1998 Rewind: Remembering Brandy’s Never Say Never

I’ve been very vocal about my love for the year 1998 – I believe it’s one of the last great years in R&B and hip-hop history. Since 2023 marks 25 years since those magical 12 months, 1998 Rewind will look back at some of the best (and most underrated) albums of that time.

Today we’re celebrating 25 years of Brandy’s sophomore set – trust me, there’s no sophomore jinx on this project. And there’s no better person to join me for this convo than Brandy superStan Vocalz from the Soul In Stereo Cypher.

Share your memories of when this album first dropped.

Vocalz: Thinking about THE Vocal Bible always makes me feel happy, so I am always super excited to talk about her music.  I remember when promo for this album began dropping, and my anticipation started to build.  I had her debut (Brandy) in rotation, constantly, and back then, artists worked an album, so we were able to live with it for a while before getting something new. On release day I went over to Tower Records that night to get a listen prior to buying.  When I hit play and that intro came on, I felt it immediately.  This album was going to be GOOD.  Little did I know how good, but revisiting it today, wow, not just good, VERY GOOD.  The album cover felt like we were getting Brandy 2.0, so to say I was excited is an understatement.

Edd: Can I be real? I know this will get me assassinated by the Brandy Believers but, if I’m being honest, I was experiencing a heaping helping of Brandy fatigue by 1998. Here’s why: She had been a constant presence on radio since her 1994 debut, including her current hit “The Boy is Mine” (and that was before “Top of the World” would be played 25 hours a day/8 days a week); she was all over TV thanks to her sitcom Moesha; she had just starred in the Cinderella remake; Brandy was EVERYWHERE. The way y’all complain about “industry plants” today is how I felt about Brandy in 98, who was clearly being marketed as America’s Sweetheart. And before you start googling my home address to pipe bomb the crib, don’t misunderstand me – I was still a huge fan of her talent. I was just all Brandy’d out by this era. So I didn’t listen to this album in full until years after its release.

I’m not afraid to admit that I missed out on some heat.

Let’s talk about your pick for best song.

Vocalz: “Angel in Disguise”

Goodness. I listened to this album on repeat for the last 4 days and sometimes I would get so lost in the enjoyment I’d forget to pick a best song.  Each song has something I love, so narrowing it down to the best was a task I had to fight through. This would probably change every day, but TODAY, the best song on the album is “Angel in Disguise.”  This song if you had one song to represent the Never Say Never album and demonstrate what you were in store for, “Angel in Disguise” is it – growth, innovation, great production, catchy writing, and straight sanging….ohhh weeee.

Edd: “Angel in Disguise”

“Angel is Disguise” wins best track, hands down. Even when local radio played the Monica n’ Mase tracks into the ground, I never, ever switched stations when the phrase “And I … and I luv ya, babe…” seeped through my speakers. The song’s prelude, where Brandy summarizes the whole track in just a few heartfelt lines, draws me in instantly. Expertly written, strongly produced, captivatingly performed – this makes a strong argument to be one of Brandy’s best songs ever.

And we NEVER got a video. I’m still bitter.

Speaking of videos, which video was best of the bunch?

Vocalz: “The Boy is Mine”

This was a tough one.  It was down to “Have You Ever” and “The Boy is Mine.”  I was going back and forth, but I will go with “The Boy is Mine.”  It was playful, I loved the colors, the way it was shot, split screen style, and seeing these two young stars together, all made for a perfect visual to the song that won them a GRAMMY.

Edd: “The Boy is Mine”

In a perfect world the answer would be “Angel in Disguise” but y’all don’t want Brandy to be great. Instead, “The Boy is Mine” wins this quite handily, thanks to the dual perspective used to carry the narrative. And the reveal of both Brandy and Monica at the end of the video is the stuff of R&B legend. There’s a reason why it’s Brandy’s most memorable video.

Which track featured the best production?

