Real music is back!!  Monica aka Monica Brown played host to a private listening session for her upcoming CODE RED project and I had the pleasure of attending last night (August 27, 2015).

CODE RED, Mo’s eighth studio album, is scheduled for release September 18, 2015 but the songstress gave a few of Atlanta’s top tastemakers, media, and DJ’s a sneak peek of her project during  the preview, held at Atlanta’s Patchwerk Recording Studio.

Monica says she named the album ‘CODE RED’ because R&B music today needs to be revitalized or ‘brought back to life. She explains her album title as follows:

When my first record dropped, I was only 13 years old. So now at 34, I look back at it and I can see how important it was for our generation.

So trying to reconnect to an entirely different generation of people, but with the same love and the same music. I look at it as a ‘re-introduction’.

Attendees included Mo’s husband, Shannon Brown, Polow Da Don, Young Jeezy, Kap-G and many more.

Check out photos from Monica’s ‘Code Red’ listening session below…

Monica has often expressed dissatisfaction with contemporary R&B radio and hopes ‘CODE RED” will help expose today’s generation to R&B music, she stated in a previous interview:

I am one person, one artist, one voice so I can not fight for R&B alone but I can fight!

I will sing from my heart and my soul and give every piece of me to the music and the genre that saved my life.

‘CODE RED’ features collaboration from several producers, including Polow Da Don, Missy Elliott, Rico Love, Timbaland and more.

The Polow Da Don produced track ‘Just Right For Me’ featuring Lil Wayne is the first single from the album and it’s making huge waves on the radio as I type.

The record contains a sample of the 1968 song “Much Better Off” by Smokey Robinson and Monica’s sultry vocals force you to sing along whenever you hear ‘Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby…’ as she sings finding her perfect love.

Mr. & Mrs. Brown strike a pose…

The title track includes a feature from Missy Elliott and the hook appropriately embodies her thoughts on how R&B has been lacking for some time now.

‘Turn off the radio, that’s right… we don’t wanna hear that no mo…”

‘Call My Name’ is another bumper that Monica feels may be the 2nd single from the album.

Timbaland produced tracks include ‘Love Just Ain’t Enough’ with is a duet with Timbaland (Yes… Timbaland actually sings alongside Monica!!), All Men Lie.

Young Jeezy appears on CODE RED’s ‘Hustlers Ambition’ track, which also features Akon on the hook.

Young Jeezy ‘salutes’

Monica & Young Jeezy

Other ‘CODE RED’ tracks include ‘Deep’ (which will include a surprise feature), ‘Alone in Your Heart’, ‘Ocean of Tears,’ ‘I Know,’ ‘I Miss Music’ – (what am I gonna sing to?) and Anchor (a song about holding down the one you love).

Polow Da Don arrives on his scooter…

Kap-G and Monica

Monica and her brother, Montez

Monica and fans…

Michelle ‘ATLien’ Brown & Monica

For those who don’t know, Monica was the first person I ever interviewed for StraightFromTheA (almost 8 years ago!) and she’s always been super supportive.  She has such a beautiful spirit and her talent is unquestionable!

[FLASHBACK: Exclusive Interview w/Monica ‘Still Standing’ (Part 1) (Part 2)]

Monica’s ‘CODE RED’ project features several bangers and a slew of ballads showcasing her vocal prowess but the message behind the music is clear, there’s a need for REAL R&B music and Monica hopes to bring it back with ‘CODE RED’.

VIDEO: Monica ‘CODE RED’ ATL Listening Session (8/27)

Monica is so damn talented!! Are you as excited about I am about Mo’s latest project??? 🙂 

Photos: Prince Williams (ATLPics)

CLICK HERE to view more photos from Monica’s Atlanta ‘CODE RED’ listening party.

FULL PHOTO GALLERY