Webmaster: Sam About Me: Urban Pop Culture Enthusiast From: London, United Kingdom Site Since: February 2007 Current Version: 5.1 Email:sam@thatgrapejuice.net Additional:
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The lead single from Toni Braxton's Atlantic Records debut ('Pulse'), premiered today. Produced by DJ Frank E, 'Yesterday' is an epic ballad, which effectively manages to stay true to Toni's appeal (i.e. a vocalist rather than one trying to compete with the R&B chicks of today), while also encapsulating enough contemporary R&B/Pop elements to make this chartable in this day and age. I can't say this is rocking my world, but a solid effort nonetheless. It will be interesting to see what Ms. Braxton serves up with the rest of her new album, which is set to hit stores February 2010.
We reported a few months back that R&B songstress Toni Braxton had signed a new deal with Atlantic Records and was set to drop her first single 'Get Loose' toward the end of the year. Indeed with just a few days to go before the year is out, the song has surfaced. Produced by Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins, the uptempo song unsurprisingly has a very Darkchild 2008 sound. By that I mean it has elements similar to cuts such Brandy's 'Right Here (Departed)' and Beyonce's 'Scared of Lonely'.
As I type and listen to the song over again, I'm still on the fence about this one. It's decent enough on first listen, however in terms of a 'comeback' single and chart prospects, just doesn't really cut it for me. A grower? Perhaps. A miss? Perhaps. {Thanks Devonte!}
With Ciara still hard at work on her 3rd studio LP 'Fantasy Ride', a new cut titled 'Explode' from the album has surfaced. Earlier this week we posted the 22 year old's performance of the song at the Wild Jam concert - this is the studio version. Check it out below:
I'm really liking this one; the seductive production and delivery are very in the veign of 'Promise' (which IMO still stands as Ciara's defining track). That said, of the new material I've heard from her thus far, very little has stuck out as single worthy - this included. Here's hoping she comes out with bang when it's time for the album's official lead single drops (unsurprisingly, her team are now referring to 'Go Girl' as a 'buzz single'...could its poor performance on the chart have anything to do with it? Pretty self-explanatory LOL).
As previously reported, Toni Braxton is set to make her return to the charts in the coming months with a new label - Atlantic - and partnership with hit-maker Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins. A new song 'Melt (Like An Iceberg)' has surfaced as is believed to be from the recording sessions for her as yet untitled new album. You can listen to it below:
Real chill and laid-back, which though sufficient for some, isn't really cutting it IMO. For Toni to make her mark in the current industry climate, without compromising her sound, I'd be looking for her to channel the sound/vibe she was working with on 00's hits such as 'He Wasn't Man Enough', 'Spanish Guitar' etc. Either way, I'll definitely be paying close attention to Toni's new material.
As reported late last month, Grammy award winning star Toni Braxton enlisted super producer Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins for the lead single from her forthcoming Atlantic Records debut. It has now been confirmed in the latest issue of Jet Magazine that the title of the track is 'Get Loose'. The song is expected to impact radio very soon.
Apart from her 'More Than A Woman' LP, Toni has been really consistent with her releases this decade ('Libra' is the business!). So I'm most certainly looking forward to this.
Randomness: Being a bit presumptuous, the track sounds like it'll be an uptempo, which is interesting as Toni has stressed in recent times that she would be ditching the Pop/current R&B for her 'classic R&B' sound. I guess time will tell. I'm up for more Toni, whatever the case.
As Toni Braxton continues to shine on the current season of Dancing With The Stars, the mother of two has shed light on her forthcoming Atlantic Records debut.
The set which is due in stores at the top of 2009, will be preceded by a single which Braxton confirmed will be hitting airwaves next month. Most interestingly, the cut is produced by none other than Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins.
It's great to see Toni looking ahead of Dancing With The Stars; keeping the momentum going with her new project. Definitely looking forward to this one. {Source}
According to our friend Jawn Murray, over at AOL BV Buzz, R&B songstress Toni Braxton has signed a new record deal with Atlantic Records - the recording home of T.I. Check out the report below:
The R&B diva, currently competing on the ABC reality series 'Dancing with the Stars,' quietly inked a deal with the label recently and has been selecting music to begin recording her CD for Atlantic while competing on the show.
