Brandy & Monica Take Over Capital One Arena
It was a cold, rainy, and gloomy Sunday evening in Washington, DC, but nothing was going to stop me from seeing two living legends—Brandy and Monica—on their The Boy Is Mine tour. Knowing DC traffic would be its usual chaos, I opted for the train. As I exited the Gallery Place–Chinatown Metro stop, the energy was already undeniable. You could hear the excitement before you even saw the crowd.
As I approached Capital One Arena, the streets were packed from every direction—fans lined up, buzzing with anticipation. By the time I finally made it inside and found my section, it was a little past 8 p.m., and Kelly Rowland was already on stage.
Kelly Rowland Sets the Tone
Kelly Rowland did not come to play. She ran through some of her biggest hits—Motivation, Like This, and one of my personal favorites, Bad Habit. From there, she took us straight down memory lane with Destiny’s Child classics like So Good, Soldier, and Bootylicious. She sang and danced like the rent was due—and then some.
I’ve always known Kelly could sing, but hearing her live was a whole different experience. Her vocals were powerful, controlled, and effortless. On top of that, she’s in phenomenal shape—proof that being in your 40s doesn’t mean slowing down. If I had one complaint, it’s that she didn’t perform When Love Takes Over. That song is a massive hit and a personal favorite, so I was surprised it didn’t make the setlist. Still, Kelly delivered a standout opening performance that set the bar high.
The Moment We’d All Been Waiting For
Then came the moment the entire arena had been waiting for. The crowd rose to its feet as Brandy and Monica made their long-anticipated grand entrance. They emerged through an elevator-style door as the intro to The Boy Is Mine played—and the arena absolutely erupted.
They launched straight into performance mode with the iconic opening, and from that point on, the night belonged to them.
Brandy followed up with What About Us, and let me tell you—the mic was on, and the volume was up. Her vocals were flawless, and she moved across the stage with confidence and ease. One of the most beautiful aspects of the show was how Brandy and Monica supported each other. When one performed, the other stood off to the side, cheering her on alongside the dancers. That mutual respect and sisterhood made the performance even more special.
Monica then took the spotlight with Knock Knock, commanding the stage with strong, grounded vocals. The crowd sang along as if we were right there on stage with them.
Nostalgia, Vocals, and Pure Magic
Brandy gave us chills with I Wanna Be Down. The entire arena stood up, singing every word. When she performed Full Moon, I was completely hyped—it was one of the night’s biggest highlights. From the styling to the set design, everything felt intentional and elevated. When she closed the song by plunging the entire arena into darkness, it was a cinematic moment that gave me goosebumps. And then my girl just kept going, trailblazing through I Thought and Afrodisiac. Not only did she understand the assignment, but she was teaching us with those dance moves. Brandy kept us dancing, and I loved the reference she made: “Y’all didn’t know I could dance?” Well, if we didn’t know, we do now. Haha. And she was doing it in heels. Get it, Brandy!
Monica kept the energy high with Everytime Tha Beat Drop, Don’t Take It Personal, and So Gone—true classics that had the crowd jumping. Monica may need to add comedian to her resume because she had us laughing hard after the reference she made following The First Night. She said, “Ladies don’t give it up so easy.” As funny as it was, it was serious too, and she made a valid point. The audience needed to hear that.
Then came Street Symphony—my all-time favorite Monica song. The combination of her vocals and the orchestra was nothing short of brilliant. That moment alone made the entire night worth it for me.
A Thoughtful, Well-Curated Experience
During costume changes and transitions, a beautifully curated montage played on the screen, showcasing Brandy and Monica’s journeys—from their early years to career-defining moments and where they stand today. The inclusion of Whitney Houston and Bobbi Kristina was touching and respectful.
The aesthetics, set design, art direction, and setlist were all thoughtfully executed. While it’s impossible to include every song in a 1–2 hour concert, Brandy and Monica cleverly incorporated snippets of past hits to give fans the fullest experience possible. What stood out most was how they honored themselves—reminding us that validation doesn’t have to come from anywhere else. Sometimes, you have to give it to yourself.
Emotional Highs and Vocal Excellence
When Brandy performed Brokenhearted and Almost Doesn’t Count seated at the piano, it felt like watching a movie unfold in real time. Monica took us to church in a black dress with Why I Love You So Much, and then completely touched my spirit with U Should’ve Known Better.
Just when I thought the show couldn’t get any better, Brandy appeared in all white and delivered a breathtaking performance of Angel in Disguise. As the night began to wind down, Monica followed with Angel of Mine—one of my favorite songs of all time. I was overjoyed watching her perform it live.
The tribute to Whitney Houston with I Wanna Dance With Somebody was beautifully done. Brandy and Monica took turns singing each line, creating a moment that felt both celebratory and deeply respectful. Whitney would have been proud.
A Powerful Finale
Then came Have You Ever. There’s something indescribable about Brandy’s tone—something magical. Sitting beside Monica, she poured every ounce of emotion into that performance. The woman next to me and I were both in tears because we felt every word. That’s how you know someone is a great singer.
Just as I thought I was done crying, Monica delivered a chilling rendition of For You I Will. I was in complete awe.
Shout-out to the dancers, who were phenomenal throughout the night and gave us one final high-energy performance before exiting the stage. I truly thought the show was over—until Brandy and Monica returned for their final song.
They closed the night with The Boy Is Mine, leaving the entire arena speechless. They came strong and ended even stronger.
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t just one of the best concerts I’ve attended—it was the best concert I’ve ever been to, and easily the best tour of 2025.
Brandy, you are—and always will be—The Vocal Bible. Your tone is unmatched, and the way you hear and interpret music is why you are a singer’s singer. Monica, you are The Voice. The way you express emotion through song is anointed and deeply inspiring. Your voices speak directly to the soul.
If I had to rate the show, I’d give it an 8/10, and that’s only due to the chaotic entry process and confusion around seating at Capital One Arena. Huge congratulations to The Black Collective for sponsoring and bringing this incredible tour to life.
One final question: Can we get more dates? Because this tour deserves it—and so do these legendary women.
I’m beyond grateful to have witnessed the greatness of Brandy and Monica. What a treasure they are.
Photography courtesy of The Boy Is Mine Tour, Tony Bowen Photography, Tony Bee, Ryan Drake, and Shaun-Andru.
