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There are several music projects we'd like to put Social Steppers on to. Take a look. If you would like to showcase your music on SOCIALSTEP.COM, contact us.
TONI BRAXTON
"This time around, we're going to give people something different, something
that's not familiar. Sometimes, artists can get confined by what they've
done in the past. I'm ready to show other sides of what I can do musically."
Multi-award winning global hitmaker Toni Braxton is talking about her fifth
album MORE THAN A WOMAN, which finds her working with some of today's
hottest music producers including The Neptunes and Rodney Jerkins among
others. "This record is more 'in your face' than my previous albums," she
explains. "My first love has always been R&B and I've been into hip-hop
since it first started. On each of my albums, I've done things to introduce
people to other aspects of what I'm about musically. It's so funny - when
people hear I'm working with The Neptunes, they're like 'I wonder what that
will sound like?' because they think of songs like "Breathe Again" and
"Unbreak My Heart." The truth is, I'm just being a part of my own
generation.and we grew up with rap and hip-hop as well as R&B!" "Hit The
Freeway," the infectious hard-driving Neptunes-produced first single is
already shaping up to be one of Toni's biggest hits. She recalls, "When I
first heard the track, I knew it was hot. I tailored the verses to work for
me and the final record combines our two approaches to the song."
Other producers involved with MORE THAN A WOMAN include Kenneth 'Babyface'
Edmonds and Toni's husband Keri Lewis, who co-executive produced the album
with her and Arista President and CEO Antonio "LA" Reid.
MORE THAN A WOMAN reflects Toni's love and passion for her work although she
admits that being a mother - to son Denim, born in December 2001 - and wife
of producer/songwriter Keri Lewis (formerly of the group Mint Condition)
have created new priorities for her: "Having a child has totally changed my
life. Recording isn't the same anymore," says Toni, who is expecting her
second baby in 2003. "Keri and I were working on songs at home for the new
album and there were a few occasions when I was holding Denim and singing at
the same time! And we resurrected that old tradition of recording in the
bathroom because the acoustics are so good in there!"
Now that she has a family, Toni's future plans include further growth as an
actress and entertainer. Music is still the central theme as Toni embarks
on the second decade of her illustrious career with the release of MORE THAN
A WOMAN. "I had total freedom to go where I wanted to go musically on this
album. LA Reid has always let me express myself creatively." And while she
continues to reinvent herself with her music, Toni Braxton can proudly look
back at ten years of solid success: "It's been a fabulous career but I've
still got so much more to do, so many possibilities to pursue."
"TONI BRAXTON" released 1993, spawning the classics
- "Another Sad Love Song" (gold, No. 2 R&B, No. 7 pop)
- 'Breathe Again' (gold, No 4 R&B, No. 3 pop)
- "Seven Whole Days" achieved No. 1 status based on airplay; while two other
singles,
"You Mean the World To Me" (gold) & "I Belong To You" were also Top 10 R&B
hits
- Grammy Awards in 1993 for "Best New Artist" and Best R&B Vocal
Performance, Female" for "Another Sad Love Song."
- Three American Music Awards and two Soul Train Music Awards in 1994
- Grammy Award in 1994 won her the "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female"
award for Breathe Again
"SECRETS" released spring 1995 sold over 13 million world wide produced the
following singles:
- "You're Makin' Me High," ( No. 1 pop and R&B hit )
- I Don't Want To (gold)
- 1995 Grammy winner ("Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female") for "You're
Makin' Me High"
- Grammy Award (for "Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female") for"Un-Break My
Heart"
- Billboard Award (for "Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female") for "Un-Break
My Heart"
- Billboard Award as "Adult Contemporary Single of the Year."
"THE HEAT" released in 1998 gave us the hits:
- "He Wasn't Man Enough" (gold hit)
- 2000 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance" for "He Wasn't
Man Enough"
- "The Heat" won two American Music Awards.
"SNOWFLAKES", released October 2000
Get Toni's New Album, "More Than A Woman" at your local
Keith Sweat
- Five consecutive #1 R&B albums.
- Seven #1 R&B Singles
- Four top five pop singles.
- Fifteen top ten R&B singles.
- All seven previously released albums have debuted in the top 5.
Keith Sweat has done more than just stand the test of time. No other contemporary R&B singer has reigned with such consistency, delivering in searing, soul-drenching tones, an aural history of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of the urban male.
 On August 13, 2002, it is time for "REBIRTH", the new release from Keith Sweat.
Keith says the title is no accident. "I wanted to rekindle some of the passion I had when I made my first record on this one," he says. "Fans come up to me every day and tell me how much Make It Last Forever meant to them. I want this to be a symbolic rebirth for them and me."
From now until August 31, 2002, you have the opportunity to submit a question directly to Keith Sweat. He will answer five questions (selected by Elektra Records) via e-mail. The five people whose questions were selected will receive a special Keith Sweat package which will include an autographed copy of Keith's newest CD release, Rebirth and an autographed photo/poster from Keith. E-mail your question to KeithSweat@RTEntertainment.com
SOCIALSTEP has teamed up with pointD.com, the point of music distribution, to feature new artists.
Read about them, link to pointD.com to hear samples.
And if you really like what you hear, you can even purchase the CD right there. Here's the first pointD.com artist
La Familia - Hip Hop Artist
Name: La Familia
CD: "Family Oriented"
Label: La Famila Records, Inc.
Genre: Hip Hop
Price: $9.99
Family Oriented" is the debut album of Cincinnati-based La Familia,
released by La Familia Records. "Family Oriented" introduces you to
a way of life that's familiar and has a compelling sound that'll get
into your head. Only at pointD.com.
The CD is "Family Oriented" by La Familia
"Family Oriented" by La Familia at pointD.com
Second 2 Last - Spoken Word
In the beginning the word was spoken by the African elders. They spoke of
life, society and family tradition. Today, the oral tradition is being
redefined by the New York group Second 2 Last. Their words flow faster than a
samurai warrior on a starry night, carrying the truth like a badge of courage
for anyone that wants to see the light.
In the tradition of Malcolm X, The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron, the words
of Second 2 Last are giving a voice to a generation that has yet to be heard.
Their debut album entitled Say Word, has 17 tracks that drop the real
knowledge on such subjects as "My Black Woman Poem," "2 ½ Minutes," "What if
life lasted one second and you blinked? What if life lasted one second/ and
you took that first breath/and got caught up in the moment/What if life
lasted one second/ would death have meaning?"
"Chronicles," "I never wanted to be heard/ just listened to once in a
while/we keep it simple/seems so simple people give it new meaning/like
freedom trains without wheels." "Mix Up," White men looking for black
girls/and black men looking for everything else/It's in to be mixed or all
mixed up." "Sweet In Da Morning," It's all about that special woman in the
morning, but you know she's only a metaphor of life. These are the
penetrating words spoken by Second 2 Last.
Their words float on African drumbeats of truth don't be afraid but always
beware. Look out for the word prophets of Second 2 Last: John E. Lashley,
Aisha Bell, Brian A. Polite and Akhigbade Francis. They come bearing the
fruits of reality! Get your education and Say " Word " on pointD.com!
The CD is " Say Word" by Second 2 Last
Take a listen to some of the tracks featured on Second 2 Last at pointD.com
The CD is for sale as well as the following MP3 tracks:
(4) Mix up
(7) Sign Scented
(14) 2 1/2 Minutes
all at pointD.com
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