He Wasn't Man Enough
"He Wasn't Man Enough" | ||||
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Single by Toni Braxton | ||||
from the album The Heat | ||||
Released | February 29, 2000 (2000-02-29) | |||
Recorded | January–February 2000 | |||
Studio | Larrabee North (Universal City, California) | |||
Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 4:21 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins | |||
Toni Braxton singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"He Wasn't Man Enough" on YouTube | ||||
"He Wasn't Man Enough" is a song by American singer Toni Braxton. It was written by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, and Harvey Mason, Jr. for her third studio album, The Heat (2000), while production was helmed by the former. "He Wasn't Man Enough" is an uptempo R&B song that differs from Braxton's previous ballads. The song was released by LaFace Records on February 29, 2000, as the lead single from the album.
The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, many of whom praised it as one of Braxton's best works.[1] "He Wasn't Man Enough" had international success and became one of Braxton's signature songs, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, where the single stood for several weeks, and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for four weeks. As of 2024, this song is her last solo top 10 appearance on the Billboard Hot 100. An accompanying music video was released for the single. The song earned Braxton her fourth Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and was nominated for Best R&B Song in 2001. In 2022, Nigerian singer Burna Boy sampled the song's instrumental introduction for his hit song "Last Last".[2]
Background and composition
"He Wasn't Man Enough" was released as the lead single from Toni Braxton's third studio album, The Heat. The song was written by Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, and Harvey Mason, Jr., while it was produced by Jerkins. The song was recorded in the United States during the production of Braxton's third studio album, between January and February 2000.[3][4] During its production, L.A. Reid said "It's very strong, and very personal to her".[5]
All instruments on "He Wasn't Man Enough" are played by Jerkins and the background vocals are sung by Braxton, Nora Payne, Sharlotte Gibson, and Jerkins.[6] The song was recorded in a key signature of E minor. Popmatters praised Braxton, saying "the track seems to be an attempt to make some headway within the lucrative urban R&B market."[7]
The song earned Braxton her sixth Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2001.[8] According to Billboard.com, this song is her last Top 10 appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 to date.
Critical reception
"He Wasn't Man Enough" was widely acclaimed by contemporary music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic highlighted the track along with "Gimme Some" as having a "skimmering beat".[1] David Browne from Entertainment Weekly gave it a positive review, certificating it with a B rating. He said "From producer Rodney Jerkins' cushiony pulse to its premise (one woman warning another about her ex-beau), the amenable single "He Wasn't Man Enough" sounds mightily familiar. But it's still no "Scrubs", largely thanks to Braxton's husky, mumbly delivery."[9] NME gave it a positive review, saying that for the track, "Braxton can probably claim the best set of tonsils in soul-pop".[10]
Chart performance
"He Wasn't Man Enough" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of May 6, 2000, becoming Braxton's sixth and last top-10 single. It was blocked from the top spot by "Maria Maria" by Santana featuring the Product G&B. The song spent 37 weeks on the chart. The song also peaked at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for four weeks. The song debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart on its issue date of April 29, 2000. The song debuted at number six on the Australian Singles Chart and peaked at number five in that country. The song debuted at number 36 on the New Zealand Singles Chart and later rose to number five after seven weeks on the charts. The song received platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ), selling over 15,000 copies there.[11] The song debuted at number 99 on the French Singles Chart before falling out, then re-entering at number 74 on the charts and eventually peaked at number fifteen, becoming the biggest jump of the issue date of July 1, 2000. The song debuted at number 21 on the Single Top 100, peaked at number five and stayed on the charts for seventeen weeks.[12]
Music video
The music video, directed by Bille Woodruff from February 25–26, 2000,[13] begins with Braxton as an animated superhero who unzips her shirt to ward off villains. Next, she is shown dancing in a red cylinder-like hallway. The shot turns to a club where her ex (portrayed by Braxton's former husband Keri Lewis of R&B group Mint Condition) and his current wife (portrayed by Robin Givens) walk in. Givens looks Braxton up and down and flashes her wedding ring at her. Braxton scoffs as she knows of his infidelity.
The video flashes between Braxton dancing in the hallway and the club scene. At one point, the two women are in the club's bathroom, and Braxton informs the new wife why she dumped her husband. They set up an act, wherein Braxton goes into a private room with him and gets him to drop his pants; all the while he is on camera, and everyone at the club, including his current wife, is watching. At the end, Givens busts in and throws the ring at him, and the two women give each other a high five.
The video also features cameo appearances by Rodney Chester and Braxton's sister Tamar. Originally cast to play the husband, actor Michael Jai White ended up dropping out before the video shoot because Givens allegedly took issue with White resembling her former husband Mike Tyson, whom White played in the HBO film Tyson five years earlier.[13][14] He would appear in the video for Braxton's "Hands Tied" a decade later.