I'm told the label plans to have Braxton's first offering for the company ready for early 2009.
The 40-year-old singer was last signed to Blackground Records, where she released her fifth album 'Libra' in September 2005.
Braxton, who had released four albums over a 12-year stint on LaFace Records, then filed suit against Blackground's founder Barry Hankerson, who was also Braxton's manager, after her CD failed to perform.
It's great to see Toni getting back to what she does best - the music. As one of those who really enjoyed her last LP 'Libra', it disappointed me how mismanaged that whole episode was. Here's hoping the future's bright for one of music's most distinguished voices.
According to Billboard, Toni Braxton has scrapped all her scheduled 'Revealed' Las Vegas shows for this month, following her hospitalisation for an undisclosed illness:
The Flamingo Las Vegas says Braxton's show will remain dark this week while the 40-year-old Grammy winner has more medical tests following her April 7 hospitalization for chest pain. Braxton was released the following day, but last week's shows were canceled.
Flamingo President Don Marrandino said her Tuesday-through-Saturday shows are also off, and Braxton will take advantage of a previously scheduled two-week break.
She is due to resume her show at the Flamingo Showroom on May 6. The Flamingo is offering refunds for the canceled shows.
The exact cause of Braxton's chest pain hasn't been made public. She has been treated in the past for pericarditis, a viral inflammation of the heart.
Braxton is in the midst of a two-year run at the Flamingo.
Here's hoping she has a quick recovery. Selfish as it may sound, I'm wanting her to prove that she still has what it takes; I'm still kinda salty about the poor performance of her last LP - 2005's 'Libra', which stands as one of my best R&B albums in a long while.
Following her departure from Blackground Records earlier this year, R&B star Toni Braxton has been hard at work on her sixth studio album. Though currently untitled, the album is set for release early 2008. Most interestingly, the LP is slated to drop via J Records - reportedly Braxton's new label. If true, it'll be a homecoming of sorts for the 'Unbreak My Heart' singer, whose most successful years were when signed to Arista (now J Records). Bryan Michael Cox, Johnta Austin and Monica have all been tapped to work on the project. {Source}
Having really enjoyed Toni's last album 'Libra', it's great news to hear that she's making new music. The 'label did me wrong' excuse is cited so often with artists these days, yet when you have a stellar album such as 'Libra' flopping, something had to be up. Here's hoping she is successful with this new project.
Toni performed a medley of her classic hit Your Making Me High (remix) and Take This Ring from her most recent album, Libra. Her performance wasn't saying too much. It's not that it was bad, but it just wasn't anything special.
Flamingo Las Vegas headliner Toni Braxton helped make this an extra special Valentine’s Day for one local Las Vegas couple. During her famous love song “Unbreak My Heart,” Toni welcomed Jeff Merkle on stage where he surprised his girlfriend Monica Dyer by dropping to one knee and proposing to her in front of the sold-out crowd. She happily accepted and the couple received a standing ovation from the audience and slow danced on stage as Toni continued the ballad. Toni will be performing during the NBA All-Star game tomorrow on TNT.
Nice story. I hear about stuff like this all the time and the woman always says 'Yes'. Imagine if the answer was a 'No'; now that would have been awkward.
Grammy Award winning songstress Toni Braxton has settled her lawsuit against Barry Hankerson - her former manager and label head (of Blackground Records). Under the terms of the settlement, Toni no longer has any ties to the label or Hankerson and is free to pursue a new deal with another label. In the lawsuit - filed in January 07- Braxton alleged that Hankerson lured her away from Arista Records in 2003 by telling her that they no longer wanted her, yet telling them that she didn't want to record for them anymore. Braxton also claims Hankerson mismanaged her first and only album for the label - Libra (which tanked upon release in 2005).
Hankerson tried to keep Braxton at Blackground by paying her an advance for a second album in December last year. Braxton returned the money and filed her suit.
Good for her! See she's handling her own. Wonder what label she'll sign with this time?
