Born 2 B.R.E.E.D.

"Born 2 B.R.E.E.D."
Single by Monie Love
from the album In a Word or 2
Released	9 February 1993
Studio	Paisley Park
Length	3:53
Label	Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)	Monie Love Prince Levi Seacer Jr.
Producer(s)	Prince
Monie Love singles chronology
"It's a Shame (My Sister)" (1990) "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." (1993) "In a Word or 2" (1993)

"Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." is a song by British rapper, actress and radio personality Monie Love. It was written by Love with Prince and Levi Seacer Jr., and released in February 1993 by Chrysalis Records as the second single from her second album, In a Word or 2 (1993). B.R.E.E.D. is an acronym for "Build Relationships where Education and Enlightenment Dominate". A remix produced by Steve "Silk" Hurley was also included on the album. In Love's native UK, the single went to number 18 on the Top Singles chart. As well the song peaked at No. 7 on the Dutch and No. 21 on the New Zealand Top Pop Singles charts. "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." was Monie Love's most successful dance hit, reaching number one on the US Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart for one week.[1] The song also peaked at No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart.[2]

Critical reception

Hiedi Siegmund of The Los Angeles Times noted, "Packing a proud feminist punch, the Prince-produced "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." smartly responds to last year's single-mother brouhaha by attacking the notion that there's a "by-the-book" method of parenting. The song also explores the deterioration of inner-city schools, angrily asking, So tell me what do the kids learn at school / How to pack a pistol, how to play class fool?."[3] Andy Beevers from Music Week gave the song four out of five and named it Pick of the Week in the category of Dance, noting that it is co-written and produced by Prince. He added, "Her catchy rap, based around her new status as a mother, is set against a ragga-style chorus and comes in a variety of strong mixes. Already picking up plenty of radio and club play, it is shaping up to be a pretty big hit."[4]

Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Add a female rap to the classic Chic sound of the '70s, and you got it. We love it. Period."[5] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel commented, "The combination of a slinky beat and disco-style strings and backing vocals works nicely, and funk-dancehall passages enliven things further. However, the song delivers a rather clouded message."[6] Rupert Howe from Select said "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." have "the sophistication of Claire Rayner giving advice on nappy changing."[7]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1993) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[8] 98 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] 64 Europe (European Dance Radio)[10] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) 7 Netherlands (Dutch Single Tip)[11] 5 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] 21 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 35 UK Singles (OCC) 18 UK Airplay (Music Week)[14] 18 UK Club Chart (Music Week)[15] 5 US Dance Music/Club Play Singles (Billboard)[2] 1 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[2] 7 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[2] 56 US Hot 100 (Billboard)[2] 89 Year-end charts Chart (1993) Position UK Club Chart (Music Week)[16] 56

See also

• List of number-one dance singles of 1993 (U.S.)

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 159.
2. "Monie Love". Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
3. Siegmund, Hiedi (May 2, 1993). "Monie Love "In a Word or 2" Warner..." Los Angeles Times.
4. Beevers, Andy (27 February 1993). "Market Preview: Dance — Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 6. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
5. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 10. 6 March 1993. p. 11. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
6. Gettelman, Parry (16 April 1993). "Monie Love". Orlando Sentinel.
7. Howe, Rupert (May 1993). "Reviews: Albums". Select. p. 95. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
8. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 171.
9. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 15. 10 April 1993. p. 21. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
10. "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 15. 10 April 1993. p. 9. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
11. "MONIE LOVE - BORN 2 B.R.E.E.D." (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
12. "Monie Love – Born 2 B.R.E.E.D.". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
13. "Monie Love – Born 2 B.R.E.E.D.". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
14. "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 27 March 1993. p. 22. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
15. "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 20 February 1993. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
16. "The RM Club Chart 93" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 25 December 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2023.