For the project, Monica reteamed with her cousin Polow da Don, who had co-executive produced her previous album New Life (2012).

No one is that powerful, but all of us together, I think we can make huge strides, allowing this generation to enjoy what this music embodies, which is a lot of love, passion, soul.

"[7] Code Red opens with its title track, an aggressive uptempo dance song that features guest vocals by longtime collaborator Missy Elliott as well as a cameo from Monica's daughter Laiyah.

"[9] Lyrically, the song sees Monica and Elliott lamenting those artists who are out chasing hits, leading to the genre's lack of creativity and diversity.

[1] Supported by piano and reverb,[12] Monica pledges ler love and loyalty on the stripped-back "I Know",[13] a heartfelt ballad in which she sings about leaving emotional baggage behind while getting into a new relationship.

[12] "Deep," an ode to Shannon Brown that was produced by Danja and Polow da Don,[9] is a luminous ballad that takes on an edgier tone as the singer talks about falling in love.

[14][15] "Hustler's Ambition" features singer Akon and tells the tale of distanced but committed love between a criminal and his woman over Latin-inspired instrumentals and soft singing.

[15] Lyrically, the song is a gently nostalgic reminiscence-cum-complaint about the lasting value of music in which Monica sings about Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Michael Jackson, and Kurt Cobain.

[3] The album's original release date was preceded by a private listening party at the PatchWerk Recording Studios in West Midtown in Atlanta on August 27.

[20] Attendees included Monica's then-husband Shannon Brown, producer Polow da Don, and rappers Young Jeezy, and Kap G.[20] However, though recording sessions for the album were concluded, it was soon bumped to October 2 and eventually pushed to TBA status again.

[21] A month later, in anticipation of her upcoming album, she announced dates for The Code Red Experience, her first solo concert tour in years.

[24] On January 15, 2016, Monica confirmed on Twitter that "Alone in Your Heart" would be released as the second single from Code Red but plans were eventually scrapped for unknown reasons.

"[12] Michael Arceneaux, writing for Ebony, declared Code Red "an enjoyable listen", praising it as "Monica’s best album in years, and a reminder that when you have a format that works for you, stick with it and stop swerving".

He noted comparisons with Tamia's Love Life (2015), citing its undoubtedly "awareness of current trends, and in select cases on the album, offers a nod to them without going too far left.

[1] In his mixed review, Jon Caramanica of The New York Times felt that the Code Red "manifests in the tension between traditionalist instincts and modern music-making imperatives".

summed that "Code Red is a well packaged collection of songs, but falls short on containing anything on the same calibre of Monica's iconic hit "The Boy Is Mine.