Back in the mid 90s, Mona Lisa (real name: Kimberly Ledbetter) should have been up there with her peers Brandy, Monica and Aaliyah, but sadly for her, she got lost in the shuffle. In 1996, the then 16-year-old released her hot debut album ’11-20-79′ (I still listen to it!), which highlighted her birth date.
The criminally underrated songstress was mostly known for her single ‘Can’t Be Wasting My Time’. It featured the Hip-Hop group Lost Boyz, and appeared on the ‘Don’t Be a Menace’ soundtrack as well as her debut album. She never did get a sophomore album (despite releasing a lead single titled ‘Peach’). The project was shelved after her label Island Black Music merged with Def Jam.
She took up songwriting for more notable and successful artists, but her work suffered from miscrediting and she found herself “ghostwriting” instead. In 1998, she completed high school and graduated with a 4.0 average within the same year. In 2004, she was featured on Diplomat member, Cam’ron‘s song, ‘Girls’. In 2007, she collaborated with underground rapper, Sonja Blade on ‘Get at Me’. In 2009, she signed with Triple Beam Entertainment and began to collaborate with Murder Inc associative producer, Jimi Kendrix on her new album. In 2010, she titled the project, ‘Reckless’, and began restructuring the record.
What is she up to now?
As well as raising her kids, she still writes music and records. Now 32-years-old, Mona mainly does a lot of behind the scenes work on other people’s albums. There has been no word on whether she plans to put out her new LP. However, her latest musical project was as recent as last year after she guest featured on Techniec & L‘s ‘Flow No Limit’. The cut, lifted from their mixtape ‘The Blacklist’, was released to iTunes on April 9th 2011. Check out a blast from the past after the jump.
This was my jam back in the day. The high school memories! It was during the mid 90s where it was cool for a chick to rock baggy clothing and timberland boots and no one would bat an eyelid. Unlike today, these chicks did not have to show T&A or feel obligated to sell sex in order to shift records. She reminded me so much of Aaliyah (they were born in the same year). The good times!
Oh yes I’m seeing and hearing Liyah in this too.
this track is still on my iPhone – big tune. The whole album was good-it got lost in the mix, because R&B was just banging in 96. Aaliyah dropped One In A Million and that was revolutionary and there styles are too similar and Toni Braxton dropped Secrets. R&B was drowned with just hit after hit music, so you could be great and not make it. thats why everyone looks back and goes what happened to all the good music because there’s not as much choice now.