Remembering Brandy’s ‘Full Moon’ Era In Classic Images
Feeling as though she couldn’t live up to the back-to-back successes of her eponymous debut album (1994) and Never Say Never (1998), Brandy took a four-year hiatus from music. “I needed to rejuvenate, get my creative juices flowing, balance my life with some privacy, to find my confidence, find my love of music again,” she shared with JET in April 2002, a month after the release of her third studio album, Full Moon.
Fresh off the heels of Moesha, Brandy returned to music in March 2002 with the Rodney Jerkins-produced LP that earned her the title “The Vocal Bible,” which she’s still known as today. The album’s elevated merger of UK garage, funktronica, and contemporary R&B strayed away from her more soul-centric coming-of-age projects. On Full Moon, fans were introduced to “B Rocka,” the grown woman embodying Brandy’s angelic voice now speaking on adult experiences such as love, betrayal, heartbreak, and growth.
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In the midst of a neo-soul movement at the turn of the century, Full Moon arrived with a distinct 2000s R&B sound including vocal arrangements, harmonies, and beats that continue to serve as reference points for musicians today. Despite mixed reviews from critics upon its release, the LP debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, snagged a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album, and is certified platinum by the RIAA.
On Full Moon, Brandy’s riffs are clean, intricate, and intentional, the harmonies are no less than masterful, and the production has aged beautifully.
VIBE celebrates the 20-year reign of Full Moon with a retrospective look at the songbird’s life in the public eye near the release of the album.
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