2000 single by Toni Braxton
"Just Be a Man About It" |
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![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/28/Toni_Braxton_-_Just_Be_a_Man_About_It.png/220px-Toni_Braxton_-_Just_Be_a_Man_About_It.png) |
Single by Toni Braxton |
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from the album The Heat |
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Released | June 20, 2000 (2000-06-20) |
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Recorded | 1999 |
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Studio | Noontime (Atlanta, Georgia) |
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Genre | R&B |
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Length | 4:50 |
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Label | |
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Songwriter(s) | |
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Producer(s) | Teddy Bishop |
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Toni Braxton singles chronology |
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"Just Be a Man About It" is a song by American singer Toni Braxton from her third studio album, The Heat (2000). It was released on June 20, 2000, as the album's second single.
Background
"Just Be a Man About It" is a telephone breakup song, where Braxton questions the status of a partner's manhood and Dr. Dre plays the wayward lover breaking the news to her.[1] According to producer Teddy Bishop, Martin Lawrence and Will Smith were originally considered to perform the speaking parts of the song. However, due to scheduling conflicts, it never happened. Dr. Dre was asked to appear on the song due to being in the studio next door while the song was being recorded.[2]
Critical reception
The song received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic called it "an instant classic" and picked it one of the best songs of the album, alongside "He Wasn't Man Enough" and "Spanish Guitar".[1] CD Universe wrote that "[e]ven 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."[3] Bog Roget wrote for Amazon that Braxton "delivers a tough take on reality with 'Just Be a Man About It,' which pits her against Dr. Dre in a breakup scenario that carries much more force than weightless trifles".[4]
Music video
The music video for "Just Be a Man About It", directed by Bille Woodruff, opens with Braxton's boyfriend (played by rapper Dr. Dre, who also provides additional vocals to the track) leaving a Hawthorne, California, strip club named Bare Elegance, accompanied by a woman. He stops at a payphone to call up Braxton, who is in their apartment. She looks happy at first, but as he tells her not to wait up for him that night alleging he needs space, her facial expression suddenly changes. The following scenes show Braxton wandering about the apartment, talking on the phone, standing next to the balcony, lying on a couch, and throwing objects such as vases and a picture frame containing a photo of Dre. At one point, Dre hangs up on Braxton, which infuriates her. Toward the end of the video, a man (Q-Tip) shows up to visit Braxton; they hug each other and proceed to cuddle on the couch, much to Dre's annoyance by the time he arrives home. When Dre questions Braxton about the man, she remains indifferent, causing him to give her the finger and leave.
Track listing
- "Just Be a Man About It" (music video)
- "Spanish Guitar" (music video)
Charts
Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Just Be a Man About It" Chart (2000) | Peak position | Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[6] | 34 | US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 32 | US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8] | 6 | US Rhythmic (Billboard)[9] | 36 | | Year-end charts 2000 year-end chart performance for "Just Be a Man About It" Chart (2000) | Position | US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[10] | 24 | 2001 year-end chart performance for "Just Be a Man About It" Chart (2001) | Position | Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[11] | 180 | |
Release history
Release dates and formats for "Just Be a Man About It" Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
United States | June 20, 2000 | Urban adult contemporary radio | | [12] |
November 21, 2000 | DVD single | [5] |
France | February 27, 2001 | BMG | [13] |
References
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Heat – Toni Braxton". AllMusic. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
- ^ "Interview: Radio Constantly Changes But Teddy Bishop's Ability To Diversify Allows The Quality Of His Music To Stay The Same". YouKnowIGotSoul.com. February 20, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
- ^ "Toni Braxton - Heat CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
- ^ Roget, Bob. "The Heat: Toni Braxton". Amazon (US). Retrieved February 15, 2012.
- ^ a b "Toni Braxton – Just Be a Man About It/Spanish Guitar (DVD Single)". Amazon (US). Retrieved April 26, 2018.
- ^ "Singles : Top 50". Jam!. April 14, 2001. Archived from the original on April 13, 2001. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
- ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
- ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2000". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
- ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2001". Jam!. January 8, 2002. Archived from the original on July 26, 2002. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- ^ "Urban AC: Going For Adds (6/20/00)" (PDF). Radio & Records. June 16, 2000. p. 109. ISSN 0277-4860. Retrieved April 26, 2018 – via American Radio History.
- ^ "Toni Braxton – Just Be a Man About It : Spanish Guitar & interview exclusive [DVD Single]". Amazon (France) (in French). Retrieved April 26, 2018.
Studio albums | |
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Compilation albums | - Ultimate Toni Braxton
- Platinum & Gold Collection
- Artist Collection: Toni Braxton
- Un-Break My Heart: The Remix Collection
- Breathe Again: Toni Braxton at Her Best
- The Essential Toni Braxton
- The Best So Far
- Playlist: The Very Best of Toni Braxton
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Video albums | |
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Tours | |
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Related articles | |
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Category |
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Toni Braxton | |
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Secrets | |
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The Heat | |
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Snowflakes | |
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More Than a Woman | |
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Libra | - "Please"
- "Trippin' (That's the Way Love Works)"
- "Take This Ring"
- "Suddenly"
- "The Time of Our Lives"
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Pulse | |
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Love, Marriage & Divorce | - "Hurt You"
- "Where Did We Go Wrong"
- "Roller Coaster"
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Sex & Cigarettes | - "Deadwood"
- "Long as I Live"
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Spell My Name | - "Do It"
- "Dance"
- "Gotta Move On"
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Featured songs | |
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Other songs | |
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