much the underdog, but I sit very comfortably in it because I can still go where I want, do what I want, live how I want. But when I say that I am often forgotten, I was hosting the Soul Train Awards, was nominated for five, three of my songs in one category and still lost.”

She concluded by sharing her perspective on her music career, highlighting that awards are not her primary motivation: “But I went out to eat and kicked my regular shit after. I was not bothered because that’s not what I do it for…That is really my point when I say that oftentimes I’m forgotten in those spaces.”

Monica’s candid conversation sheds light on the multifaceted nature of success in the music industry, emphasizing the importance of personal fulfillment and artistic expression over accolades and recognition.

Over the summer, Monica also made headlines for her real-life heroics when she intervened to protect a fan during a live performance. In a viral video, she can be seen jumping off the stage at Detroit’s Riverfront Music Festival to confront a man who was assaulting a woman in the crowd. In a subsequent interview with CNN Primetime, Monica shared her thoughts and emotions during the courageous incident.

“Simply put, I didn’t want to see her hurt or harmed, and her not make it back home after coming just to be a concert-goer for myself and Ashanti who was also on the show,” she said. “You know, these concerts have become what almost feels like a dangerous space and place, and I just really want that to change.”

Monica continued: “So, that was just when my instincts kicked in. I do not feel like I’m some form of superhero in any facet. But I did what I would hope that someone would do if they saw that happening to my aunt or mother, I could tell that she was — she’s definitely elder. And there was a level of fear there for me, just watching what appeared to be a situation that could have been escalated even further, I was simply trying to de-escalate it.”

She concluded: “You’re supposed to be having a good time. Everyone is supposed to make it back home to their families. And every person that travels with me knows how I feel about people.”

You can watch the full interview below.