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Although barely out of her teens when her career began, Toni Braxton has always sounded far more mature than peers like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. Braxton admittedly has the luxury of higher-quality songs, but her honey-glazed voice also makes her sound older--and wiser--than the competition. She has managed a feat that has eluded most recent divas, save perhaps Madonna: simultaneous chart success and critical appeal. With just two albums under her belt, Braxton reigns as the current queen of pop/R&B.
Braxton was originally part of a family quintet (the Braxtons), who signed to Arista Records in 1990. However, 22-year-old Toni, oldest of the five, caught the eye of producers L.A. (Reid) and Babyface, who signed her to their LaFace label. She prepared her debut under their guidance, giving a sneak preview on "Give U My Heart," a duet with Babyface from the Boomerang soundtrack in 1992. The next year, the album Toni Braxton appeared, with an unusually consistent sound despite its seven producers, who all showcased Braxton's silky, restrained vocals to great effect. The mellow-grooving "Another Sad Love Song" reached No. 1 on the U.S. charts right out of the box, while lush ballads "Breathe Again" and "You Mean The World To Me" nearly repeated the trick (the former even racked up a Grammy in 1995).
The debut was successful enough to allow Braxton two years to assemble her sophomore effort, 1996's Secrets. A collaboration with Babyface and bedroom bopper R. Kelly, it boasted a funkier sound on cuts like "You're Makin' Me High," along with a clutch of ballads emphasizing Braxton's sexual side. That side has come more to the forefront since the album's release, as Braxton generated a surprising amount of controversy over her flimsy Grammy gown and a nearly-nude magazine cover. However, any negative effects are likely to be quickly swallowed by her poise and enormous commercial appeal.