Rated M

***Rated M*** is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Monica Lacroix. The album was released on April 6, 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic through Republic Records. Monica co-wrote all the songs on the album except "G4U". The production was handled by previous producers for her third studio album with guest features being saved to the latter half of the album with those being Mariah Carey, Kanye West & Sabrina Carpenter.

The title of the album is a *gag* on the rating given to a variety of products by the ESRB using the artists first initial in place of the rating. The album explores a darker, more mature and gloomier image of the world while also pertaining to the emotions of the listener. The album incorporates elements of pop, disco, hip hop, rhythm and blues, up-tempo tunes and downtempo ballads. The album received critical acclaim for its ability to craft a soundscape and the use of lyricism to formulate imagery inside the listener's head. Many also were shocked that Monica would include another demo track following the release of *Destined feat Nicki Minaj (2013)* which critics called a critical failure despite its sales showing otherwise. The album was also well received due to a bit of disco elements being featured within the soundscape of the production, a take on the current trend of the Pop music genre throughout 2020 following Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia& various other artists influence on the trends.

The album features the chart-topper singles *G4U*, *montage* (featuring Kanye West), *Sex On The Brain,* and Rated M (the title track)*.* G4U was the first single since 2014 for Lacroix to not debut at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 while it did go #1 later on after 17 - 18 weeks of being on the chart. Monica would confirm her second release from the album to be montage (featuring Kanye West) which would be released on October 26, 2020. montage became the second single from the album to not immediately enter in at #1 however it would reach #1 before the release of her promotional movie release *Potion*. Following the success of montage, she would release *Sex On The Brain* on April 22, 2021. *Sex On The Brain* would chart number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 becoming her third number one off the album in the end of June. Lacroix would announce the final single from the album, *POPSTAR 101* confirmed through her social media and that it would be pushed to radio on September 6, 2021. In late November, Lacroix would later declare she'd be releasing *Rated M* to radio on all platforms *(the title track of the album)* saying it was about the album's success and longevity and influence upon generations.

The album would win the Grammys for album categories at the 2021 Grammy Awards Ceremony celebrating 2020's accomplishments. In April that same year, *montage featuring Kanye West* became the first Diamond certified single from the album. With this accomplishment, Monica would become the youngest solo act to have at least one diamond single from each of her studio albums.

The album would be succeeded by the 2021 Deluxe edition of the album *Rated M - Final Edition (2021)*.

## Background & development

Coming off of the success of her previous album *step forward (2018)* and the success of her live album *Chapter 2 (2019)*, Monica originally stated she had no intentions to really release another album for a while due to creative block. She however continued promotion of her previous album on various events such as Jimmy Fallon, The View, The Wendy Williams Show, The Ellen Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, KBS Inkagayo and various other media-entertainment platforms.

Kanye West revealed he was in the studio producing with fans pinpointing a nail being Monicas as it was matching her nails in a previous Instagram post. Monica confirmed in August of 2019 she was recording and almost and would be finished hopefully soon with it. Fans retweeted the post to their delight as all of the visuals on her live album have totaled over 1 billion views. Monica confirmed *Wild Ones (2014)* would be re-released on the album in demo format to showcase their intentions behind the song before it was changed. Many also felt it was added due to the disco trend becoming trendy officially and the release of Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia which pushed the trend full force.

Monica revealed a paper of the lyrics behind "POPSTAR 101" which showed her inner thoughts verse by verse, while showing the what the world sees through their own lenses in comparison. The lyrics soon became a trend of their own with many utilizing it as a way to show you only see one side of someone's life and not what they truly are on the inside or behind the scenes.

Monica confirmed in September of 2019, the album was finished. Following a radio silent month, in November the artist confirmed that she would be releasing her next studio album on April 6, 2020. Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic, Monica assured fans she would maintain her date. On April 4, 2020 an audio sharing website revealed some of the tracks off of the album through various hacks. Monica assured fans on an Instagram Live with tears that she would power through and continue her release.

## Artwork & packaging

The artwork was taken by reportedly a close private friend with a passion of photography to the artist. It features Monica with a sunset vibe of a background standing in a beige designer outfit with a pillar in the background and her shadow being emphasized. It is rotated 90 degrees to the right with the branding of "Rated M" being on the top in the center. An exclusive Halloween edition of the album was released through Target featuring another demo of *Wild Ones(2014).* An exclusive version only purchasable through Monica's website was an explicit cover version featuring the artist covered in metallic blue paint baring it all in front of a white background.

The packaging as the standard for the artist featured photocards, and additional posters for the album. In the Halloween Exclusive edition of the album it features a Halloween themed shoot with photocards and an additional vinyl copy containing the 2nd demo version of Wild Ones. It comes also shipped with a candy bag of the buyers choosing. The explicit edition features more risqué photocards and posters accompanied with the standard posters and photocards from the standard edition. Vinyl's could be selected as additional through stores with them being shipped with additional posters and photocards.