Vocalz: “Angel in Disguise”

This is a tough one because Darkchild, in my opinion, really came into their own with this release.  For me “Angel in Disguise” embodied everything they were going to give on this album and honestly all of Darkchild’s future work.  It was refreshing and innovative, catchy and attention grabbing.  Having Rodney, Freddie, and LaShawn working their magic made this whole album go. 

Edd: “Angel in Disguise”

I promise that I like more songs than “Angel in Disguise” but it’s such a standout that it keeps dominating my categories. Vocalz nailed it above – Darkchild came into his own on this project, and this song shines brightest in that resume. It’s haunting and somber but explodes with emotion every time we hear “still I love you.” I’ve always said that the best songs tell the best stories – the production of this joint is Oscar-level.

Here’s a tough one: Name the best vocal performance on the album.

Vocalz: “Happy”

This is probably one of the hardest questions I have ever had to answer.  Harder than a 3 day old Popeye’s biscuit. I agonized over this for days.  What made so many fall in love with this album was the growth you heard in Brandy’s vocals. Of course some credit can go to LaShawn for his help in making a safe space for experimentation and Rodney for mixing her vocals to allow us to hear the lower register where she thrives.  Brandy, who is known for great adlibs and background vocals, really shined on this album.  That being said, I went with “Happy.”  Not only did she showcase her ability to float above that heavy track, but she showcased more of her range in this song, especially her falsetto.  Lastly, this song sounded like she was just able to let go and have fun in the studio, which many singers don’t get to do on an album, having to save it for performances, which made me happy. (No pun intended)

Edd: “Almost Doesn’t Count”

I’m with Vocalz, this is a tough one. The troll in me wants to say “Angel in Disguise” again just to rile y’all up but there are several strong contenders here. But there’s something about “Almost Doesn’t Count” that hits on a different level for me. Brandy doesn’t rush her vocals, she eases her way into to the song to allow each lyric to linger on your earlobe. The harmonies are gorgeous and the pacing is so well done. There’s no wrong answer but there’s a brilliance to this song that’s well beyond her years at this point.

What’s the most underrated track?

Vocalz: “Learn the Hard Way”

It’s interesting trying to find an underrated song on such a successful album, but I think “Learn the Hard Way” fits the bill. Placing it right after the mega-hit “The Boy is Mine” and right before another monster hit “Almost Doesn’t Count,” would almost have any song be underrated, especially if it didn’t become a single.  CDs allowed for skipping songs more and getting to that next hit sometimes sacrificed great songs like “Learn the Hard Way.”  It had a great beat, Brandy was giving all the vocals, and the song was well written.  I just think placement on the album hurt its impact.  

Edd: “Never Say Never”

“Learn the Hard Way” is a great pick – it’s not a song I revisit often but while relistening to the album for this post it hit me how strong it is. But I’ll skip the obvious one (see the next section for that song…) and go with the title track. It has such a great bounce to it and while Brandy’s vocals are understated, they never get lost in the production. That’s the difference between a pro at work and the Mumble Mommies sleepwalking through tracks on radio today. I don’t hear much love for “Never Say Never” these days, and that’s a shame. It’s one of the album’s best.

And which song should have been a single?

Vocalz: “Put That on Everything”

This song is so beloved by everyone who likes this album.  All the “STARS,” Brandy’s fanbase, adore this song, as do I.  This is a really good ballad where the vocals float on top of the simple yet captivating track.  I love how Darkchild began EQing Brandy’s voice, giving it an ethereal feel.  It is raspy, but light and airy at the same time.  This song should have been the follow up to “Almost Doesn’t Count.”

Edd: “Put That on Everything”

You can certainly make the argument that we didn’t NEED another single – this project produced six singles over the course of 17 months – but everyone with functioning eardrums agrees that “Put That on Everything” should have been in radio and video rotation. There’s an elegant beauty to Brandy’s sincerity. When she says “I will pull a star out of the sky for you,” it’s without a hint of hesitation. Had I heard this song during the album’s original run I probably would have hopped on the project much, much sooner than I did.

