It has been four years since Secrets, Toni BraxtonΓÇÖs last multiplatinum album, confirmed her status as one of the most successful female artists, but time and life experience have brought maturity and a new sense of self to the five-time Grammy winner. The creative growth sheΓÇÖs experienced is evident throughout The Heat, a remarkable musical tour-de-force that showcases ToniΓÇÖs expansion into songwriting and production.
"IΓÇÖve been taking control of my life and IΓÇÖm being responsible for what happens in my career," says the international superstar. "This third album shows the positive direction IΓÇÖm feeling in my life. IΓÇÖm not worried like I once was about how things would turn out when I put out a record. IΓÇÖm just anxious to have my music out there so people can hear me again!"
The Heat explores the themes of love, passion, and romance from the standpoint of a young woman dealing with the realities of life in the 21st century. As the writer or co-writer on eight of the album’s 12 tracks, Toni is upfront in expressing herself: "I’ve had a few emotionally challenging moments," she says candidly. "In the song ‘Just Be A Man About It,’ which features Dr. Dre, I’m saying what every woman has thought at one time or another. Like stop BS-ing and lying… It’s the kind of song that makes me feel like I’m a spokesperson for all the women out there."
Known for her classic love songs, the sultry songstress with the instantly recognizable vocal style says, "We have a couple of what I call ΓÇÿofficial Toni Braxton baby-makingΓÇÖ songs! I donΓÇÖt know how often people have told me that they became parents off one of my records, so this time I made a conscious effort to create a couple of songs with that in mind. ThereΓÇÖs ΓÇÿThe Art Of LoveΓÇÖ and ΓÇÿSpeaking In TonguesΓÇÖ (both co-produced by Toni with Keri Lewis of Mint Condition). IΓÇÖm particularly proud of that song since I wrote it by myself and played keyboards on it, too. I also worked with Keri on the title track, ΓÇÿThe Heat,ΓÇÖ which is what I call a summertime kind of song."
Utilizing the production work of hitmaker Rodney Jerkins, Toni offers the sizzling "He WasnΓÇÖt Man Enough" as the first hit single from The Heat and in the same vein, thereΓÇÖs the uptempo groove of "Gimme Some," co-written and co-produced by LaFace co-founder and super producer Kenny ΓÇÿBabyfaceΓÇÖ Edmonds and featuring a no-nonsense rap from TLCΓÇÖs Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. "ThatΓÇÖs just a woman asking for what she wants!" Toni says with a grin. "I wanted to make sure we included some faster songs along with the more mature ballads. With my first album in 1993, my niche was sad love songs like ΓÇÿBreathe Again,ΓÇÖ ΓÇÿSeven Whole DaysΓÇÖ and, of course, ΓÇÿAnother Sad Love Song.ΓÇÖ When I did the Secrets album, we went for a more up-tempo sound with ΓÇÿYouΓÇÖre MakinΓÇÖ Me HighΓÇÖ and ΓÇÿI Love Me Some Him.ΓÇÖ This new record combines both elements. We brought in some elements of hip-hop with Dr. Dre and Lisa (Lopes) and there are two beautiful love ballads, ΓÇÿSpanish GuitarΓÇÖ and ΓÇÿIΓÇÖm Still Breathing,ΓÇÖ both written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster."
Other key producers involved on the project include Keith Crouch, who co-produced "Maybe" with Toni; Daryl Simmons, responsible for the evocative "Never Just For A Ring"; Teddy Bishop from Noontime on "YouΓÇÖve Been Wrong" and co-writer of "Just Be a Man"; and Babyface, who contributed his award-winning production and writing skills on "Fairy Tale," an acoustic gem. In all, Toni was involved as producer or co-producer on five songs and her direct hands-on input with The Heat adds a very personal stamp to the album. "I wasnΓÇÖt as much in creative control on the first two records. This album is really who I am."
To The Heat Toni brings a seven-year recording career filled with accomplishment and accolades. In addition to a slew of awards and honors as a recording artist, she has the distinction of being the first African-American performer in the role of "Belle" in the Disney musical Beauty And The Beast, appearing on Broadway from September to December of 1998. "It was a pioneering opportunity for me," she states. "We wanted to take a traditional Disney show and make it more rainbow hued."
