Toni Braxton
Toni Braxton is an acclaimed American R&B singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality known for her powerful voice and hits like "Un-Break My Heart." Born on October 7, 1967, in Severn, Maryland, she rose to fame in the 1990s and has sold over 70 million records worldwide.
Toni Michele Braxton grew up as the eldest of six siblings in a musical family; her father was a Methodist clergyman, and her mother was an opera singer and cosmetologist. She sang in church choirs and briefly attended Bowie State University before pursuing music professionally with her sisters as The Braxtons.
Braxton's breakthrough came in 1993 with her self-titled debut album on LaFace Records, featuring hits "Another Sad Love Song" and "Breathe Again," which earned her multiple Grammy Awards. Subsequent albums like Secrets (1996) with "Un-Break My Heart," The Heat (2000), and later works such as Pulse (2010) solidified her as one of the best-selling female artists, with seven Grammys and inductions into halls of fame.
She debuted on Broadway as Belle in Beauty and the Beast in 1998, becoming the first Black woman in that lead role. Braxton starred in reality series Braxton Family Values (2011–2020, 2024) and competed on Dancing with the Stars (2008) and The Masked Singer (2021).
Braxton has two sons from her marriage to Keri Lewis (2001–2013) and married rapper Birdman in August 2024. She has faced health challenges, including lupus, and financial issues earlier in her career.
Libra
Written-By – K. Houff, M. Riddick, S. Storch, V. Herbert
3:57
2 Trippin' (That's The Way Love Works)
Written-By – B. Cox, J. Austin, K. Dean, T. Braxton
4:05
3 What's Good
Written-By – B. Cox, J. Austin, T. Braxton
Written-By [Sample] – J. Sample
4:14
4 Take This Ring
Written-By – R. Harrison
4:34
5 Midnite
Written-By – H. Lilly, Soul Shock, K. Karlin
4:09
6 I Wanna Be (Your Baby)
Written-By – Damon Thomas, D. Simmons, H. Mason Jr., K. Edmonds
3:48
7 Sposed To Be
Written-By – A. Dixon, D. Thomas, H. Mason Jr., K. Lynn Hilson, J. Que
4:07
8 Stupid
Written-By – C. Rooney, K. Lewis, T. Braxton
3:36
9 Finally
Written-By – A. Dixon, D. Thomas, D. Babbs, E. Dawkins, H. Mason Jr.
3:30
10 Shadowless
Written-By – A. Cantrall, P. White
3:56
Label: Blackground Records – B0005441-02
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2005
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Contemporary R&B, Soul
More Than A Woman
Written-By – Curtis Mayfield, Ernest D. Wilson, Keri Lewis, Tamar Braxton, Toni Braxton
4:19
2 Give It Back
Featuring – The Big Tymers
Written-By – Brian Williams, Byron Thomas, Tamar Braxton, Toni Braxton
3:38
3 A Better Man
Written-By – Andrea Martin, Gerrard C. Baker, Ivan Matias
4:00
4 Hit The Freeway
Featuring – Loon
Written-By – Chauncey Hawkins, Pharrell Williams
3:49
5 Lies, Lies, Lies
Written-By – Keri Lewis, Stokley
5:10
6 Rock Me, Roll Me
Written-By – Keri Lewis, Tamar Braxton, Toni Braxton
4:57
7 Selfish
Written-By – Blake English, B. Smith, Kenisha Pratt, Robert Smith, Tamar Braxton, Toni Braxton
3:47
8 Do You Remember When
Written-By – Fred Jerkins, Lashawn Daniels, Rodney Jerkins, Toni Braxton
4:03
9 Me & My Boyfriend
Written-By – Andre Parker, Darryl Harper, Irving Lorenzo, Ricky Rouse, Tamar Braxton, Toni Braxton, Tupac Shakur, Tyrone Wrice
3:44
10 Tell Me
Written-By – Anita Baker, Anthony Bias, Keri Lewis, Louise Johnson, Toni Braxton
4:10
11 And I Love You
Written-By – Babyface, Daryl Simmons
4:02
12 Always
Written-By – Blake English, B. Smith, Kenisha Pratt, Robert Smith, Tamar Braxton, Toni Braxton
4:29
Label: Arista – 74321959362
Format: CD, Album
Country: Europe
Released: 2002
Genre: R&B Hip Hop, Funk, Soul
Style: Contemporary R&B
Pulse
Written-By – Jerome Armstrong, Justin Franks, Michael White, Terrance Battle, Toni Braxton
3:48
2 Make My Heart
Written-By – Aubrey A. Gravatt, Joseph Wayne Freeman, Lucas Secon, Makeba Riddick, Theodore Life, Jr.
