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.
Just Be Man About It
Toni Braxton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let me stop up here and use this pay phone real quick"
"Hey, hey Toni, it's me
I was just calling, you know, just calling to let you know
Don't wait up for me tonight
I mean, I just got a lot of things on my mind I gotta think about, you know
Just um, I'll be over Brian's house
You know, just for the night
But you know, it's not you, it's me, you know? It's really me, you know?
And basically, I just think I'ma need some space"
Why you calling me on the phone?
Why you not at home on time?
You say you're staying over at your friends
'Cause you got a lot on your mind
Now you're swearing up and down that it ain't me
Still, you say that things have changed
So, tell me, what exactly does it mean
When you say you need your space?
Just don't make no excuses(why you gotta lie to me?), no, no
(Just be a man about it)
Baby, you don't gotta lie to me, no
(Just be a man about it)
If you wanna leave (I can tell you wanna leave), go on now
(Just be a man about it)
Come and grab your things (so, come and get your things and leave) and go on
Right now (just be a man about it) wuh, yeah-ey, yeah-ey, yeah-ey
"I mean, you gotta understand, I love you
You know what I'm saying? And
I love you enough to say that
I think, I think you deserve somebody better than me, you know? And
Right now, I can't give you what you need, you know? I mean
I wanna love you and I'm gonna love you one day, but you know
I mean, you just gotta understand where I'm coming from"
You say right now that you're not what I'm looking for
And what you really need is time to grow
You're promising that one day you may come around
And I'm supposed to let that go
But where the hell do you get off
Tellin' me your mama said, I'm not what you need?
Tell you what, since she knows it all
Then that's where you need to be
Just don't make no excuses (why you gotta lie to me?), no, no
(Just be a man about it)
Baby, you don't gotta lie to me (you don't gotta lie to me), no, no, no, no
(Just be a man about it)
If you wanna leave (I can tell you wanna leave) go right now
(Just be a man about it)
Come and get your things (so, come and get your things and leave) and go, baby
(Just be a man about it) huh yeah, hey, ooh
Can you tell me how you can say you're in love and then treat me so bad?
Boy, you know it just ain't right
I cannot believe the way you handled things
You wouldn't to lie, if you were a man (why you gotta lie to me?)
(Just be a man about it)
Just be a man about it (you don't gotta lie to me), baby yeah
(Just be a man about it)
You ain't gotta lie to me (I can tell you wanna leave), no, no, baby
(Just be a man about it) If you wanna go, grab your things and leave now
(So, come and get your things and leave) don't wanna say, don't wanna be no more lyin'
(Just be a man about it)
If you wann go, oh, (why you gotta lie to me?) leave but just be a man about it
You ain't gotta (you don't gotta lie to me) be here, so leave me alone, babe
(Just be a man about it)
Baby, just be a man, ey (I can tell you wanna leave) wuh
(Just be a man about it)
(So, come and get your things and leave)
The lyrics to Toni Braxton's song, 'Just Be a Man About It,' delve into a common scenario of a man trying to justify his desire for some space in a relationship. The song begins with the man calling Toni and informing her that he won't be coming home as he needs some time to think. He tries to make it clear that it's not her; it's him. He explains that he's got a lot on his mind, and he needs to go to a friend's place for the night. Toni's response questions why he needs to lie to her, asking why he's not at home on time. Despite his insistence that things have changed, Toni seems not to buy it.
The chorus of the song is a plea for the man to be honest, mature, and upfront about the reasons why he wants to leave. There's a hint of anger and disappointment in Toni's voice, implying that she's had enough of the lies and excuses. The lyrics point out the hypocrisy of the man's justification, especially with the line, 'You say right now that you're not what I'm looking for, and what you really need is time to grow.' Toni calls him out on his mother's supposed role in the decision to leave, stating that if she knows it all, then that's where he needs to be.
