Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland to Michael and Evelyn Braxton. The youngest of the Braxton's six children, Tamar started singing as a toddler. Evelyn, herself an opera singer, recognized her children's talents when one day, Tamar, sang "Can you please get me some toilet paper!" Evelyn quickly started training her girls, and eventually enrolled them in singing lessons. The Braxton children also would eventually enter in their church choir, where Michael Braxton was pastor.
Brought up in a strict Christian household, secular music was initially frowned upon, causing the children to sneak and sing along to Soul Train when the parents were out of the house. They would soon start harmonizing, forming a girl group. Tamar says of this period "I was always the highest note." Her voice was in sharp contrast to her older sister's husky contralto. One day, A Toni was pumping gas at a local gas station while singing along, when she caught the attention of a producer. He heard her sing and was amazed, and decided to pull the five sisters into a group; he envisioned a female version of the Jackson 5. They released a single on Atlantic Records in 1990 as "The Braxtons," and caught the attention of producers Antonio "L.A" Reid and Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds. The two had just started a then fledgling record label, LaFace, with Arista Records. The guys passed on the group, as they had just signed a new trio named TLC, but they were looking for a solo female artist and loved Toni's voice. So the girls talked it over, and Toni decided to embark on her now famous solo career.
The sisters worked as backup singers for Toni (you can see them in Toni's video Seven Whole Days). Eventually, the girls (minus Toni) would release an album for Atlantic, to which the group was still signed, in 1996 entitled So Many Ways.
In 1999, Tamar first explored her gospel side on T.D Jakes Love Songs album. Later, Tamar would meet up with Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, a rapper/producer (also famous for bringing Blu Cantrell to national attention) based in Atlanta, Georgia. She recorded her solo debut album, Ridiculous, so named because of the many different musical styles on the album. The album would be retooled and released by Dreamworks as Tamar on January 18, 2000. It was lead in by the first single for the album, "Get None" with guest appearances by Jermaine Dupri and rapper Amil and featured the second single, If You Don't Wanna Love Me. The singles failed to gain significant radio & video airplay and ultimately the album didn't sell well, and Tamar was dropped from her contract,it is also worth noting that tamar proved that she could do the whistle register on money can't buy you love on tamar's deut album.
Tamar sang for the Kingdom Come soundtrack, with Toni Braxton appearing in the movie as Juanita Slocumb. Currently she sang background for Toni's album More Than A Woman (released 2002),and 2005 album Libra and resides in Atlanta. She also negotiated a new contract with Tommy Mottola's Casablanca Records, and is working to record a new album. She also sang backup in her sister Toni's famous headlining show in Las Vegas entitled, "Toni Braxton: Revealed" but has been replaced by singer Sparkle. She is currently working on a new album and her own record company with fiance, producer Vincent Herbert.
No Disrespect
Tamar Braxton Lyrics
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Ay yo, see I'm your next girl
Not your ex-girl boo, uh
Don't get it twisted
Don't never disrespect me
[Tamar](Missy)
Oh, oh, yeah, yeah
Don't, don't you ever compare me
To none of those hoes you used to mess with
(Say what?)
Cause those are some low down dirty tricks
And now you be working with some new shit
I'll be the mother of your baby
If you bring me down I can handle it (Uh-huh)
Cause I'm not like those other ladies (Uh)
None of them hoes you be fucking with
[Chorus]
[Tamar]
I'm not your hoe
I'm not your freak
I'm not your trick
But I'm naturally beautiful
High quality
I'm tired of you disrespecting me
[Chorus]
[Tamar](Missy)
(One-two)
Don't, don't you ever dare treat me
Like them chickens you be playing with (Uh-huh)
Cause I am more than a lady
And those the type of chicks who be dirty shit
They look at you lying and persuading
You play innocent believe it (Uh-huh)
Cause I'm not like those other ladies (Say, say what?)
None of the chicks you be fucking with (Uh)
[Chorus](2x)
[Missy]
There will be no disrespecting me, me
There will be no disrespecting me, me
[Chorus] (4x)
[Missy]
I'm not your hoe
I'm not your freak
I'm not your trick
But I'm naturally beautiful
High quality
I'm tired of you disrespecting me
Repeat [Missy]
[Missy]
Uh, one-two-three
Triple zero, alright, uh
Uh I'm not your
In this song, Tamar Braxton and Missy Elliott are expressing their frustration towards men who have disrespected them in relationships. The song begins with Missy asserting herself as the next girl and not the ex-girl, warning her partner to never disrespect her. Tamar then joins in, telling her partner not to compare her to any of the previous women he has been with, calling them low down and dirty tricks. She assures him that she is different and can handle anything he throws her way. The chorus reiterates that Tamar is not a hoe, freak, or trick but is naturally beautiful and high quality, and demands that she be respected.
Tamar's character exudes confidence and self-worth throughout the song. She refuses to be compared to or treated like any of the other women and demands the respect she deserves. The lyrics seem to criticize men who have treated women poorly, using language that emphasizes the importance of respect and calling out the misogyny and objectification often present in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Ay yo, see I'm your next girl
I want to be your new lover, not just someone you compare to your past partners
Not your ex-girl boo, uh
Don't think of me as your ex-girlfriend, I am someone new and different
Don't get it twisted
Don't get the wrong idea about me or our relationship
Don't never disrespect me
Never treat me with anything less than respect and dignity
Don't, don't you ever compare me
I am not like the other women you have been with, so don't compare me to them
To none of those hoes you used to mess with
Don't compare me to any of your past girlfriends who were promiscuous or disloyal
Cause those are some low down dirty tricks
The things those women did were unethical and immoral
And now you be working with some new shit
You have something new and promising with me
I'll be the mother of your baby
I am willing to have a child with you
If you bring me down I can handle it (Uh-huh)
Even if you hurt me emotionally, I am strong enough to get through it
Cause I'm not like those other ladies (Uh)
I am different from other women you have encountered
None of them hoes you be fucking with
I am not like the promiscuous women you sleep with
I'm not your hoe
I am not a prostitute
I'm not your freak
I am not someone who is abnormal or deviant in bed
I'm not your trick
I am not someone you use for sexual gratification
But I'm naturally beautiful
I am naturally attractive and do not need to conform to society's standards of beauty
High quality
I am a person of high value and deserve to be treated with respect
I'm tired of you disrespecting me
I am exhausted from you treating me with disrespect and disdain
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLAPIETRO, DINKINS, ELLIOTT, PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind