Details
Track Listing
1. He Wasn't Man Enough
2. Heat, The
3. Spanish Guitar - (Spanish)
4. Just Be a Man About It - (featuring Dr. Dre)
5. Gimme Some
6. I'm Still Breathing
7. Fairy Tale
8. Art of Love, The
9. Speaking in Tongues
10. Maybe
11. You've Been Wrong
12. Never Just For a Ring
Album Notes
Personnel includes: Toni Braxton (vocals, keyboards); Dr. Dre, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes (vocals); Teddy Bishop (various instruments, keyboards, programming); Rodney Jerkins, Keri, Keith Crouch (various instruments); Babyface (acoustic & electric guitars, keyboards, vocoder, background vocals); Dean Parks, John Smith, Kevin Hicks, Michael Thompson (guitar); Greg Phillinganes (piano); Dorian "Soul Dog" Daniels (keyboards, bass); David Foster, Daryl Simmons, Ray Edwards (keyboards); Nathan East (bass); Jazze Pha, Chris Jennings, Felipe Elgueta, Simon Franklen, Tony Williams (programming); Sue Ann Carwell, Sheree Ford-Payne, Pamela Cook, Trina Braxton, Sara Martin, Deborah Killings (background vocals).
Producers include: Keri, Babyface, David Foster, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Keith Crouch.
Engineers: Paul Boutin, Keri, Harvey Mason, Jr.
"He Wasn't Man Enough" won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. The song was also nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. THE HEAT was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.
While THE HEAT has no shortage of attention-grabbing hooks, R&B songbird Toni Braxton doesn't go for any of the grand gestures that her stardom would allow. Instead, she plays it agreeably cool, downplaying the vocal pyrotechnics that are the downfall of so many lesser R&B singers. Even Dr. Dre's guest appearance on "Just Be a Man About It" nods to the sensual recitatives and bedside manners of '70s love men like Barry White.
The rapid-fire lyrics on "Maybe" are definitely informed by hip-hop vocal rhythms, but the track nevertheless retains a distinctly low-key feel. Meanwhile, the appropriately titled "Spanish Guitar" marks an interruption of the other songs' predominantly electronic textures while remaining consistent with the sensuous, romantic mood. Ultimately, THE HEAT is an album intended for the fireside rather than the dance floor, and as such, it finds Braxton acquitting herself admirably.
Industry Reviews
4 stars out of 5 - ...Excellent....unlikely to do anything but enhance her bankable reputation...
Q (07/01/2000)
3 stars out of 5 - ...Updates and diversifies her stylistic surroundings while delivering the expected boudoir soundtrack....[Her] supple alto rests easily within mainstream R&B's smoove sonic furniture...radiating sublimely sensual romance.'
Rolling Stone (06/08/2000)
...A powerful, welcome reminder....just how rich and eloquent a singer Braxton is...
Vibe (06/01/2000)
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