Just Be a Man About It

"Just Be a Man About it"
Single by Toni Braxton
from the album The Heat
Released November 21, 2000 (U.S.)
February 6, 2001 (Canada)
Format DVD single
Recorded 1999
Genre R&B
Length 4:49
Label LaFace
Songwriter(s) Toni Braxton, Johntá Austin, Teddy Bishop, Bryan-Michael Cox
Producer(s) Teddy Bishop, Toni Braxton, Bryan-Michael Cox
Toni Braxton singles chronology
"He Wasn't Man Enough"
(2000)		 "Just Be a Man About it"
(2000)		 "Spanish Guitar"
(2000)

"He Wasn't Man Enough"
(2000)		 "Just Be a Man About It"
(2000)		 "Spanish Guitar"
(2000)
Dr. Dre singles chronology
"Hello"
(1999) Hello1999		 "Just Be a Man About It"
(2000) Just Be a Man About It2000		 "Fuck You"
(1999) Fuck You1999

"Just Be a Man About It" is the second single from Toni Braxton's third studio album, The Heat (2000). It was released as a DVD single in the United States on November 21, 2000 and in Canada on February 6, 2001.

Background

"Just Be a Man About It" is a telephone breakup song, with Toni once again questioning the status of a partner’s manhood and Dr. Dre playing 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 "Even Dr. Dre's guest appearance on the track nods to the sensual recitatives and bedside manners of 1970s love men like Barry White."[3] Bog Roget wrote for Amazon that "she also 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 single's music video, 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 then walk away.

Track listing

DVD single
  1. "Just Be A Man About It" featuring Dr. Dre
  2. "Spanish Guitar"
Promo CD single
  1. "Just Be A Man About It"
  2. "Just Be A Man About It (Instrumental)"

Charts

Chart (2000) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[1] 32
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks[1] 6
Chart (2001) Peak
position
Canadian Singles Chart[5] 35

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. The Heat review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  2. ↑ http://youknowigotsoul.com/interview-if-ya-smell-what-the-bishop-is-cooking-incomplete-like-sisqo
  3. ↑ "Toni Braxton - Heat CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  4. ↑ Roget, Bob. "Amazon.com: The Heat: Toni Braxton: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  5. ↑ "Chart Data: Toni Braxton". mariah-charts.com. Retrieved October 5, 2008.
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