Forget being mad over talk of her ‘lace-front’ on VH1’s ‘Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business,’ Brandy has some serious beef with longtime friend/producer Rodney Jerkins. In a soon-to-air episode of her reality show with Ray J, Brandy leaves no stone unturned blaming Jerkins for poor work and the ultimate demise of her last album, “Human”. Reportedly interested in working on a project with Jerkins, Ray J discusses the effort with Brandy, only to be hit with a disapproving look and words like ‘I don’t want the same thing that happened to me to happen to you’. While it is unknown whether Brandy has patched things up with Jerkins, since the show taped earlier this year, it is very clear that Brandy was not enthused with his work on the album that ultimately ended with her parting ways with Epic Records.
It’s no secret that the music industry is often wrought with tension and drama. Now, R&B star Brandy Norwood has fired back at Rodney Jerkins, a prominent producer in the business, blaming him for her 2006 album ‘Human’ not living up to its potential. The two have been embroiled in a feud ever since Human failed to meet expectations – and now, Brandy isn’t holding anything back! In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look into the feud between Brandy and Rodney as well as what happened with ‘Human.’
For over 20 years, singer/songwriter Brandy Norwood has had a name that’s synonymous with success. She released her debut album when she was just fourteen and followed it up with several albums containing hit singles like “The Boy Is Mine,” “What About Us?” and “Have You Ever?”. But despite all of her past successes, there was one project that didn’t quite make the mark: Human. Released in 2008 on Epic Records, it received lukewarm reviews from fans and critics alike.
Now, twelve years later after Human’s release date came and went without much fanfare or critical acclaim, Brandy is finally opening up about why things went wrong – placing the blame squarely on Rodney Jerkins’ shoulders. According to her recent statements made during an interview on Instagram Live, she believes he significantly contributed to the lack of success surrounding Human. We’ll explore more below about how their relationship soured and what ultimately lead them down different paths musically.
Background Information
The release of Brandy’s fourth studio album Human in 2008 was highly anticipated by fans. Yet, it failed to live up to expectations, leaving many questioning why the project didn’t achieve success. In particular, some have speculated that Rodney Jerkins’ role as executive producer may have been a contributing factor. To understand this claim more fully, we must look at the background of both artists and consider their working relationship during the production process.
Brandy had spent much of her career collaborating with well-known producers such as Timbaland and Darkchild Productions (Rodney Jerkins). However, prior to Human she had seen diminishing returns from these partnerships. As a result, for her fourth album she took charge: acting as executive producer herself and selecting Rodney Jerkins’ team as lead producers on the project. This decision marked a shift in power dynamics between Brandy and Rodney Jerkins – one which ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Human was released to mixed reviews; critics praised its ambition but felt that certain tracks lacked focus or direction. With hindsight, it appears clear that there were problems surrounding communication between Brandy and Jerkins – a lack of creative partnership which led to an uneven final product. While neither artist has publicly accepted responsibility for the failure of Human, speculation over who is most culpable continues today.
Allegations And Reactions
Since the release of Human, Brandy has been accused by some fans and critics of relying too heavily on Rodney Jerkins’ production. As executive producer, she had ultimate control over the project yet her lack of direction or guidance allegedly resulted in a disjointed record. Allegations suggest that this was due to their conflicting agendas – Brandy wanting more commercial success while Jerkins wanted to push sonic boundaries.
Reactions from both sides have been varied. In interviews, Brandy has often seemed defensive when asked about Human and its failure. On the other hand, Jerkins has largely stayed silent on the issue except for one interview where he suggested there were communication breakdowns during the making of the album. He also said it was ‘a learning experience’ for him as an artist and producer.
Overall, it appears unlikely that any clear conclusion will be drawn regarding who is most responsible for Human’s shortcomings. It seems likely that both parties made mistakes along the way which contributed to its failure; however neither artist has taken responsibility publicly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Brandy’s allegations against Rodney Jerkins have created a stir in the music industry. It’s clear that both parties carry their own version of events and accusations. While some fans feel that Brandy has been unfairly treated by her former producer, others have taken Jerkins’ side and believe he was not given sufficient creative control over the project.
Regardless of which side is right or wrong, it appears that this public feud is unlikely to be resolved any time soon. Both artists have experienced varying levels of success throughout their careers and each one holds strong convictions about what went wrong with Human. Ultimately, it comes down to two different perspectives on the same situation – and only time will tell how this dispute will play out.
At the end of the day, we can only hope that this disagreement does not overshadow either artist’s work moving forward. The talent displayed within their respective bodies of work should speak for itself rather than being tainted by petty squabbles from years ago.
Since 2005, Singersroom has been the voice of R&B around the world. Connect with us via social media below.
