Monica Readies New Album ‘Trenches’ for November

Twenty-five years since her debut album, Monica is still in the Trenches.

The R&B icon has announced a release date for her 9th studio album Trenches. The project, her first in five years, will arrive Nov. 20.

In a recent interview with TrueExclusives, Monica revealed the inspiration behind the album title. “I’m always in the trenches to some capacity or the other, whether it be emotionally, sometimes physically—wherever my family is, that’s where I go,” said the Atlanta singer. “I’m also in the trenches of this music [industry]. I’m working hard, I’m writing a lot, I’m basically doing everything you can imagine because now I’m independently owned.”

In late August, she released the title track featuring Lil Baby. “I wanted to get back to the root of how I started,” said Monica of The Neptunes-produced song.

Trenches, the follow-up to 2015’s Code Red, will feature additional production from Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. “They have a sound that’s undeniably one of the greatest ever, but for them to kinda step into my world and to dig into the areas that were important to me, it made the music just completely different.”

The album follows Monica’s epic Verzuz battle with Brandy, which broke all Verzuz records, with more than 6 million views.