In summary, just as the title suggests, the song is a call for honesty and directness in a relationship. It showcases Toni's willingness to confront the problem head-on and her frustration at being lied to.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, hey, hold up a minute
Let me stop up here and use this pay phone real quick
The singer is making a phone call from a pay phone and wants to pause the conversation for a moment.
Hey, hey Toni, it's me
I was just calling, you know, just calling to let you know
Don't wait up for me tonight
I mean, I just got a lot of things on my mind I gotta think about, you know
Just um, I'll be over Brian's house
You know, just for the night
I mean, I mean I know things are different
But you know, it's not you, it's me, you know? It's really me, you know?
And basically, I just think I'ma need some space
The singer is Toni's partner and he is calling to let her know he won't be coming home. He claims he needs space to think and that it's not her, but him.
Why you calling me on the phone?
Why you not at home on time?
You say you're staying over at your friends
'Cause you got a lot on your mind
Now you're swearing up and down that it ain't me
Still, you say that things have changed
So, tell me, what exactly does it mean
When you say you need your space?
Toni is questioning her partner about why he is calling from a phone booth and why he is not home. He explains that he is staying at a friend's place because he needs space to think, but Toni wants to know more about what has happened to cause this.
Just don't make no excuses(why you gotta lie to me?), no, no
(Just be a man about it)
Baby, you don't gotta lie to me, no
(Just be a man about it)
If you wanna leave (I can tell you wanna leave), go on now
(Just be a man about it)
Come and grab your things (so, come and get your things and leave) and go on
Right now (just be a man about it) wuh, yeah-ey, yeah-ey, yeah-ey
Toni is tired of her partner's excuses and wants him to be honest with her. She says that he doesn't have to lie and that he should just leave if he wants to. She tells him to take his things and go immediately.
You say right now that you're not what I'm looking for
And what you really need is time to grow
You're promising that one day you may come around
And I'm supposed to let that go
But where the hell do you get off
Tellin' me your mama said, I'm not what you need?
Tell you what, since she knows it all
Then that's where you need to be
Toni's partner is telling her that he is not what she needs right now and that he needs time to grow. He promises that he will come back to her someday, but Toni is frustrated and doesn't want to hear it. She is angry that he mentioned what his mother said and tells him that he should go live with her instead.
Can you tell me how you can say you're in love and then treat me so bad?
Boy, you know it just ain't right
I cannot believe the way you handled things
You wouldn't to lie, if you were a man (why you gotta lie to me?)
Toni is confused about how her partner can claim to love her but treat her poorly. She tells him that his actions are not right and that she cannot believe the way he is handling things. She says that a real man wouldn't lie.
Just don't make no excuses (why you gotta lie to me?), no, no
(Just be a man about it)
Baby, you don't gotta lie to me (you don't gotta lie to me), no, no, no, no
(Just be a man about it)
If you wanna leave (I can tell you wanna leave) go right now
(Just be a man about it)
Come and get your things (so, come and get your things and leave) and go, baby
(Just be a man about it) huh yeah, hey, ooh
Toni's message repeats, telling her partner to stop making excuses and be honest with her. She tells him that he doesn't have to lie and that he can leave right now if he wants to. She encourages him to come and get his things and go.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Word Collections Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Toni Braxton, John Austin, Ted Bishop, Brian Cox
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@drew23tv30
Who ever playing this song i hope you find a real one
@MuniHungree
Me too 😔😔
@lashondawatson8173
I hope so!!😍
@LBaker805
🙄right!
@pocahontas697hunter9
They gone need to find me cause i aint looking. Amen
@keenthiswoods9004
Man me to
@washuafuniwaho216
We are still here in 2024,trust me you!rnb forever
@Noncedo_D
Still here loving the song just be a man about it
@letitiacooper98
@@Noncedo_DI be 45 in March and still love this song and Toni B❤❤❤❤
@Princess89112
I'm still single it hurts but I don't want to be cheated on again