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 Wanna Be
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
The lyrics of Toni Braxton’s “I Wanna Be” are a declaration of love and commitment from the singer to her partner. She acknowledges that she is taking a risk by putting her heart on the line, but she is willing to do so because she wants to be with him. There is a sense of urgency in the lyrics, as if she is running out of time and has to confess her love now before it’s too late. She wants to be his partner in every sense of the word – his baby, his soldier, and the end of his day. She is ready to take the leap, win or lose, and hopes that he feels the same way.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, as it lays out the singer’s desires in no uncertain terms. She wants to be his baby and his soldier, implying that she wants to be both the protector and protected in the relationship. She wants to be the end of his day, the person he comes home to for support and comfort. The repeated use of the word “forever” emphasizes the depth of her commitment and her desire to be by his side for the long haul.
Overall, “I Wanna Be” is a passionate and heartfelt expression of love that is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever been in love. It captures the excitement and uncertainty of a new relationship, as well as the depth of feelings that can develop over time. Braxton’s powerful vocals and the catchy melody only serve to enhance the emotion of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna put it out there
I am going to be honest and open about how I feel.
Lay it on the line
I am going to be straightforward and direct.
And even if it breaks my heart
I am willing to take the risk, even if it means getting hurt.
I'm giving it a try
I am giving this my all and seeing where it takes us.
Not waiting for tomorrow
I am not going to put it off any longer.
Confessing it today
I am telling you how I feel right now.
So, baby, here it goes
This is me being vulnerable and putting myself out there.
I'm out of time
I can't wait any longer to tell you how I feel.
It's do or die
This is my chance to make things happen between us or risk losing it all.
I wanna be your baby
I want to be the person you love and take care of.
Won't you be my man?
I am asking you to be my partner and share your life with me.
I wanna be your soldier
I want to be there for you when you need me most and support you through anything.
When you're too weak to stand
I will be there to lift you up and give you strength when you need it.
Be the end of your day
I want to be the one you come home to and share your life with.
Forever in your life
I want to be a permanent part of your life and share everything with you.
Forever by your side
I want to always be there with you, no matter what happens.
Forever I'll stand
I will always support you and be there for you, for the rest of my life.
I'm hanging on a thread
My feelings for you are fragile and could be easily broken.
I don't care if I fall
Even if things don't work out, I am willing to take the risk.
But I ain't gonna fall even though
I am determined to make this work and not give up.
I don't know if you feel me at all (feel me at all)
I am unsure if you share my feelings or not.
I'm ready to be right or wrong with you
I am willing to take the risk of being wrong in order to be with you.
Ready for my heart to win or lose
I am ready for anything that might happen to my heart in the process of loving you.
I'm ready to give all I've got to you
I am willing to give my all to you, emotionally and spiritually.
Boy, I want you to know
I want to make sure you understand how much I care for you and want to be with you.
So I am saying I love you
I am declaring my love for you, openly and honestly.
Ain't holdin' nothing back
I am not hiding anything from you and am completely sincere in my feelings.
And I'm saying I want you
I am telling you that I want to be with you more than anything.
I want you to call my name
I want to be the one you turn to and call out for when you need me.
And I wait on you forever
I am willing to wait for you for as long as it takes, because I love you that much.
And I promise that
I am making a promise to you that I will always be there for you, no matter what.
'Cause I love you
My love for you is deep and eternal.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TONI BRAXTON, ANTONIO DIXON, KENNETH EDMONDS, KAMERON TRAVISS GLASPER, TYNES RIDDICK, LEON THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind