The Heat (Toni Braxton album)
Released April 25, 2000
Recorded 1999–2000
Genre
R&Bpopdance-pop
Length 48:35
Label LaFace
Producer
Babyface (also alb.)Teddy BishopToni Braxton (also alb.)Bryan-Michael CoxKeith CrouchLaShawn “Big Shiz” DanielsDavid FosterKevin HicksJazze PhaRodney “Darkchild” JerkinsKeriDaryl Simmons
The Heat is the third studio album by American singer Toni Braxton. It was released on April 25, 2000, by LaFace Records. The album marked Braxton’s departure from her ballads in favor of a more urban sound. Most of the songs (including the nearly instrumental “The Art of Love”) were written and produced by Braxton and her husband Keri Lewis (a former member of Mint Condition); two ballads were penned by Diane Warren, and collaborations featured rappers Dr. Dre and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes.
The Heat opened at number two on the Billboard 200 with 199,000 copies sold in its first week. It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on October 13, 2000, with sales of over 2.2 million copies in the United States. Additionally, the album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 2001 Grammy Awards, while lead single “He Wasn’t Man Enough” won for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and was nominated for Best R&B Song.
After the success of her second studio album, Secrets (1996), which spawned Braxton’s signature song and biggest commercial success of her career, “Un-Break My Heart”, and sold over 15 million copies worldwide, Braxton filed a suit to be released from her contract with Arista and LaFace records in Los Angeles Superior Court, citing a law that states employers may not enforce labor or service after seven years. After a year of legal issues, Braxton settled her lawsuit with LaFace Records, with plans to release a new album in May 1999.
In February 1999, Babyface told MTV News, “We’re getting ready head back in the studio with Toni and we’ve got everything worked out, and we’re really excited about getting back into the studio, getting back to the music.” However, only in January 2000, during an interview with CNN.com, Toni revealed that the album was going to be released in March 2000, while stating, “Some of the producers on the album are, of course Babyface, R. Kelly, David Foster, Keith Crouch and Keri Lewis of Mint Condition, just to name a few,” while also revealing collaborations with Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes from TLC and Dr. Dre.
The Heat debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 199,000 copies in its first week. It debuted at number one on the magazine’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, while the album’s lead single, “He Wasn’t Man Enough”, held onto the top spot on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for the second week in a row. Later, the album fell to number 7, selling 101,000 copies. In its third week, the album fell out to number nine. The Heat was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and as of April 2011, it had sold 2,093,000 copies in the US, according to Nielsen Soundscan.
The album topped the Canadian Albums Chart, while it reached number three on the UK Albums Chart, staying 19 weeks on the latter. The album also reached the top ten in many countries, such as Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. As of 2002, the album had sold over four million copies worldwide.
Track listing
1. “He Wasn’t Man Enough”
Rodney JerkinsFred Jerkins IIILaShawn DanielsHarvey Mason, Jr.
Rodney “Darkchild” JerkinsLaShawn “Big Shiz” Daniels[a]
4:21
2. “The Heat”
Keri LewisToni Braxton
LewisBraxton
3:30
3. “Spanish Guitar” Diane Warren David Foster 4:47
4. “Just Be a Man About It”
BraxtonJohntá AustinTeddy BishopBryan-Michael Cox
BishopBraxton[b]Cox[b]
4:50
5. “Gimme Some” (featuring Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes)
Jazze PhaBraxtonBabyfaceLopes
BabyfaceJazze Pha
4:03
6. “I’m Still Breathing” Warren Foster 4:15
7. “Fairy Tale”
Marc HarrisTommy SimsBabyface
Babyface 4:22
8. “The Art of Love”
BraxtonLewis
LewisBraxton
3:47
9. “Speaking in Tongues” Braxton
LewisBraxton
3:46
10. “Maybe”
BraxtonKeith CrouchJohn SmithMechallie JamisonSamuel Gause
CrouchBraxton[b]
3:08
11. “You’ve Been Wrong”
BraxtonBrian CaseyBrandon CaseyBishopKevin HicksThom BellLinda Creed
BishopHicks[b]
3:45
12. “Never Just for a Ring”
Daryl SimmonsBraxtonPure Soul
Simmons 4:01
Total length: 48:35
Sample credits
“You’ve Been Wrong” contains re-sung elements from “Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)” written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed.
Personnel
Toni Braxton – vocals, producer, executive producer, co-producer, arranger, keyboards
Babyface – producer, executive producer
Teddy Bishop – producer, instrumentation, keyboards, programming
Trina Braxton – backing vocals
Bryan-Michael Cox – co-producer
Keith Crouch – producer, arranger
Dorian “Soul Dog” Daniels – keyboards, bass
LaShawn Daniels – vocal producer, vocal arrangement
Dr. Dre – additional vocals
Nathan East – bass
Ray Edwards – keyboards
David Foster – producer
Kevin Hicks – co-producer
Jazze Pha – producer
Fred Jerkins III – arranger
Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins – producer, arranger, instrumentation
Deborah Killings – backing vocals
Keri Lewis – producer, arranger
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes – rap
Harvey Mason, Jr. – engineer
Greg Phillinganes – piano
Herb Powers Jr. – mastering
L.A. Reid – executive producer
Daryl Simmons – producer
John Smith – guitar
Scott Storch – keyboards, programming
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