shorttrini said:

Graycap23 said:

It seems like as sonn as Face started getting the label as a genius..................his career tailed off.

I think his problem started, as soon as people like the Neptunes and other producers, like them came on the scene. It kinda made him get out of what he was used to doing, in order to keep up with what these, "young cats", were doing. Once he started thinking in that way, it caused him to change his sound, and that was all she wrote...smh

I don't think that had much to do with it. It was time for something different. As much as

I like Face let's be real all of his shit was starting to sound the same particularly his

production work. I liked how he stepped out of the box on Toni Braxton's sophomore

album with You're Making Me High and Come Over Here as opposed to the same type ballad over aand over. On Face's Face To Face album although there was a guest spot by Pharrell and Snoop Dogg, Face didn't stray too much from his formula. Like with all artists their time

come and goes. No one stays on top forever not even the legendary Jam and Lewis.

[Edited 8/14/13 14:37pm]

phunkdaddy said:

shorttrini said:

Graycap23 said: I think his problem started, as soon as people like the Neptunes and other producers, like them came on the scene. It kinda made him get out of what he was used to doing, in order to keep up with what these, "young cats", were doing. Once he started thinking in that way, it caused him to change his sound, and that was all she wrote...smh

I don't think that had much to do with it. It was time for something different. As much as

I like Face let's be real all of his shit was starting to sound the same particularly his

production work. I liked how he stepped out of the box on Toni Braxton's sophomore

album with You're Making Me High and Come Over Here as opposed to the same type ballad over aand over. On Face's Face To Face album although there was a guest spot by Pharrell and Snoop Dogg, Face didn't stray too much from his formula.Like with all artists their time

come and goes. No one stays on top forever not even the legendary Jam and Lewis.

Yeah,his time was up.Producers have a successful run and their "sound" is the hottest sound around,but then somebody else comes along and becomes the new 'hot sho't on the scene.In the 80s,there was a time when Prince's "Minneapolis Sound" was the hottest sound around,but then that was soon replaced by other sounds like hip-hop,New Jack swing,etc.Like you said,nobody stays on top forever.

The last hit Babyface wrote and produced was Beyonce's "Best Thing I Never Had" in 2011. He's also one of the principal producers of Ariana Grande's debut album, so maybe a comeback is looming.

As far as what made Babyface fall off, I think it was when he worked with Eric Clapton on "Change the World" in the mid 90s. That experience seemed to change to the whole sound of his music, and much of what he produced after that became too guitar-driven and hokey sounding. Prior to that, his music had been very smooth, sleek and "bigger" sounding. Meanwhile David Foster's big sounding ballad productions eclipsed his.

Not sure how I'm feeling about this album of duets. I very much support Toni working with Face again as her songwriter/producer, but duet albums are cheesy and boring IMO. Never been a fan of male/female duos; they come off like coffee commercials. I'm not here for the two of them pulling some "Rene and Angela" type nonsense that no one is going to check for. And I'm iffy about it being released on the dead ass Motown label. That dinosaur needs to be shot for once and for all.

[Edited 8/14/13 23:37pm]

ADC said:

The last hit Babyface wrote and produced was Beyonce's "Best Thing I Never Had" in 2011. He's also one of the principal producers of Ariana Grande's debut album, so maybe a comeback is looming.

As far as what made Babyface fall off, I think it was when he worked with Eric Clapton on "Change the World" in the mid 90s. That experience seemed to change to the whole sound of his music, and much of what he produced after that became too guitar-driven and hokey sounding. Prior to that, his music had been very smooth, sleek and "bigger" sounding. Meanwhile David Foster's big sounding ballad productions eclipsed his.

Not sure how I'm feeling about this album of duets. I very much support Toni working with Face again as her songwriter/producer, but duet albums are cheesy and boring IMO. Never been a fan of male/female duos; they come off like coffee commercials. I'm not here for the two of them pulling some "Rene and Angela" type nonsense that no one is going to check for. And I'm iffy about it being released on the dead ass Motown label. That dinosaur needs to be shot for once and for all.

[Edited 8/14/13 23:37pm]

I TOTALLY forgot about that song!

Never mind. Someone already mentioned Beyonce's "Best Thing I Never Had." That one went to #4 R&B and #16 on the Top 100.

