Love and War (Tamar Braxton album)

Untitled

Love and War is the second studio album by American recording artist Tamar Braxton. The album was released on September 3, 2013, by Epic Records and Streamline Records. It is the first album by Braxton in 13 years. The album was a success, debuting at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart selling 114,000 copies. Even though plans for a re-release of the album with a full version of the song "She Did That" and a rap remix of "One on One Fun" in 2014 with additional songs were announced, the idea was eventually scrapped as Love and War was never re-published.

Background

By 2004, Tamar was signed to Tommy Mottola's reactivated Casablanca Records and began work on her second album. A "Grindin'"-influenced single, "I'm Leaving," was released with a guest appearance from Bump J. alongside promotional remixes featuring Sheek Louch, Styles P. and Ali Vegas. Tamar would release another single that same year; however, Casablanca's shifting business landscape interfered with the process of completing Tamar's album. She later left the label without a commercial release to show for her work. In 2008, Braxton married Vincent Herbert. The couple had been dating since 2003. Wedding photos of the couple emerged via several magazines and made their way via the television debut of Braxton Family Values.

In 2010, Braxton signed to Universal Records, where she released a single "The Heart In Me" in July of that year which was included on the Adidas 2: The Music compilation. Her momentum with Universal would not rise to a satisfactory level to launch a second album. In January 2010, WE tv confirmed that it had signed Braxton and her mother and sisters for a reality series, Braxton Family Values. The show debuted April 12, 2011. On December 15, 2011, it was confirmed that Braxton and her husband Vincent would star in their own reality series centered on her solo career and their married life. In November 2011, Braxton performed "Love Overboard" at the 2011 Soul Train Awards for Lifetime Achievement recipient Gladys Knight. In September 2012, news broke that Braxton had inked a fresh recording contract with Streamline Records, an imprint of Interscope Records founded by Vincent. Later that month, her television show Tamar & Vince premiered on WE tv. The first season features multiple scenes of Tamar recording her second album.

Tamar was the featured model for the "Front Row Couture" collection during the "ELLE/Style360" NYC Fashion Week event. Tamar was co-host on Tameka Cottle's late night talk show Tiny Tonight on VH1. Basketball Wives star Tami Roman became a co-host after Braxton. Later Braxton hosted, The Culturelist, a show on BET's sister channel Centric. Former Destiny's Child member LeToya Luckett became the host after her. Braxton announced she was pregnant with her first child on March 13, 2013, during an interview on Good Morning America promoting the new season of Braxton Family Values. She gave birth to a son, Logan Vincent Herbert, on June 6, 2013.

Release

In March 2013, it was revealed that Braxton had signed to Epic Records ahead of the release of her second album, Love and War. The album's lead single, the title track, was released on December 6, 2012. The song was a commercial success, spending 9 weeks at #1 on the Adult R&B Songs chart. Although the single reached number one on the US iTunes chart, it peaked at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 13 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Braxton released "The One" as the second single from Love and War on May 7, 2013; it peaked at number 34 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The third single, "All The Way Home," was released August 21, 2013; it peaked at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 37 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song was followed by the release of Love and War on September 3, 2013. The album was a commercial success in the United States, selling 114,000 copies in its opening week, and debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Outside the US, it debuted at number 34 on the UK R&B Albums Chart. The second season of Tamar & Vince premiered on September 5, 2013. The second season is centered on the preparation and birth of the couple's baby, and her launch of Love and War. Braxton's special Listen Up: Tamar Braxton premiered on Centric in September 2013. Braxton's first Christmas album, Winter Loversland, was released on November 11, 2013; it debuted at number 43 on the Billboard 200 with 8,000 copies sold in its first week. In December 2013, Braxton received three nominations for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards; Best Urban Contemporary Album for Love and War, and Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance for its title track. You

Singles

The album's title track "Love and War" was released on December 6, 2012 as the lead single from the album. On January 17, 2013, the music video was released for "Love and War". "Love and War" officially impacted US Rhythmic radio on March 26, 2013. On May 7, 2013, the second single "The One" was released. On May 30, 2013, the music video was released for "The One". " All The Way Home" was sent to Urban Mainstream radio on August 21, 2013 as the third single from the album. On October 17, 2013, a music video was released for "Hot Sugar". The music video for "All The Way Home" was released on December 4, 2013.

I feel like it was only a couple thousands between us, and really, honestly she has like 10 million followers, I have like 800.000 followers and that speaks volumes, my audience is not as big as Ariana's […] I feel like the attention that Love and War has gotten so far, was the right attention […] and no one is looking at the charts, after that my album outsold her for three weeks

Tamar Braxton talking to MalcolmMusic about the commercial performance of Love and War

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 114,000. The album almost made number one but was beaten by Ariana Grande's Yours Truly, which sold 138,000 in its first week. Love and War also debuted at number two in digital sales, selling 51,000 copies, being beaten by Yours Truly once again. However, the album sold well physically, selling 63,000 and debuted at number one in physical sales (Yours Truly only sold 30,000 physically and debuted at number seven). In its second week, the album sold 35,000 more copies. In its third week, the album sold 20,000 more copies. In its fourth week, the album sold 14,000 more copies bringing its total album sales to 183,000. The album helped Braxton set the female record for longest time between an initial chart listing and a first number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart during the SoundScan era (from December 1992 to 2013). The record was previously held by Angie Stone, who waited eight years and two weeks (from 1999 to 2007).

