Podcast: "The Torch" (The BackBeat)

This week on The BackBeat, we talk about Brandy claiming Whitney Houston passed her the torch. We cover the success of Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow" on the Hot 100. Next, we delve into Trina's beef with a local Miami rapper and we congratulate Cyn Santana and Joe Budden on their new baby. Also, we give a shout out to Kelly Rowland, who is in the studio working on her new album and much more.

Stay tuned to the end of the episode when we choose our songs of the moment. Marcus chooses tracks from Jazmine Sullivan and Whitney Houston. Kyera's favorite songs of the moment come from Kelela, Dreezy and Cassie.

Podcast: "Irreconcilable Differences" (The BackBeat)

This week on The Backbeat, we talk about Jhene Aiko filing for divorce, Rihanna being cast in Ocean’s Ocho as well as receiving the 2016 MTV Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. In addition we get into Jennifer Lopez being cast as Griselda Blanco in an HBO Original Film, Fantasia’s “The Definition Of…,” and Chance the Rapper’s Billboard cover story.

Make sure you stay tune until the end to hear songs of the moment from Marcus and Kyera. In a semi flashback friday edition, Marcus gives us selections from Tevin Campbell, Kelly Price, and Janet Jackson while Kyera touches on Monica, Drake, and Young M.A. who is a rapper on the rise!

Cut: "Slow Jam" (Usher & Monica)

Back in 1997, Usher released his sophomore album "My Way" and while the effort is best known for his hit singles "You Make Me Wanna...," "Nice & Slow" and the title-track "My Way," his cut with Monica, "Slow Jam" is one of those classic 90s jams that true fans of Usher and Monica jam to on the regular.

With that said, take a listen after the jump to Usher's cut "Slow Jam," featuring Monica and Enjoy!

Tour Dates: "The Code Red Experience" (Monica)

GRAMMY-winner Monica is hitting the road this Fall with her forthcoming The Code Red Experience ahead of the album's release this December. Entitled code red because of the emergency Monica sees in the genre of R&B, Monica is one of the genre's consistent heavyweights and her blending the original with the current is something I am sure we are all looking forward to.

With that said, Monica stopped by FOX's Good Day LA yesterday to announce The Code Red Experience that will feature Rico Love that kicks off next month in Las Vegas at the Brooklyn Bowl and will conclude December 13th in New York at the Gramercy Theater.

With that said, peep Monica's interview and the tour dates below and lookout for her album Code Red when it's released this December!

Second Listen: "Love All Over Me" (Monica)

Back in 2010, Monica released her second single "Love All Over Me" off of her sixth studio album Still Standing. While "Love All Over Me" would go onto peak at #2 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, it stalled somewhat on the Hot 100 peaking at a respectable 58.

With that said, "Love All Over Me" is hands down my favorite Monica joint to be released in the past several years and I think we should all revisit this sublime ballad from Monica as we await more news regarding her upcoming album Code Red.

Podcast: "The BackBeat: I Will Always Love 90s R&B"

This week, we celebrate our love for 90's R&B. We cover WhitneyHouston vs Mariah Carey, Jodeci vs Boys II Men, Aaliyah, Mary J. Blige, Brandy, Monica, Toni Braxton, Mya, SWV, TLC, Luther Vandross, R. Kelly, Ginuwine and much much more.

For the Hip Hop heads, we got you covered! We discuss the hottest R&B and Hip Hop collabs ft. Biggie Smalls, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Jermaine Durpri, The Brat, Ma$e, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, YoYo, and many more.

Make sure you stay tuned for our special segments. We play a game of 21 questions, where each host has to decide between two iconic singers, songs, soundtracks, and albums of the 90's. We also discuss the weirdest, sexiest, and downright problematic R&B pickup lines. As a special treat, we introduce our listeners to a special preview of a longer interview with Jon Schulyer, whose mixtape 199X is heavily inspired by the 90's.

We hope you fall back in love with the 90's after this special episode!