Track listings
US CD and cassette single[15][16]
US and Japanese DVD single[17][18]
European CD single[19]
| UK and Australian CD single[20][21]
UK cassette single[22]
|
Credits and personnel
Credits are lifted from The Heat album booklet.[6]
Studios
- Recorded at Larrabee North (Universal City, California)
- Mixed at Enterprise Studios (North Hollywood, California)
- Mastered at Powers House of Sound (New York City)
Personnel
- Rodney Jerkins – writing, background vocals, all instruments, production, arrangement, mixing
- Fred Jerkins III – writing, arrangement
- LaShawn Daniels – writing, vocal production, arrangement
- Harvey Mason, Jr. – writing, recording, Pro Tools
- Toni Braxton – vocals, background vocals
- Nora Payne – background vocals
- Sharlotte Gibson – background vocals
- Steve Baughman – recording assistant
- Dexter Simmons – mixing
- Tyson Leeper – mixing assistant
- Roger Lopez – mixing assistant
- Herb Powers – mastering
Charts
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[73] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Belgium (BEA)[74] | Gold | 25,000* |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[75] | Platinum | 10,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI)[76] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[78] | Gold | 600,000[77] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref(s). |
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United States | February 29, 2000 | [79][80] | ||
April 4, 2000 | Contemporary hit radio | [81] | ||
Sweden | April 10, 2000 | CD |
| [82] |
United Kingdom | April 17, 2000 |
| [83] | |
Japan | April 24, 2000 | CD | [84] |
References
- ^ a b Thomas, Stephen (April 25, 2000). "The Heat - Toni Braxton". AllMusic. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
- ^ Zemler, Emily (May 13, 2022). "Burna Boy Samples Toni Braxton on New Single 'Last Last'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
- ^ Sinclair, Tom (January 14, 2000). "'Heat' Seeker". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ Seymour, Craig (January 5, 2000). "Nasty Girl". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ Sinclair, Tom (January 24, 2000). "The latest on Toni Braxton's new album". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ a b The Heat (US CD album booklet). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records, Arista Records. 2000. 73008-26069-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Ross, Colin. "Toni Braxton: The Heat < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
- ^ Taylor, Chuck (October 19, 2002). "Braxton is back with 'More'". Billboard. p. 9. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ "Music Review: He Wasn't Man Enough, by Toni Braxton". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013.
- ^ "NME Track Reviews - He Wasn't Man Enough". Nme.Com. April 1, 2000. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
- ^ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Rianz.org.nz. Archived from the original on April 22, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
- ^ "Toni Braxton - He Wasn't Man Enough". Dutch Charts. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ a b Fink, Mitchell; Rubin, Lauren (February 29, 2000). "Actor Has Too Familiar A Ring For Robin Givens". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2011.
- ^ Farber, Jim (April 23, 2000). "SOFT AND SEXY Toni Braxton has a new album, a new video and a 'cute' new man. How sad is that?". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
- ^ He Wasn't Man Enough (US CD single liner notes). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records, Arista Records. 2000. 73008-24463-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ He Wasn't Man Enough (US cassette single sleeve). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records, Arista Records. 2000. 73008-24463-4.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ He Wasn't Man Enough (US DVD single liner notes). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records, Arista Records. 2000. 73008-24518-9.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ He Wasn't Man Enough (Japanese DVD single liner notes). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG. 2000. BVDA-21011.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ He Wasn't Man Enough (European CD single liner notes). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG. 2000. 74321 75146 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ He Wasn't Man Enough (UK CD single liner notes). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG. 2000. 74321 75785 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ He Wasn't Man Enough (Australian CD single liner notes). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG. 2000. 74321 75145 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ He Wasn't Man Enough (UK cassette single sleeve). Toni Braxton. LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG. 2000. 74321 75785 4.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7225." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7230." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
- ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 7191." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
- ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
- ^ "HR Top 20 Lista". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on May 10, 2000. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- ^ "Hits Of The World". Billboard. May 13, 2000. p. 123. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
- ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. June 3, 2000. p. 71. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
- ^ "Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Toni Braxton – He Wasn't Man Enough" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (18.–25.5 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). May 19, 2000. p. 12. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – He Wasn't Man Enough". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
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- ^ "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on May 12, 2007.
- ^ a b "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 2000" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
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- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
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- ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
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- ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
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- ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 5, 2001. p. 10. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2000". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
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- ^ "Best Sellers of 2000: Singles Top 100". Music Week. January 20, 2001. p. 25.
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- ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on January 26, 2003. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
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- ^ "Best-Selling Records of 2000". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 6. BPI Communications Inc. February 10, 2001. p. 64. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
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- Ultimate Toni Braxton
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- Playlist: The Very Best of Toni Braxton
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