Critical response

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Artistdirect
AllMusic

Love and War was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Andy Kellman of AllMusic gave the album three out of five stars, saying "Indeed, Love and War plays out like it's designed to contend with the likes of Ciara, Rihanna, Trey Songz, and maybe even Keyshia Cole, rather than those who came up around the same time as Braxton. Slower, more atmospheric productions like 'Stay and Fight,' 'All the Way Home,' and 'Sound of Love' suit her the best and display her considerable skill -- by now, given some of the artists who have come and gone since 2000, she should have at least four albums in her past. The lighthearted numbers -- like the Keri Hilson castoff-level 'Tip Toe,' the mind-numbing 'Hot Sugar,' and the Mike Will knockoff strip-club track 'She Did That' -- are no match for the fully formed songs that seem rooted in Braxton's life experiences." Kathy Iandoli of Vibe gave the album a positive review, saying "Love And War is at times all over the place, but that's perfectly fine. The project is beautifully crazy—exactly what we've come to know and love from Tamar Braxton. It took a dose of reality TV to bring us to Tamar's musical reality. Now everyone is tuned in." Rick Florino of Artistdirect gave the album five out of five stars, saying "If there's one thing that you'll take away from Tamar Braxton's triumphant Love and War, it's that this girl can sing like few can. Like all classic R&B records, it's Tamar's marvelous voice that resounds the loudest throughout—and long after it's over. It's like she's been the music industry's best kept secret for all of these years, and she's finally getting the attention she deserves. It's definitely her time."

Track listing

Unless otherwise noted, Information is taken from Discogs.com.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"The One"	Tamar Braxton Christian "Yung Berg" Ward Shaunice Lasha Jones LaShawn Daniels James Mtume Sean Combs Jean-Claude Oliver Christopher Wallace Kevin Erondu	K.E. on the Track LaShawn Daniels Yung Berg	2:53
2.	"Tip Toe"	Braxton Daniels Marcos Palacios Ernest Clark Priscilla Renea Ericka J. Coulter	Da Internz	2:57
3.	"Stay and Fight"	Christopher Stewart Lindsay "Mavelle" Gilbert Sergio "Reverse" Van Gonter	Sergio "Reverse" Van Gonter C. "Tricky" Stewart Kuk Harrell[a] Tamar Braxton[a]	4:00
4.	"Love and War"	Braxton Darhyl Camper, Jr. Daniels Makeba Riddick	DJ Camper	4:02
5.	"All the Way Home"	Harvey Mason Jr. Damon Thomas Michael Daley Terrence Coles Amber "Sevyn" Streeter Steven "Lil Steve" Russell	The Underdogs Michael Daley[b]	4:22
6.	"One on One Fun"	Braxton Daniels Angela Hunte Thomas Wesley Pentz	Diplo Angela Hunte	1:56
7.	"She Did That"	Palacios Clark Daniels Riddick	Da Internz	1:17
8.	"Hot Sugar"	Braxton Kyle Stewart II Daniels Christopher “Chris” Brown Riddick	Kyle "K2" Stewart II	3:33
9.	"Pieces"	Bryan-Michael Paul Cox Kendrick A.J. Dean Streeter Anthony Franks Brandon Sewell Ashley Rose Collier Michael "M. Bass" Elemba Jasper Murray Delante Murphy Quentin Deberry	Bryan-Michael Cox Kendrick Dean Brandon "Tec Beatz" Sewell	3:39
10.	"Where It Hurts"	Braxton Cox Patrick "j.Que" Smith Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds Daniels	Cox Patrick "J. Que" Smith	3:45
11.	"Prettiest Girl"	Braxton Tiyon "TC" Mack Troy Oliver	Troy Oliver Tiyon "TC" Mack	4:10
12.	"Sound of Love"	Braxton Ricardo "Rico Beats" Lamarre Mack	Rico Beats	4:07
13.	"White Candle"	Braxton Mack Eric Mobley Ursula Yancy	Eric Mobley Mack[a]	4:16
14.	"Thank You Lord"	Tramaine Winfrey Mack	Young Fyre	3:20
Total length:				48:17

Best Buy bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"Black Tears"	Braxton Mack	D'Mile	4:09
Total length:				52:26

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies a vocal producer
• ^{^[b]} signifies a co-producer

Sampling credits

• "The One" contains a sample from "Juicy Fruit", written by James Mtume, as performed by Mtume as well as a portion of the composition "Juicy", written by Sean Combs, James Mtume, Jean Claude Oliver, and Christopher Wallace.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2013)	Peak position
UK R&B Albums Chart	34
US Billboard 200	2
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	1

Year-end charts

Chart (2013)	Position
US Billboard 200	110
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	25