| Born 2 B.R.E.E.D. | |
| Cover: | Born 2 B.R.E.E.D.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Monie Love |
| Released: | 9 February 1993 |
| Length: | 3:53 |
| Label: | Chrysalis |
| Prev Title: | It's a Shame (My Sister) |
| Prev Year: | 1990 |
| Next Title: | In a Word or 2 |
| Next Year: | 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, as well as charting on the Dutch and German music charts. In the US, "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." was Monie Love's most successful of four releases on the dance chart, reaching number one on the Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart for one week.[1] It also peaked at number 56 on the Billboard soul chart and number 89 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2] In Australia, the song peaked at number 98 on the ARIA singles chart in May 1993.[3]
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."[4] 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."[5] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel said, "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]
| Chart (1993) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[7] | 98 | |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] | 64 | |
| Europe (European Dance Radio)[9] | 5 | |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) | 7 | |
| Netherlands (Dutch Single Tip)[10] | 5 | |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 18 | |
| UK Airplay (Music Week)[11] | 18 | |
| UK Club Chart (Music Week)[12] | 5 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 89 | |
| US Dance Music/Club Play Singles (Billboard) | 1 |