Bark + Bite

Brandy and Monica to reunite on stage at Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party

Hot off the heels of the release of their new duet, "It All Belongs to Me," Brandy and Monica are set to take the stage at Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy party this Saturday.

HipHollywood.com scored some behind-the-scenes footage of the duo, alongside record industry honcho Clive Davis, as they reminisced on the legacy of their original 1998 duet, "The Boy Is Mine."

Brandy and Monica will perform "The Boy Is Mine" together at Clive's party for the first time since their single performance of the song together at the MTV VMAs in 1998. They'll also perform their new duet "It All Belongs to Me."

One of Clive Davis' most famous and loyal protégés, Whitney Houston, was also on hand to give Monica and Brandy advice. Though she looked a bit like an meddling, cracked out auntie in the footage, it was all love between Whitney and the girls.

"When so many things were happening in my life that weren't in favor of me reaching my full potential, [Whitney] was always there, pushing me. And I think that it made it feel good when she was in the audience just reminding us, helping us with sound, just doing different things," Monica said.

Go behind the scenes with Brandy and Monica as they rehearse for the Clive Davis party below

Monica and Brandy team up on two-timers again on "It All Belongs to Me"

No, it's not 1998, but yes, that is Monica and Brandy together again on a duet.

Produced by Rico Love, Brandy and Monica team up to put out a no-good, lowdown two-timin' dog. And they're not letting him walk out of the house with anything. Not his dignity and certainly not his MacBook. Cold-blooded. What would Steve Jobs say?

The song is rooted in R&B with slight pop leanings, but it's hard to imagine this song having the crossover appeal of its predecessor, the Darkchild-produced "The Boy Is Mine." The other unfortunate barrier is the cursing, which is clumsily censored. It's wholly unnecessary and interrupts the flow of the song.

Brandy's vocals and deep tones are lush, warm and rich. Monica retains her assertiveness as well, wailing up and down as she always does on these "you-did-me-wrong-playa" anthems. Miss Thang ain't changed a thang.

It'd be unfair to say this duet is unworthy because it doesn't live up to TBIM, but it also doesn't really sound like a runaway hit song worthy of being a lead single for either girl's project. It seems more like a safe album track.

Nonetheless, it is good to hear Mo and Bran doing their thing together again. Friends forever.

Listen to Monica and Brandy's latest duet below

M$ney has trouble moving past the friend zone with Omarion in "Restraint"

M$ney may be a young girl, but she's got an old soul at heart. Best known for her appearance on "Fantasy" from Timbalanda's Shock Value album, M$ney channels '90s swag and Aaliyah in the video for her new single "Restraint."

She's now signed to Omarion's label Starworld, so we can expect to see more of the pair together in the future.

The video for "Restraint" tells the tale of two friends-turned-lovers anguishing over their growing amorous emotions toward each other. M$ney is more poetic about the dilemma while Omarion bluntly lays out his frustrations: "You say I'm like your brother, well we must be kissing cousins," he scoffs.

Watch the video for M$ney and Omarion's duet below

Esperanza Spalding hugs the Motherland in "Black Gold" video

Esperanza Spalding is an accomplished, award-winning and highly lauded jazz musician. But to Justin Bieber fans, she's better known as a dream-killer.

Spalding pulled off quite the upset last time when she pulled ahead of her more famous peers Drake and Justin Bieber, to snag the Best New Artist award at the Grammys last year. But now Spalding is ready to spread her wings with her new album Radio Music Society, due for release on March 20th.

The first single from the set is a love letter to Black History Month. The video for the single is an overwhelmingly positive affair that follows a single father as he educates his two boys on the values of black inventors, scholars and scientists. The ones that public schools far too often overlook.

Joined by vocalist Algebra Basset, Spalding serves as a backdrop to the narrative in the video, playing the value-rich soundtrack to the black power anthem. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that Mr. Bill Crosby would approve highly of Spalding's showing.

Watch the video for Esperanza's new video below

Miguel unveils his sultry new song "Adorn"

If you thought Miguel was the spiritual son of Prince on his debut album All I Want Is You, wait until you get a load of his new work, "Adorn."

"These lips, can't wait to taste your skin / And these eyes can't wait to see your grin," the Los Angeles native croons.

"Adorn" is the first release from his upcoming project/mixtape Art Dealer Chic Vol. 1, which is set to drop on February 27. Miguel is carrying the torch for new R&B with this smoldering ode to love and lust. It's a must-listen.

Listen to Miguel's new song below

Frank Ocean tells a tale of blood, sex and magick in "Voodoo"

Just consider this another sonic goody from Frank Ocean. "Voodoo" is a new gift that Ocean released to the Internet, but it's not a full-fledged song. It's more like a minute-long exercise in sexual tension.

"She's got the whole wide world in her juicy fruit / He's got the whole wide world in his pants," Ocean croons.

Listen to the Odd Future singer's latest tune below

John Legend and Ludacris promise you won't forget "Tonight"

Ladies, if you're looking for an unforgettable night of sex and passion, John Legend and Ludacris are announcing themselves to be ready and willing on "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)."

G.O.O.D. Music's smooth-talking Cassanova spreads it on thick in this slow-burning, sexy number: "C'mon let me kiss that, oh I know you miss that".

Legend isn't shy about having his lover wide open. It's probably because he knows just how to work it. "I'll hit you with the best stroke, freestyle and the breast stroke / And now the bed is broke," he brags.

Ludacris makes a decent showing, but he kind of interrupts the sensual watercolors that Legend is painting with. But if John had to pick a suitable rapper for a "let me love you down" jam, Ludacris aka "Mr. Splash Waterfalls" is among the best options.

John manages to find a delightful middleground between pop and R&B on this single, which is featured on the Think Like a Man soundtrack and will also double as the lead single for his new upcoming album.

Listen to John Legend's dirty slow dance below

Kayla Brianna delivers sweet R&B ear candy in "If You Love Me"

There's no doubt about it: Kayla Brianna is a fresh face. But she's bringing back a really old style. And that's meant as a compliment.

If you were a child of the '90s, Brianna's sound will ring more than a few bells. The beat on her debut single, "If You Love Me," samples Bob James' "Take Me to the Mardi Gras." This is the same sample that helped shape numerous hip hop records and one Diddy used for his all-white girl group Dream for their "This Is Me" (Remix). And the chorus is borrowed from one-hit wonder R&B girl group Brownstone's "If You Love Me."

Whoever is guiding the young singer's career clearly meant "If You Love Me" as a '90s R&B love letter. Which is refreshing in a music landscape overwashed with new millenium generic dance-pop derivatives.

Watch and listen to Kayla Brianna bring that old thing back in this sweet tale of puppy love