She has won 7 Grammy Awards. The RIAA named Braxton as one of the top selling R&B artists of all time.
She first burst onto the scene in 1992 on the Boomerang soundtrack, after Anita Baker turned down the opportunity. In 1993 Toni released her self-titled debut album, which stayed at the top of the charts for a year and was a critically acclaimed album.
Toni released her sophomore effort, Secrets in 1996 which also did very well on both R&B and Pop charts. From that album Toni got two #1 hits; "You're Making Me High "and "Unbreak My Heart", which spent 14 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard top 100, and was a worldwide hit. After 5 Grammy awards and a little break, Toni Braxton came back strong with her 2000 album The Heat. Though not as successful as her first two albums, The Heat went on to sell 4 million copies and spawned the huge hits "He Wasn't Man Enough"and "Just Be A Man About It".
Toni has released two further albums, 2002's More Than a Woman and 2005's Libra. Toni's sixth studio album Pulse was released in May 2010 via Atlantic Records. The singles "Yesterday" and "Hands Tied" were the biggest hits. Subsequent singles to be released from "Pulse" include "Make My Heart" and "Woman."
In January 2011, the WE Television Network confirmed that it had signed Toni and the rest of the Braxton family for a reality series, Braxton Family Values, which will be marketed as one of the network's flagship shows. The series debuted April 12, 2011, and looks at the relationship between Toni, her mother, and her four sisters; Trina, Tamar, Traci and Towanda — all aspiring singers themselves — along with the interpersonal relationships of each family member. The show also looked at Braxton's heavily publicized separation from estranged husband, singer Keri Lewis. Toni parted ways with her long time manager Vincent Herbert (who was also the husband of sister Tamar Braxton at the time), and signed a new management deal with Los Angeles-based entertainment/production company 'The Collective'.
In 2014, Toni released a collaborative album with Babyface entitled Love, Marriage & Divorce; primarily inspired by their individual divorces (Toni with Keri, and Babyface with Tracey Edmonds). The album was supported by the singles "Hurt You", "Where Did We Go Wrong" and "Roller Coaster"; and won Best R&B Album in the 57th Annual Grammy Awards (2015).
Toni's long-awaited eighth album Sex & Cigarettes was released on Def Jam in March 2018, which was supported by the singles "Deadwood", "Long as I Live" and "FOH". The album also featured a sole guest appearance from singer Colbie Caillat, and was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Album in the 61st awards ceremony (2019).
Signing to Island Records in 2020, Toni released her ninth album Spell My Name in August 2020, featuring collaborations with H.E.R. & Missy Elliott. The album was released to positive reception, but was her lowest-charting album yet, peaking at #163 on the Billboard 200.
I'd Rather Be Broke
Toni Braxton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Been in this thing too long
I wanna be through
I'm sick and tired of you
And lately I've been thinking
Just because your money's strong
Don't mean you can do
Just so you know I did everything
In case you don't, let me tell you this
I'm tired of spending all my time
And waiting on your dime
And get lovin' half the time
I'd rather be broke than with you, you, you
I'd rather be broke than with you, you, you
Baby I've been thinking
How you've treated me so wrong
I put up with you
And that ain't gon' do
And baby I've been thinking
That I'm better off alone
It's long overdue
I won't be the fool
Just so you know I did everything
In case you don't, let me tell you this
I'm tired of spending all my time
And waiting on your dime
And get lovin' half the time
I'd rather be broke than with you, you, you
I'd rather be broke than with you, you, you
I gave you chances
Too many chances
But you went too far
You went and broke my heart
I gave you chances
Too many chances
But you went too far
You went and broke my heart
I'd rather be broke than with you, you, you
I'd rather be broke than with you, you, you
I'd rather be broke than with you, you, you
I'd rather be broke than with you, you, you
I gave you chances
Too many chances
But you went too far
You went and broke my heart
In this song, Toni Braxton has had enough of her partner's irresponsible behavior and decides to end things even if it means being broke. She sings about her realization that she deserves better and that her partner's money cannot make up for his mistreatment. She confesses that she has been putting up with him for too long, but now it's time to move on. Braxton emphasizes that she would rather struggle financially than be with someone who doesn't value her.
The first verse highlights the singer's discontentment with her partner's behavior. Braxton wants to put an end to their relationship since his mistreatment has gone too far. She points out that money does not entitle him to be disrespectful or unfaithful. In the second verse, she acknowledges that being alone may be better than being with someone who takes her for granted. She has had enough of being taken advantage of and is determined not to be a fool anymore.
In the chorus, Braxton exclaims that she would rather be broke than stay in an unhealthy relationship. She tells her partner that she's tired of waiting on him and getting less than she deserves. The singer is well aware that her partner is not worth her time, and being broke is better than getting half-love from her partner. In the bridge, she expresses her disappointment in her partner for breaking her heart despite giving him numerous chances to change.
Overall, the song is about self-respect and the courage to walk away from an unhealthy relationship. Braxton stands up for herself and shares a powerful message to anyone who may be in the same situation, that being alone can be better than being with someone who doesn't treat us right.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby I've been thinking
I've been reflecting on our relationship
Been in this thing too long
I've been with you for too long
I wanna be through
I want to break up with you
I'm sick and tired of you
I'm exhausted by you
And lately I've been thinking
Recently, I've been contemplating
Just because your money's strong
Your wealth doesn't give you the right to behave wrongly
Don't mean you can do
It doesn't justify your actions
I'm tired of spending all my time
I'm exhausted from investing so much time in us
And waiting on your dime
And waiting for you to pay for everything
And get lovin' half the time
And receiving your love only half the time
I'd rather be broke than with you, you, you
I'd rather have no money than be with you
Baby I've been thinking
I've been reconsidering my decision to stay with you
How you've treated me so wrong
Your treatment of me has been terrible
I put up with you
I've tolerated you for too long
And that ain't gon' do
That's not enough anymore
And baby I've been thinking
And I've also been reconsidering
That I'm better off alone
That I'm better off being by myself
It's long overdue
This change is way overdue
I won't be the fool
I refuse to keep playing the fool
I gave you chances
I gave you opportunities to make this work
Too many chances
But I gave you too many chances
But you went too far
But you took it too far
You went and broke my heart
You hurt me badly
I'd rather be broke than with you, you, you
Being broke is better than being with you
I'd rather be broke than with you, you, you
I'd rather be broke than with you, you, you
I'd rather be broke than with you, you, you
I gave you chances
I gave you opportunities to make this work
Too many chances
But I gave you too many chances
But you went too far
But you took it too far
You went and broke my heart
You hurt me badly
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TONI BRAXTON, ANTONIO DIXON, KENNETH EDMONDS, KAMERON TRAVISS GLASPER, TYNES RIDDICK, LEON THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
seraWoods
Toni Braxton can't be outdated! she perfectly fits in any era of music evolution. I love the maturity of her voice....wish I could sing like her. Love u Toni!!!
Dorah Sibandze
You are very right Sera
Afeez sodiya
You are right SeraWood , thats my evergreen Tony
Beth Berger
Money can't buy REAL LOVE! It's not worth it to be miserable!! This album is amazing.
Gwen Marie
Exactly!!! And i think people think that.smh
JenniferJJ
Toni's voice is pure gold.
Carol Harper
yes it is.
Stephanie Deaver
The whole album is the Bomb!!!! Love Love Love it!!!
LadyK
🔥
LadyK
Girl