## Critical acclaim

 Source
 Source
 Exclaim.ca

The album was met with critical acclaim across the board for its use of innuendos, vocals, and the production once again similar to her preceding album *step forward(2018)*. The album was considered by many however to feature Lacroix's most relating lyrics yet and the most personal side to who she really is on the inside. The decision not to feature Dr. Luke was met with praise for the artist for taking control of her music as she revealed in a track that she was forced to collaborate with a producer and felt uncomfortable to be around him.

Many praised the albums cohesiveness featuring dark themes and utilizing the soundscape of emotions and darkness. ***Exclaim.ca*** gave the album 4.5 stars citing it as the album of the year but they were unsure if they could say it was better than its predecessor. ***Paste Magazine*** gave the album five stars citing it as utilizing the most relatable themes known to a being with that being sadness. ***RollingStone*** cited the album and its dark grungy elements to be the most cohesive project by the artist surpassing her previous album as many people could finally feel some sense of relation towards the artist. ***Billboard.com*** gave the album a 3.5 out of 5 stars citing the album as one of her best projects but also a let-down as they felt some tracks could have been left off.

Critics that gave the album less than four stars changed their reviews following the albums longevity and deeper meaning behind it in early 2022. With the album still charting in the Top 50s throughout the year, many critics relistened to the album post-pandemic and felt they could connect or find some form of connection to the work in the album.

## Commercial performance

The album debuted at number one across every album chart in the world joining the likes of Monica's previous work respectively. The album sold 1.8 million equivalent units in its first week becoming one of Monicas lowest selling first weeks in recent years. It would remain in the top 10 of every chart following 6 months of release having only fallen as far as to #9 on the US Billboard 200.

Since its release, the album has spawned a Billboard Hot 100 #1 for the artist respectively however the single did not debut at number one ending Monicas streak at 2 number ones since her return to the industry. Due to the heavy releases at the time from major artist Monica held #1 for only two weeks before falling to #2 and subsequently falling out of the Top 10 in the United States after 17 weeks however rose up to #5 following G4U going number one in the same week. On September 7, 2020 Monica would confirm *montage feat. Kanye West* would be pushed to radio.

Monica promoted the album through various social media posts and advertisements around the world. She would perform 5 tracks on Good Morning America and at various media outlets in American media while also being endorsed by DC Comics & Marvel. She would perform the array of tracks accompanied with past releases on her first virtual concert *The Digitalized Show Of Monica* in October which was a quickly put together promotional concert primarily targeted at promoting the album.

The album sold over nearly 10 million copies by the end of 2020, and sold over 10 million copies following the release of *Sex On The Brain* in April of 2021.

Since release, the album has sold over 3,221,109 equivalent units in the United States. The album has sold over 457,441 equivalent units in Canada. The album has sold over 965,325 equivalent units in Latin America. The album has sold over 2,444,056 equivalent units in the UK. The album has sold over 1,830,395 equivalent units in Europe. The album has sold over 597,884 equivalent units in Oceania. The album has sold over 1,350,521 equivalent units in Asia. The album has been streamed over 841,251,828 times respectively on Spotify. The album has sold over 10,866,731 units at the time of April 2021.

In 2021, the album would return to the top 10 of the US Billboard 200 at #10 following the third single from its release Sex On The Brain going #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 2022, following the release of *POPSTAR 101*, it would once again return to the Top 10 at over 60 weeks of charting, the album would make a milestone for one of the biggest resurgences for an album in recent memory. Combined with this, the album succeeded over 12 million sales with Monica announcing the title track would be the final release on December 13, 2021. The album would be succeeded with the announcement of the deluxe edition titled "*Rated M - Final Edition*" on the day of the title tracks release.

## Legacy & impact

The album was stated to have redefined the decade in a sense, with a focus on the emotional and an emphasis on more darker and mature themes by artists following the acclaim of the album. The album would end up in the top 20 of the Year-Ends in the following two years since its release becoming the first album in the current decade to do so. The album earned Lacroix more attention as a writer and vocalist with her ability to capture the negative side accompanied with her development and planning of the era with the production being described as timeless and euphoric to the mind. The album would be inducted into various hall of fames following the success it had.

The era alone was heavily impactful on the music industry landscape as the artist was featured in various embodiments of work such as Miley Cyrus's '*Prisoner*' featuring also Dua Lipa while also being featured on Justin Bieber's remix of *Yummy*, being featured on Ariana Grande's '*safety net*' released in 2021, and Bruno Mar's single which all went number one on the Billboard US Hot 100. All featured credits to the artist in their writing with the artist taking more control over what she is featured in.