Monifah

A girl in ruby slippers figured out that there was no place like it, and some great thinkers once opined that it was where the heart is. They’d get no argument from R&B singer/songwriter Monifah. Only in her case, home is also where the soul is. Where inspiration emanates. Where you can be yourself and express yourself without limits or restrictions or fears. Where you can sing your deepest emotions to express life’s joys, sorrows, happiness and triumphs.

Home is Monifah’s third CD. Her career has been marked by deeply personal and expressive material and the songs on Home are sexy, strong and soulful. Home finds Monifah more settled, more content, and back at a place where she is at ease. “This album feels like coming home to me. It’s closer to the music I grew up with. I was born and raised on soul music, and I like that older sound.”

Helping Monifah move back home are some of the best producers in the game– among them Full Force, Screwface and Teddy Riley, who also served as executive producer. “Working with Teddy was incredible!” says Monifah, “Creatively, I think it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had as an artist. He’s incredibly talented and I am very happy with what he came up with.”

The first single is “I Can Tell,” produced by Falante Moore and Rob Fusari. “I Can Tell” is a seductive love song that explores the reality of starting a relationship. “I love the way the song talks about the things you look for in a partner,” Monifah says. “It’s a great song, very emotional and expressive. Very honest.”

Also honest) and another product of the Riley/Monifah collaboration) is the title track, which Monifah singles out as one of her favorites. “‘Home’” is a very haunting song. It talks about what home is, what home should be– comfort and understanding. The song works for me on two levels especially because I just moved back home to the East Coast from California.” The song also allows Monifah’s vocals to shine.

Those vocals also shine on the ballad, “Peaches And Cream,” which was co-written by Teddy, Monifah and newcomer Tyrice Jones, who Monifah declares is an incredible talent. With its smooth, low-key grooves, “Peaches And Cream” marks a return to the sexy soulful vibes that Monifah does best. “This album is a continuation of Moods…Moments,” Monifah offers, referring to her 1995 debut.

Born and raised in Spanish Harlem, Monifah Carter’s Moods… Moments established the young singer as a force. The CD, which spawned the Top 20, hit “I Miss You” and the gold single, “You” earned raves from both the press and the fans. Although the CD was her recording debut, Monifah was no musical novice. She had been singing and performing since childhood, and was cast in an off-Broadway production of A Midsummer’s Night Dream. She attended the prestigious LaGuardia High School Of Performing Arts and soon after graduation became a back-up singer for reggae/pop star Maxi Priest. Then Uptown Records’ president Heavy D heard Monifah’s demo, signed her to the label, and oversaw her CD.

In 1998, Monifah moved to California where much of her critically acclaimed sophomore album, Mo’Hogany was recorded. The CD marked Monifah’s first foray as a songwriter. Monifah found crossover success with Mo’Hogany, which spawned the platinum hit “Touch It,” which went #1 at crossover radio and Top 20 on Billboard’s Top 100 Singles chart. “‘Touch It’ was the biggest single I’ve had so far, and it brought me to a new audience, an audience I’m hoping will enjoy hearing the side of me that’s on Home.”

Perhaps more importantly, Home reflects where Monifah is right now as a woman and an artist. Back where she grew up, and more confident and self-assured as ever-she is willing to go against the formulaic grain of contemporary R&B to forge her own individual path. Monifah is right where she wants to be, Home. Happy and firmly in control of her career.