Monica family ties | May 2024 Cover

As a career-oriented mother of two, I always try to take bits and pieces from other mothers who have successfully balanced career and motherhood. The nature of my work allows me to talk to high-caliber, famous women who have managed to move the culture forward while raising children. Monica Denise Arnold is one of them. How the “So Gone” singer has created hit classics, raised four children, and continued to get better over time is something to be applauded and studied.

Monica has been the soundtrack of love for decades. She made her debut in 1995 and stamped her name in our R&B lexicons with music that sounded like our struggle. Monica has always been relatable and it is one of the reasons why she is so successful.

When I spoke with Monica, I was soothed by her warm voice as we talked about everything from motherhood, to the fight to get “So Gone” released, to the man in her life who makes those lyrics feel like a distant memory feel. Monica put so much of herself into her music – her trials and tribulations are socially documented on classic discs like the Missy Elliott-produced After the storm. All this makes her our best friend in our heads. If it feels like we grew up together, that’s because we did.

Our Mother’s Day cover is so special because it is a beautiful portrait of Monica and her children serving lewks the only way they know how. As she continues to sing in Gag City on the ‘Pink Friday 2’ tour, we put the beloved artist and matriarch center stage as we give her flowers. To enjoy!