Brandy and Darkchild’s partnership has been celebrated for years, and that started here. Why does that partnership work so well?

Vocalz: Brandy and Darkchild were both headed in the same direction, when they started working together, wanting to do something different and fun.  Thanks to Ray J introducing them, we were able to see the chemistry in how Brandy and LaShawn shaped the vocals, and how Rodney, Freddie, and crew layered those tracks around those vocals.  The “In the Car” interlude was a glimpse into the closeness of their relationship at the time.  It felt organic and those are the best collaborations.  Little did they know the impact this album would have on their careers.  While that relationship was going strong, they were making magic.

Edd: The pairing worked because they understood each other so well. Rodney was an emerging producer looking for his muse; Brandy was a maturing young star looking for a sound that reflected her journey but remained authentic to her brand. They found those answers in each other – you can use the “In the Car” interlude Vocalz mentioned as a clear depiction of their closeness. Earlier this week Twitter was discussing “musical soulmates” – parings that were matches made in R&B heaven. Brandy and Darkchild are high on that list.

Is Never Say Never Brandy’s best album?

Vocalz: For me NO, to many others, yes.  This album has outstanding singles, great album cuts, fantastic songwriting, and outstanding production, but it is a close 2^nd to her greatest work, Full Moon. On Never Say Never Brandy is vocally starting to mature and come into her own, but what sets Full Moon slightly above it is that vocally Full Moon changed and influenced a generation and all after her.  So for that reason, Never Say Never is not her best album. 

Edd: Call me “Many Others,” Vocalz, because yes, this is Brandy’s best work. Some point to Full Moon – which may feature some of her best vocal performances. And that album’s title track is certainly one of my personal faves. But top to bottom, no other album accomplishes what Never Say Never does – it moves Brandy to a new level of artistry, delivers a half-dozen signature tracks, and is the most complete listen in her discography. Full Moon may be the best for vocal training class, but Never Say Never is the one, period.

Did this album solidify Brandy as the Queen of the Teens of her era, over her peers Aaliyah and Monica?

Vocalz: Definitely.  Brandy now was not only outselling her peers by quite a bit, vocally she set a standard that many to this day still admire and emulate.  Also, she became so big that, she got another major TV show, Disney Movie as the 1^st Black princess, a doll, and feature film roles.  She was in the stratosphere.  While her contemporaries were thriving, Aaliyah with her acting, and Monica continuing her successful run, Brandy soared even higher.

Edd: I’m going to say no – only because I think she already had that spot locked prior to the album’s release. Monica, in my view, had the better debut album over Brandy, but lacked her mainstream appeal. And even though I love her as much as y’all do, revisionist history often inflates Aaliyah’s status in this era. She’d find higher heights later on. Even before 1998, Brandy was the face of R&B for her generation. Movies, TV shows, yes, even dolls – she had it all already in the bag. This album was just icing on that cake.

Is Never Say Never an R&B classic?

Vocalz: Hell yes, it’s a classic.  This album exploded that Darkchild sound into the main stream lexicon.  Soon after you began hearing the Darkchild shout out everywhere, from Tyrese, to Toni Braxton, to THE Michael Jackson.  This album was the ignition that started the train rolling.  It had it all, sales, impact culturally, and brought success to the entire production team. 

Edd: Y’all know how stingy I am with the term “classic” – and I do think the Brandy Brigade goes a liiiiiiiiittle overboard with their blind faith sometimes (no shots at you, Vocalz) but I too am willing to call this album a classic. As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I think my generation often underrated Brandy (likely due to oversaturation in the late 90s, plus many of us saw her more as a peer than a living legend like Whitney and others). But you can’t deny this album’s quality, you can’t deny this album’s impact on Brandy’s career, and you cannot deny the legacy that it has crafted – it’s become one of the stalwarts of this era of R&B. Those factors alone means it more than qualifies for classic status. I slept on it at the time but I’m wide awake now.

Who did Brandy better justice, Edd or Vocalz? Share your thoughts on Never Say Never below.