3:27
3 Hands Tied
Written-By – Harvey Mason, Jr., Heather Bright, Warren "Oak" Felder
3:53
4 Woman
Written-By – Steve Mac, Wayne Hector
3:51
5 If I Have To Wait
Written-By – Allan Rich, Jud Friedman, Michael Busbee, Toni Braxton
3:56
6 Lookin' At Me
Written-By – Lucas Secon, Makeba Riddick
3:20
7 Warderobe
Written-By – Dernst Emile
3:31
8 Hero
Written-By – Harvey Mason, Jr., Kara Dioguardi
4:32
9 No Way
Written-By – Michael Warren
3:31
10 Pulse
Written-By – Christopher Jackson, C. Harmon
3:47
11 Why Won't You Love Me
Written-By – Harvey Mason, Jr., Toni Braxton
4:41
Label: Atlantic – 520269-2
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2010
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul, Pop
Style: Contemporary R&B, Soul, Dance-pop
Secrets
Lyrics By – Darrell Spencer, Marc Nelson, Tony Rich
Music By – Tony Rich
Producer – L.A. Reid, Tony Rich
3:36
A2 You're Makin Me High
Lyrics By, Music By, Producer – Babyface, Bryce Wilson
4:26
A3 There's No Me Without You
Lyrics By, Music By, Producer – Babyface
4:19
A4 Un-Break My Heart
Lyrics By, Music By – Diane Warren
Producer, Arranged By – David Foster
4:30
A5 Talking In His Sleep
Arranged By, Music By, Producer – Keith Crouch
Lyrics By – Toni Braxton
5:33
A6 How Could An Angel Break My Heart
Lyrics By, Music By – Toni Braxton
Lyrics By, Music By, Producer – Babyface
Saxophone – Kenny G
4:20
B1 Find Me A Man
Lyrics By, Music By, Producer – Babyface
4:27
B2 Let It Flow
Lyrics By, Music By, Producer – Babyface
4:21
B3 Why Should I Care
Lyrics By, Music By, Producer – Babyface
4:25
B4 I Don't Want To
Lyrics By, Music By, Arranged By, Producer – R. Kelly
4:17
B5 I Love Me Some Him
Arranged By, Music By, Producer – Soulshock & Karlin
Lyrics By – Andrea Martin, Gloria Stewart
5:09
B6 In The Late Of Night
Lyrics By, Music By – John B.
Lyrics By, Music By, Producer – Babyface
5:18
B7 Toni's Secrets 0:15
Label: LaFace/Arista – 73008-26020-1
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Europe
Released: 1996
Genre: R&B Hip Hop, Jazz, Funk, Soul
Style: Soul-Jazz, Soul, Contemporary R&B
The Heat
Written-By – Fred Jerkins III, Harvey Mason Jr., Lashawn Daniels, Rodney Jerkins
4:21
2 The Heat
Written-By – Keri Lewis
3:30
3 Spanish Guitar
Written-By – Diane Warren
4:47
4 Just Be A Man About It
Producer, Written-By – Teddy Bishop
Vocals [Additional] – Dr. Dre
Written-By – John'ta Austin
4:50
5 Gimme Some
Producer, Written-By – Babyface, Jazze Pha
Rap [Featuring] – Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes
4:03
6 I'm Still Breathing
Written-By – Diane Warren
4:15
7 Fairy Tale
Producer, Written-By – Babyface
Written-By – Marc Harris, Tommy Sims
4:22
8 The Art Of Love
Written-By – Keri Lewis
3:47
9 Speaking In Tongues
3:46
10 Maybe
Written-By – Mechallie Jamison, Samuel Gause
Written-By, Guitar – John Smith
3:08
11 You've Been Wrong
Written-By – Brandon Casey, Brian Casey, Linda Creed, Thom Bell
3:45
12 Never Just For A Ring
Producer, Written-By – Daryl Simmons
Written-By – Pure Soul
4:01
Label: LaFace Records – 73008-26069-2
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2000
Genre: R&B Hip Hop, Funk, Soul
Style: Contemporary R&B, Pop Rap
Toni Braxton
Written-By – Babyface, Daryl Simmons
5:01
2 Breathe Again
Written-By – Babyface
4:29
3 Seven Whole Days
Written-By – Babyface, L.A. Reid
6:22
4 Love Affair
Written-By – Tim Thomas, Ted Bishop
4:28
5 Candlelight
Written-By – Gaylor D, John Barnes
4:36
6 Spending My Time With You
Written-By – Bo, McArthur
4:08
7 Love Shoulda Brought You Home
Written-By – Babyface, Bo Watson, Daryl Simmons
4:56
8 I Belong To You
Written-By – Ronald Spearman, Vassal Benford
3:53
9 How Many Ways
Written-By – Toni Braxton, Vincent Herbert
4:45
10 You Mean The World To Me
Written-By – Babyface, Daryl Simmons, L.A. Reid
4:53
11 Best Friend
Written-By – Toni Braxton, Vance Taylor
4:28
12 Breathe Again (Reprise)
Written-By – Babyface
1:19
Label: LaFace Records – 73008-26007-2
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 1993
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Contemporary R&B, Ballad, Soul
Toni Braxton's 1993 self-titled debut is widely hailed as an R&B classic, praised for Braxton's husky, sensual voice, bridging sophisticated soul with urban sensibilities, and featuring hit singles like "Another Sad Love Song" and "Breathe Again," establishing her as a major star with commercial success and Grammy wins for its smooth production by Babyface and L.A. Reid.
Critics noted its mature, emotionally deep delivery and elegant sound, even while some felt it lost steam mid-album, ultimately cementing it as a defining R&B debut.
Her distinctive, deep alto voice was compared to Anita Baker and Phyllis Hyman, balancing earthy sensuality with dignified emotion, creating a unique sound.
The album was a triumph for LaFace Records, with Babyface and L.A. Reid crafting a polished, sophisticated sound that blended R&B, soul, and hints of hip-hop.
While largely positive, some critics found it slightly uneven but acknowledged its impact, with Rolling Stone calling it "slick" but praising Braxton's talent.
Commercial Success: A massive hit, selling millions and earning three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist, boosted by hits like "Another Sad Love Song," "Breathe Again," and "You Mean the World to Me". Many fans consider it a flawless "no-skip" album, with almost every track being a strong contender for radio play.
It served as a powerful introduction, making Braxton a household name and a major crossover star, especially on urban and pop charts. Its blend of smooth grooves and heartfelt ballads made it popular with a broad audience, defining 90s R&B.