Podcast: "The BackBeat: I Will Always Love 90s R&B"

This week, we celebrate our love for 90's R&B. We cover WhitneyHouston vs Mariah Carey, Jodeci vs Boys II Men, Aaliyah, Mary J. Blige, Brandy, Monica, Toni Braxton, Mya, SWV, TLC, Luther Vandross, R. Kelly, Ginuwine and much much more.

For the Hip Hop heads, we got you covered! We discuss the hottest R&B and Hip Hop collabs ft. Biggie Smalls, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Jermaine Durpri, The Brat, Ma$e, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, YoYo, and many more.

Make sure you stay tuned for our special segments. We play a game of 21 questions, where each host has to decide between two iconic singers, songs, soundtracks, and albums of the 90's. We also discuss the weirdest, sexiest, and downright problematic R&B pickup lines. As a special treat, we introduce our listeners to a special preview of a longer interview with Jon Schulyer, whose mixtape 199X is heavily inspired by the 90's.

We hope you fall back in love with the 90's after this special episode!

Live Audio: "I Love The Lord/ "I'm Your Baby Tonight/I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" (Monica & Brandy)

During the 2012 BET Awards, Monica and Brandy were called upon to offer their vocal services to honor their late friend and mentor Ms. Whitney Houston.

Monica opened up the tribute with an impassioned rendition of "I Love The Lord" while Brandy sped it up a bit with her thumping performances of "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)."

With that said, take a listen to Monica and Brandy both honor the late Ms. Whitney Houston through song below and Enjoy!

Second Listen: "So Gone" (Monica)

Back in 2003, Monica released "So Gone," which was one out of several tracks rapper-producer Missy Elliott wrote and produced along with Kenneth Cunningham and Jamahl Rye from production duo Spike & Jamahl for Monica's fourth studio album, After the Storm. Incorporating elements of hip hop and 1970s-style quiet storm as well as soul music, it features a sample from the 1976 song "You Are Number One", penned by Zyah Ahmonuel and performed by The Whispers.

Following the less successful chart performances of previous singles "All Eyez on Me" and "Too Hood", J Records released the song on April 8, 2003 as the lead single form After the Storm in the United States. The song was lauded by critics, who praised its vintage touches and sparse hip hop–influences.

"So Gone" became Monica's biggest commercial success in years, reaching number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the top of both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and Hot Dance Club Play charts, becoming her first chart topper since 1998's "The First Night".

With that said, take a second listen below to Monica's "So Gone" and Enjoy!

New Joint: "Just Right for Me" (Monica ft. Lil Wayne)

More than three years after giving us her last studio album New Life, Monica is gearing up to release her latest LP Code Red later this year and the first official single from the project hit the net earlier this week.

Featuring Lil Wayne on an opening verse, the Plow Da Don-produced "Just Right for Me" is a solid mid-tempo that has a lovestuck Monica crooning it out on the chorus how much her man is "just right for me."

With that said, take a listen below to "Just Right for Me" and lookout for her forthcoming album Code Red when it's released later this year with production from Timbaland, Missy Elliott, and Dallas Austin.

Remix: "He's Mine [LNTG Rework]" (Brandy & Monica)

I just recently discovered LNTG's remix to the 1990s Brandy and Monica classic  "The Boy Is Mine" with "He's Mine [LNTG Rework]." Released over a year ago, "He's Mine [LNTG Rework]" is a solid reworking of the 90s classic and transforms "The Boy Is Mine" into an altogether new joint.

With that said, take a listen below to LNTG's "He's Mine [LNTG Rework]" below and Enjoy!

Second Listen: "So Gone" (Monica)

Back in 2003, Monica released "So Gone," which was one out of several tracks rapper-producer Missy Elliott wrote and produced along with Kenneth Cunningham and Jamahl Rye from production duo Spike & Jamahl for Monica's fourth studio album, After the Storm. Incorporating elements of hip hop and 1970s-style quiet storm as well as soul music, it features a sample from the 1976 song "You Are Number One", penned by Zyah Ahmonuel and performed by The Whispers.

Following the less successful chart performances of previous singles "All Eyez on Me" and "Too Hood", J Records released the song on April 8, 2003 as the lead single form After the Storm in the United States. The song was lauded by critics, who praised its vintage touches and sparse hip hop–influences.