Multiplatinum albums, Grammy Awards, Broadway acclaim are cornerstones in a career that had its early beginnings in Severn, Maryland, where ToniΓÇÖs natural musical skills became evident when she sang in church with her four sisters. Inspired by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Anita Baker, Chaka Khan, and Whitney Houston, Toni set her sights on a singing career and considered college as a back-up plan.
In fact, Toni was studying to become a teacher at Bowie State University when label owners L.A. Reid and Babyface signed her as the first female artist to their then-newly formed LaFace Records in 1992. Her first taste of success came with two hits from the triple platinum soundtrack for the Eddie Murphy movie Boomerang: "Give U My Heart" (a duet with Babyface) and the pop/R&B smash "Love Shoulda Brought You Home."
Audiences everywhere were eager to hear more of Toni and her self-titled debut,
released in the summer of 1993, which spawned the classics "Another Sad Love Song" (gold, No. 2 R&B, No. 7 pop) and "Breathe Again" (gold, No. 4 R&B, No. 3 pop). The track "Seven Whole Days"--while never released as a commercial single--achieved No. 1 status based on airplay, while two other singles, "You Mean The World To Me" (gold) and "I Belong To You" were also Top 10 R&B hits for Toni, who became known as ΓÇÿThe First Lady Of LaFace.ΓÇÖ
Key national television appearances followed and Toni embarked on her first U.S. tour as a special guest with Frankie Beverly & Maze. In all, Toni Braxton sold an astounding 10 million sales internationally. The singer garnered her first two Grammy Awards in 1993 for best new artist and best R&B vocal performance, female for "Another Sad Love Song." Three American Music Awards and two Soul Train Music Awards followed and in 1994, Toni picked up her third Grammy when "Breathe Again" won her the best R&B vocal performance, female award.
In 1995, Toni began working on her all-important second album and any fears of a sophomore jinx were immediately banished: Secrets sold an incredible seven million copies domestically and an additional three million outside the U.S. following its July1996 release. The hit streak continued with the provocative single "YouΓÇÖre MakinΓÇÖ Me High," ToniΓÇÖs first across-the-board pop and R&B hit and another Grammy winner (best R&B vocal performance, female"). Aided by a steamy video, the record reflected what Toni called "another dimension of who I am--the more sexual side of me," and a controversial 1997 cover story in the magazine Vibe reinforced the earthy side of the young vocalist.
Released in the fall of 1996, the poignant, soulful ballad "Un-Break My Heart" became another pop chart-topper, earning Toni another Grammy Award (for best pop vocal performance, female) and a Billboard Award as adult contemporary single of the year. Toni embarked on a major international tour with Kenny G in 1997, finally completing the critically acclaimed trek in October of that year.
The next year was more than challenging for the songstress: A much-publicized bankruptcy provided "a major learning opportunity for me," Toni says. "I was angry at myself for the financial problems I had and I didnΓÇÖt understand at the time how it all happened. It all got resolved in 1998 and thankfully, I got offered the chance to appear on Broadway in Beauty And The Beast. That really helped my self-esteem and gave me a chance to get my life moving again."
By the time her run in the play ended, garnering Toni critical acclaim from press and public alike, it was time to begin preparation for The Heat. "My vision was to have a lot more say in the writing and production for the album," she says. "For my first two albums, I had a great teacher in Babyface. I felt it was time to branch out and show what I could do."
Demonstrating her many talents, her latest work shines, from the sensuous groove of the title track to the instantly memorable ballad "Spanish Guitar" to the seductive, atmospheric "Art Of Love" and the distinctively edgy "Maybe," The Heat provides the perfect balance of irresistible rhythms and heartfelt love songs. "IΓÇÖve been gone for a little while and IΓÇÖve been watching the charts to see whatΓÇÖs been happening. Now IΓÇÖm ready to get out there again and tour, to let people know IΓÇÖm here and IΓÇÖm Still Breathing."
