Toni Braxton may not have reached the top of the Billboard 200 but the soulful singer found her pulse atop the R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart this week. “Pulse,” Braxton’s anticipated label debut on Atlantic, made a stunning #1 entry atop Billboard’s “Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums” chart Wednesday. “Pulse” is highlighted by the hit singles, “Hands Tied” and “Make My Heart.” “Hands Tied” is currently a top 10 smash at Urban AC radio outlets nationwide. According to Atlantic, “Pulse” is Braxton’s most powerful and personal musical statement to date. The legendary singer personally chose to collaborate with a veritable who’s-who of producers and songwriters, including Frank E (Madonna, T.I., Plies, Flo Rida), Steve Mac (Leona Lewis, Il Divo), Lucas Secon (Britney Spears, The Pussycat Dolls), Harvey Mason & Oak (Chris Brown, Joe, Mario), Troy Taylor (Trey Songz, Kevin Lyttle), Dapo Torimiro (John Legend, David Archuletta, Brandy), and David Foster (Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion). “Pulse” has quickly drawn acclaim from all corners. USA Today awarded the album three-out-of-four stars, declaring that it “updates (Braxton’s) sound without losing its essence.” Atlanta’s Creative Loafing notes that “It wouldn’t be Braxton without a collection of big breathy ballads, a desire fulfilled here in spades.” The Washington Post celebrated the album’s “scorching dance songs, soft-focused up-tempo ballads and ‘Un-Break My Heart’-style tear-jerkers.”
Toni Braxton has been an unstoppable force in the music industry for decades, and her latest album proves she’s still got it. With “Spell My Name,” Braxton scored her first No. 1 debut on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart since 2000 — 20 years ago! It’s a huge accomplishment that shows why Braxton is one of the best-selling female artists of all time.
Braxton is no stranger to success, having sold over 67 million records worldwide throughout her career. She released seven studio albums between 1993 and 2014, with three of them going multi-platinum. Her iconic hits include ‘Un-Break My Heart’, ‘You’re Makin’ Me High’, and ‘He Wasn’t Man Enough’. In 2020, after six years away from releasing new music, Braxton returned with Spell My Name — her eighth studio album.
The 14 tracks are full of emotion and vulnerability as they explore themes such as love, heartbreak, identity and self-empowerment — showing us why Toni Braxton is still at the top of her game. This article will explore how this long awaited album finally reached its rightful spot atop the charts.
Singer’s Career History
Toni Braxton’s career has been a long and winding road of ups and downs. From her start as part of the family group The Braxtons in 1989 to becoming an international R&B superstar, she continues to make waves with her music today.
Braxton first went solo in 1993 when she released her self-titled debut album. It spawned four hit singles, including “Another Sad Love Song,” which earned her two Grammy Awards and marked the beginning of a successful run for Braxton on both the pop and R&B charts. Her follow-up albums, Secrets (1996) and The Heat (2000), also did well commercially, achieving multi-platinum status.
However, after 2001’s More Than A Woman failed to meet expectations, Braxton struggled financially—even filing for bankruptcy twice—and temporarily retired from recording until 2014 when she returned with her seventh studio album Love & War. Now back on top again, Braxton recently made history by earning her sixth No.1 R&B Album with Spell My Name; making it one of only nine female artists ever to do so since Billboard began tracking music sales over 60 years ago.
Latest Album Accolades
Braxton’s latest album has been an undeniable success, earning her a plethora of accolades. The lead single “Do It” topped the R&B charts and received critical acclaim from music critics all over the world. Spell My Name also features collaborations with high-profile artists like Missy Elliott and H.E.R., adding to its star power and commercial appeal.
The album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 2020 Grammy Awards, marking Braxton’s 11th nomination in total—the most ever for any female solo artist in that category—and proving once again she is still one of the top contenders in contemporary R&B music today. Her strength as a vocalist remains unparalleled; delivering powerful performances on tracks such as “Gotta Move On” and “Dance,” while showcasing a more vulnerable side on ballads like “Fallin’ Again.”
Spell My Name is truly a testament to Braxton’s vast talent and immense legacy within the industry. It marks yet another milestone in her career, solidifying her place among some of music’s greatest icons.
Conclusion
I. Summary of Singer’s Career
Toni Braxton has been a staple in the music industry for decades, with her career beginning back in the early 1990s. She is known as one of the most successful female R&B artists to date and has had numerous hit singles throughout her illustrious career.
II. Latest Album Accolades
Her latest album, “Pulse,” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, making it her first solo album since 2005 to top that list. In addition, Braxton was also honored with two Grammy awards this year for Best R&B Performance and Best Traditional R&B Performance, both from Pulse.
III. Conclusion
It’s clear that Toni Braxton is still an incredibly talented artist who continues to have success no matter what era she finds herself in. With over 25 million albums sold worldwide, countless chart-topping hits and several awards under her belt, there’s no denying that she will continue to be a force in the music industry for years to come. I’m excited to see what new projects she’ll bring out next!
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