"So Gone" became Monica's biggest commercial success in years, reaching number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the top of both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and Hot Dance Club Play charts, becoming her first chart topper since 1998's "The First Night".

With that said, take a second listen below to Monica's "So Gone" and Enjoy!

Live Audio: "I Love The Lord/ "I'm Your Baby Tonight/I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" (Monica & Brandy)

During the 2012 BET Awards, Monica and Brandy were called upon to offer their vocal services to honor their late friend and mentor Ms. Whitney Houston.

Monica opened up the tribute with an impassioned rendition of "I Love The Lord" while Brandy sped it up a bit with her thumping performances of "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)."

With that said, take a listen to Monica and Brandy both honor the late Ms. Whitney Houston through song below and Enjoy!

Live Clip: "The Boy Is Mine" (Brandy & Monica)

Brandy and Monica shared the stage a few years ago at the W Hotel in Atlanta curtesy of ATL's V103 and gave fans a preview of what is to come with their then proposed co-headlining tour later this year.

With that said, Brandy and Monica performed their Grammy winning #1 hit "The Boy Is Mine" live together, which might be only the second time in history that the duo has performed the song together live. Watch them croon and belt it out below as we all await what the Jessie J and Ariana Grande cover has to offer.

Cut: "Slow Jam" (Usher & Monica)

Back in 1997, Usher released his sophomore album "My Way" and while the effort is best known for his hit singles "You Make Me Wanna...," "Nice & Slow" and the title-track "My Way," his cut with Monica, "Slow Jam" is one of those classic 90s jams that true fans of Usher and Monica jam to on the regular.

With that said, take a listen after the jump to Usher's cut "Slow Jam," featuring Monica and Enjoy!

Second Listen: "Love All Over Me" (Monica)

Back in 2010, Monica released her second single "Love All Over Me" off of her sixth studio album Still Standing. While "Love All Over Me" would go onto peak at #2 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, it stalled somewhat on the Hot 100 peaking at a respectable 58.

With that said, "Love All Over Me" is hands down my favorite Monica joint to be released in the past several years and I think we should all revisit this sublime ballad from Monica as we await news of her forthcoming eighth studio album.

Song of the Day: "Without You" (Monica)

"Without You" - Monica

• Writers: Jamal Jones, Mansur Zafr, India Boodram, Jazmyn Michel, Kesia Hollins
• Producers: Polow da Don, Mansur Zafr
• Record Label: RCA
• Released in 2012 from New Life
• Peaked at #91 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

Second Listen: "Love All Over Me" (Monica)

Back in 2010, Monica released her second single "Love All Over Me" off of her sixth studio album Still Standing. While "Love All Over Me" would go onto peak at #2 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, it stalled somewhat on the Hot 100 peaking at a respectable 58.

With that said, "Love All Over Me" is hands down my favorite Monica joint to be released in the past several years and I think we should all revisit this sublime ballad from Monica as we await news of her forthcoming eighth studio album.

Live Audio: "I Love The Lord/ "I'm Your Baby Tonight/I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" (Monica & Brandy)

During last year's BET Awards, Monica and Brandy were called upon to offer their vocal services to honor their late friend and mentor Ms. Whitney Houston.

Monica opened up the tribute with an impassioned rendition of "I Love The Lord" while Brandy sped it up a bit with her thumping performances of "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)."

With that said, take a listen to Monica and Brandy both honor the late Ms. Whitney Houston through song below and Enjoy!

Live Video of the Day: "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" (Monica)

It feels like an eternity since we've heard from Monica, but her latest album New Life was released last year. Either way, the GRAMMY-winning songstress stopped by BET's 106 & Park this past Friday to spread some holiday with a solid performance of the holiday standard and classic "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas."

Having recorded a beautiful rendition for the official soundtrack to The Best Man Holiday, it seemed only fitting that Monica share her powerful rendition of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." After her performance, Monica also gave a brief interview about the holidays and much more.

Hopefully a new album from Monica will materialize in 2013 but as we await word on new music, watch Monica's festive performance of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" as we celebrate Christmas Eve!