Earlier today, Brandy and Monica reunited onstage to rehearse for the Pre-Grammy Gala honoring Sir Richard Branson. The ladies sounded just as good as they did 14 years ago while performing their Grammy-winning collaboration “The Boy Is Mine” and new song “It All Belongs to Me,” backed by a live band. Whitney Houston even stopped by the Beverly Hilton ballroom to support the girls for their big performance on Saturday. (Excuse the low-quality pics.)

Brandy and Monica delighted their fans by debuting their new single “It All Belongs to Me” on Monday. And now the R&B divas will team up to perform the song live at the Pre-Grammy Gala in Beverly Hills this weekend.

Rap-Up.com has learned that the singers will take the stage at the star-studded affair, considered the highlight of Grammy weekend. This year’s event, hosted by Clive Davis, will honor Sir Richard Branson and feature other surprise musical guests. Past performers include Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson, and Alicia Keys.

Brandy and Monica will shoot a video for the Rico Love-produced song on February 13 with director Chris Robinson, and perform it on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” the same week.

“It’s just great to come back and do something with [Monica],” Brandy said during an interview on Atlanta’s V-103. “This is definitely a blessing.”

Fourteen years after topping the charts with “The Boy Is Mine,” Brandy and Monica reunite on the highly-anticipated follow-up, “It All Belongs to Me.” Described by producer Rico Love as a “very soulful R&B song with pop sensibilities,” the ladies take a different approach from their 1998 single, kicking their men to the curb on the empowering tune.

“It is not anything like ‘The Boy Is Mine,’” explained Monica. “At this point, this is where you’re taking your power back and we gon’ come together. This is totally different than that era and I hope it speaks to all the people who are making diss tracks and going hard on each other. Come together and watch the numbers move.”

Brandy added, “This business is all about competition. They forgot about what is the most important, which is two talents coming together. It’s just great to come back and do something with [Monica]. This is definitely a blessing.”

Two different versions of the song will appear on Monica’s album New Life, due Apri 10, and Brandy’s RCA/Chameleon debut, due this spring. A video, directed by Chris Robinson, will be shot on February 13.

The stars were shining bright on opening night of Cirque Du Soleil’s Michael Jackson “The Immortal” World Tour at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Friday night (Jan. 27). Rihanna looked every bit a rock star, sporting her new “Thug Life” tattoo and studded leather motorcycle jacket, black leggings, and shades. She even found an “MJ mini-me” and snapped a photo with him for Twitter.

Her fellow diva Brandy paid homage to the King of Pop in a sheer MJ-inspired blouse with shoulder pads. Quincy Jones and Michael’s three children, Prince, Paris, and Blanket, also turned out for the tour kickoff.

Brandy took ‘em to church with a cover of “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” The R&B songstress performed the gospel hymn last week during Sing-a-Rama II, an annual gospel gathering spearheaded by her father Willie Norwood. She received a warm reception from the crowd who clung to every word. In a few weeks, Brandy and Monica will release “It All Belongs to Me,” the highly-anticipated sequel to their duet.

Brandy and Monica’s fans will get to hear the divas’ new duet sooner than expected. Their first collaboration in 14 years will be released next month.

RCA Records has announced a February 6 release date for the singers’ new single, “It All Belongs to Me.” Written and produced by Rico Love, the poignant song reunites the women for the first time since they topped the charts in 1998 with “The Boy Is Mine.”

The newly-minted record picks up where the original left off. “It’s a very soulful R&B song with pop sensibilities,” Rico Love told Rap-Up.com. “I wanted to make sure I made it a classic R&B record, but I definitely wanted to make sure that it had enough appeal to cross over and become a Top 40 record.”

“The Boy Is Mine” held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 weeks, won a Grammy for R&B Performance by a Duo or Group, and was declared the best-selling song of 1998.

“It All Belongs to Me” will appear on Monica’s upcoming album New Life, due March 6, and Brandy’s as-yet-untitled RCA/Chameleon Records debut, coming later this spring.

Brandy’s duet with Monica isn’t the only collaboration to look forward to on her upcoming album. The R&B songstress is set to record a song penned by Drake.

Brandy is a fan of the Young Money rapper. “I love Drake. I think Drake is just so phenomenal. I love his music. I’m always wishing that I can just sing one of Drake’s melodies,” she told TrueExclusives.com before revealing that something is already in the works.

“Actually I might be doing a song that Drake wrote for the album this upcoming week,” she teased.

In a recent interview with Rap-Up.com, Rico Love spoke about recording a follow-up to “The Boy Is Mine” with Monica and Sean Garrett hinted at a surprise guest on a potential single he produced.

Brandy has also been in the studio with Frank Ocean, Bangladesh, Chris Brown, and others working on her sixth album, due this May on RCA/Chameleon Records.

The year was 1998 and Brandy and Monica were sitting on top of the charts with their smash “The Boy Is Mine.” Fourteen years later, the R&B divas have reunited to record a follow-up to their Grammy-winning duet, which spent 13 weeks at No. 1. Under the direction of songwriter-producer Rico Love, the new record picks up where the original left off.

