Hello! 😊👋
Welcome to a new edition of the Daily Music Picks newsletter!
Today’s music pick celebrates one of the standout R&B debuts of the 90s on its 30th anniversary.
Genre: R&B, Pop
Label: Arista
Release Date: July 13, 1993
Vibe: 💓
Along with TLC and Boyz II Men, Toni Braxton’s debut album helped establish LaFace Records, the imprint started by L.A. Reid and Babyface, as one of R&B’s pre-eminent hit factories in 1993. With a husky, earthy voice that drew comparisons to Anita Baker, Tracy Chapman, and even Whitney Houston, Braxton quickly carved out her niche in the pop music landscape, oozing sophistication and style on uptempo cuts like “I Belong to You” and ballads like “Breathe Again” and “You Mean the World to Me.” She never sounds like she’s overreaching emotionally or dialing up the theatrics for show. Instead, she lets each track’s atmosphere push her in the right direction, deftly navigating tonal twists and turns like a seasoned veteran.
This record is also a testament to Babyface’s prowess as a writer/producer. Hearing the deep, rich grooves guiding Braxton through tales of love and heartache, I was struck by how bulletproof it all sounded. These are sturdy instrumentals, built to keep the head nodding while you’re belting out one of his many earnest, insanely catchy hooks. He helped win Braxton 3 Grammy Awards for her debut, including Best New Artist in 1994. Combined with the singer’s 1996 follow-up, Secrets, the duo enjoyed widespread commercial as well, selling over 10 million in the United States alone.
They definitely don’t make them like this anymore …
👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈
Got thoughts on this album? Did you love it? Sound off in the comments.