| "The First Night" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Monica | ||||
| from the album The Boy Is Mine | ||||
| B-side | "'Cross the Room" | |||
| Released | July 28, 1998 | |||
| Length | 3:55 | |||
| Label | Arista | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Jermaine Dupri | |||
| Monica singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"The First Night" is a song by American singer Monica for her second studio album, The Boy Is Mine (1998). It was written by Tamara Savage and Jermaine Dupri, featuring production and additional vocals from the latter. Built around a sample of Diana Ross's 1976 recording "Love Hangover", penned by Marilyn McLeod and Pam Sawyer, who share co-writing credits, the song is about the protagonist's battle with sexual temptations on the night of her first date, despite her conflicting emotions and strong sexual desires.
Following the major commercial chart success of previous single "The Boy Is Mine", a duet with fellow R&B singer Brandy, "The First Night" song was released on July 28, 1998, as the album's second single by Arista Records. Upon its commercial release, it emerged as Monica's second consecutive chart topper, topping both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the component Hot R&B Singles chart, becoming her first Hot 100 number one (and third R&B number one) as a solo artist. A remix version with producer Dupri, and rapper Da Brat appeared as a bonus track on Monica's 1998 CD single, "Angel of Mine".