“It’s a very soulful R&B song with pop sensibilities,” Love tells Rap-Up.com. “I wanted to make sure I made it a classic R&B record, but I definitely wanted to make sure that it had enough appeal to cross over and become a Top 40 record.”

The “Motivation” hitmaker hit the studio with both ladies last week in Miami to lay down the track. While they reportedly didn’t get along while recording the original Darkchild production, the chemistry was different this time. “They both had a blast,” says Love. “They have so much history together.”

In an exclusive interview with Rap-Up.com, Rico Love sheds light on how the collaboration came together, what it sounds like, and the enormous pressure he faced.

What can you tell us about recording with Brandy and Monica?
It was a really interesting situation because of the history that was in the room and the energy was so positive. It was electric. I really wanted to try my best to pull the most explosive vocals out of them. I wanted to create a story that picked up where “The Boy Is Mine” left off. It kinda carried on the next part of the story, just showing their growth and their maturity, and making it real and true to both singers. It was an amazing energy, an amazing vibe. The girls were all positive. It was just fun. We had a great time and I learned so much from both of them during the session.

How did the duet come together?
It was Monica’s idea originally because Monica heard the record and she was so excited about it. She was like, “Yo, I really think that this should be that thing, that next duet.” Then [RCA Records executive] Peter Edge and [Chameleon Records CEO] Breyon Prescott put it together.

How would you describe the track?
It’s a very soulful R&B song with pop sensibilities. I wanted to make sure I made it a classic R&B record, but I definitely wanted to make sure that it had enough appeal to cross over and become a Top 40 record. I wanted to include Beatles-sounding guitars. I made sure the melody was big enough for all genres and just a strong powerful vocal performance and strong content. I really don’t wanna give away too much because they wanna keep it under wraps as far as the title and the subject, but I can just say that it’s a very strong vocal that I got out of these girls and it’s a very strong subject. To say the least, it will be a shocker.

When they recorded “The Boy Is Mine,” they were not the best of friends. What was their chemistry like in the studio?
It was fun. They both had a blast. We laughed and hung out. They’re like old friends. They have so much history together. It was like sisters.

Whose album will the song appear on?
I believe it’s going to be on both of theirs, but obviously Monica [New Life] is coming out sooner than Brandy, so I believe it’s going to be on hers first. We did alternate versions for both girls’ albums. So the version that is on Monica’s album won’t be the version on Brandy’s album. Same song with slightly different things.

Did you feel pressure to deliver after the massive success of “The Boy Is Mine”?
Amazing pressure because no matter what, people on the blogs will comment, “Rico ruined it and it’s the worst song ever.” You always get those the first day the record comes out, but you gotta ignore that. “The Boy Is Mine” was No. 1 for like 13 weeks. The hype around it is so big now since the pictures came out the other day on Twitter. Honestly I’m the one that’s gonna take the fall for anything, so it’s huge pressure, but I thrive off that type of pressure. I feel like that’s why I wake up to do what I do, to continue to write songs for legendary artists, and try to reinvent the wheel as much as I can.

The entertainment media has been consumed by the arrival of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s daughter. During a sit-down with A.J. Hammer on HLN’s “Showbiz Tonight,” even Brandy was bubbling with excitement for the new parents. The star of BET’s “The Game” shared her thoughts on the newborn’s name, Jay-Z’s emotional song, and offered advice to her fellow mom.

On the baby’s name, Blue Ivy Carter: “I think the name is gorgeous. It totally fits. I love it and I’m so happy for Beyoncé and Jay. They’re actually one of my favorite couples and both inspirations.”

On “Glory,” the song Jay recorded for his new daughter: “It’s a great song and to hear little Blue at the end, it was sooo beautiful, breathtaking actually.”

On her advice to Beyoncé: “I just think she needs to appreciate her baby right now and not worry about [losing the pregnancy weight]. Just enjoy it. … This is her first child. I would take the time and just be with my family and be with my newborn and chill out. That’s what I would do. But you know B, she’s a workaholic and she loves what she does. You have to respect her for that.”

[The Brandy Blog]

Brandy was in the hot seat on Wendy Williams’ talk show. The singer-actress, who stars in the BET sitcom “The Game,” was candid about her personal and professional life, discussing everything from her new boyfriend and Kim Kardashian to her rapping alter ego Bran’Nu and new album.

On her daughter Sy’rai’s obsession with Justin Bieber: “She has Bieber fever like every other nine-year-old.”

On the new man in her life, music publishing executive Ryan Press: “I am… finally!” said Brandy when asked if she was in love.

On mending her relationship with Kim Kardashian, who stars alongside her in Tyler Perry’s The Marriage Counselor: “I never saw Kim because we didn’t have any scenes together, not because I cleared the way for her not to be around me. Honestly I can just take this moment and say that I really miss my friendship with Kim, I really do. I can’t wait to see her at the premiere and try to say something to her, tell her I love her and I’m here whenever she needs me.”

On her new album, due in May on RCA/Chameleon Records: “It’s a singing album. I’m singing my heart out,” said Brandy, who promised there will be no rapping this time. “It was a hobby. I was convinced to do it professionally, which I never should have listened to that advice.”

She was later joined by her castmates from “The Game.” Watch the full interview below.

[The Brandy Blog]