[Edited 8/15/13 13:23pm]

ADC said:

He's also one of the principal producers of Ariana Grande's debut album, so maybe a comeback is looming.

That's absolutely right. And I downloaded "Baby I" but I don't know if it is the hit that "The Way (feat. Mac Miller)" was.

"The Best Thing I Never Had" was created by several writers and producers, I wouldn't classify it as a "Babyface hit" because of that, most of his hits were his own compositions and productions.

I agree that his time is past, he couldn't last forever as a hitmaker, BUT many of his songs are still sounding fresh, like Madonna's "Take A Bow" or the aforementioned "You're Makin' Me High". Too bad he couldn't give a better song to Janet than the somewhat dull "Thinking 'Bout My Ex"...

I hope the best for them both. I feel it will do great.

LiveToTell86 said:

"The Best Thing I Never Had" was created by several writers and producers, I wouldn't classify it as a "Babyface hit" because of that, most of his hits were his own compositions and productions.

Of course, the majority of Babyface's hits were co-written and/or co-produced with L.A. Reid (and, to a lesser extent, Kayo and DeRock).

AlexdeParis said:

LiveToTell86 said:

"The Best Thing I Never Had" was created by several writers and producers, I wouldn't classify it as a "Babyface hit" because of that, most of his hits were his own compositions and productions.

Of course, the majority of Babyface's hits were co-written and/or co-produced with L.A. Reid (and, to a lesser extent, Kayo and DeRock).

Yeah I know that, but when I think about Babyface's prime, I think of the mid-90s when he was no longer with L.A. Reid.

That was a quick retirement from the music industry, or whatever it was that she was doing.

Good that she's back with Face.

The wait is over, folks: Toni confirmed via Twitter today that "Hurt You" comes out Mon, 19 Aug.

[Edited 8/16/13 15:39pm]

Good news. I heard she tore it up in Brooklyn last week.

Graycap23 said:

When was the last time Face wrote a hit?

2011. Beyonce's Best Thing I Never Had. he's been doing a lot of newcomers lately like Ravaughn and that Ariana Grande girl.

LiveToTell86 said:

AlexdeParis said:

Of course, the majority of Babyface's hits were co-written and/or co-produced with L.A. Reid (and, to a lesser extent, Kayo and DeRock).

Yeah I know that, but when I think about Babyface's prime, I think of the mid-90s when he was no longer with L.A. Reid.

Gotcha, although I'd consider his prime from about '89-'96.

Toni posted this promo image of herself & Face on Instagram.

Can we please include The Deele in his prime?

Cinny said:

Can we please include The Deele in his prime?

With the exception of "Sweet November" (which I thought was better done by Troop in '92), I'm gonna vote no.

In all seriousness though, I'd say Face was still "on the rise" during The Deele era.

AlexdeParis said:

Cinny said:

Can we please include The Deele in his prime?

With the exception of "Sweet November" (which I thought was better done by Troop in '92), I'm gonna vote no.

In all seriousness though, I'd say Face was still "on the rise" during The Deele era.

Can't still be on the rise at 29 years old, sheit!

Babyface was the best producer that Toni ever worked with.Her music went downhill when she started working with others.

SoulAlive said:

Babyface was the best producer that Toni ever worked with.Her music went downhill when she started working with others.

I think it is because they sing very similarly.. so when he writes a song, it fits her too.

NFSW

G3000 said:

NFSW

OK, who else spent the whole first half of that video thinking the dress was supposed to be like that? Just me?

That being said, my girl is still looking good!

Cinny said:

SoulAlive said:

Babyface was the best producer that Toni ever worked with.Her music went downhill when she started working with others.

I think it is because they sing very similarly.. so when he writes a song, it fits her too.

I think she mentioned at some point tha some oft the songs from her debut were originally for Anita Baker to record. As much as I like Anita, I love what Toni did with them.

HMD82 said:

I almost can't imagine Anita singing "Love Shoulda Brought You Home." It's too 'sultry' for her, or at least the way Toni sang it was.

ADC said:

I almost can't imagine Anita singing "Love Shoulda Brought You Home." It's too 'sultry' for her, or at least the way Toni sang it was.

I can. Anita can sing "sultry". "Been So Long", is a great example of that...

Woo! Toni came in the game stealing Anita's songs AND short haircut!