Love and War (Tamar Braxton album)

Love and War is the second studio album by American singer Tamar Braxton. The album was released on September 3, 2013, by Epic Records and Streamline Records.[1] It is the first album by Braxton in 13 years.[2][3] 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.[4]

Love and War
Studio album by Tamar Braxton
Released	September 3, 2013
Recorded	2011–2013
Genre	R&B
Length	48:17
Label	Epic Streamline
Producer	Vincent Herbert (exec.) L.A. Reid (exec.) Angela Hunte C. "Tricky" Stewart Brandon Sewell Bryan-Michael Cox Da Internz Diplo D'Mile DJ Camper Eric Mobley Kuk Harrell Michael Daley Patrick "j.Que" Smith K.E. on the Track Kyle "K2" Stewart II Kendrick A.J. Dean Rico Beats SCMG Tamar Braxton Tiyon "TC" Mack Troy Oliver The Underdogs Young Fyre
Tamar Braxton chronology
Tamar (2000) Love and War (2013) Winter Loversland (2013)
Singles from Love and War
"Love and War" Released: December 6, 2012 "The One" Released: May 7, 2013 "All the Way Home" Released: August 21, 2013 "Hot Sugar" Released: October 17, 2013

Singles

The album's title track "Love and War" was released on December 6, 2012 as the lead single from the album.[5] 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.[6] On May 7, 2013, the second single "The One" was released.[7] On May 30, 2013, the music video was released for "The One".[8] " All The Way Home" was sent to Urban Mainstream radio on August 21, 2013 as the third single from the album.[9] On October 17, 2013, a music video was released for "Hot Sugar".[10] The music video for "All The Way Home" was released on December 4, 2013.[11]On November 29, 2018 five years after the album release, a music video for “Pieces” was released.

Commercial performance

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[12]

The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 114,000.[13] 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).[14] In its second week, the album sold 35,000 more copies.[15] In its third week, the album sold 20,000 more copies.[16] In its fourth week, the album sold 14,000 more copies bringing its total album sales to 183,000.[17] 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).[18]

Critical response

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Artistdirect	[19]
AllMusic	[20]

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."[20] 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."[21] 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."[19]

Track listing

Unless otherwise noted, Information is taken from Discogs.com.[22]

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[23]	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[24]

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[25] 34 US Billboard 200[26] 2 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[27] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2013) Position US Billboard 200[28] 110 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[29] 25 Chart (2014) Position US Billboard 200[30] 150 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[31] 28

References

1. "iTunes – Music – Love and War by Tamar Braxton". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-09-03. Retrieved 2015-09-06.
2. "Tracklisting: Tamar Braxton – 'Love and War'". Rap-Up.com. 2013-08-06. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
3. "Love & War: Music". Amazon.com. 2013-09-03. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
4. Ohanwe, Malcolm (February 14, 2016). "Tamar Braxton confirms album re-release, talks full "She Did That"". MalcolmMusic. YouTube. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
5. "7 digital – Music – Love and War – Single by Tamar Braxton". 7digital. 2012-12-06. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
6. "Video: Tamar Braxton – 'Love and War'". Rap-Up.com. 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
7. "iTunes – Music – The One – Single by Tamar Braxton". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-05-07. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
8. "Video: Tamar Braxton – 'The One'". Rap-Up.com. 2013-05-30. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
9. "Frequency News". Frequency News. 2013-08-21. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
10. "Video: Tamar Braxton – 'Hot Sugar'". Rap-Up.com. 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
11. "Videos: Tamar Braxton – 'All the Way Home' + 'She Can Have You'". Rap-Up.com. 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
12. Ohanwe, Malcolm (February 14, 2016). "Tamar Braxton talks about Ariana Grande, John Legend & Brandy". MalcolmMusic. YouTube. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
13. Caulfield, Keith (September 11, 2013). "Ariana Grande Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
14. "Ariana Grande Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
15. Tardio, Andres (2013-09-15). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 9/15/2013". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on 2013-09-20. Retrieved 2013-09-15.
16. Tardio, Andres (2013-09-25). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 9/22/2013". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2013-09-25.
17. Tardio, Andres (2013-10-02). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 9/30/2013". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
18. "Tamar Braxton Sets New Record On R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart With 'Love and War'". Billboard. 2000-04-08. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
19. "Tamar Braxton "Love and War" Album Review – 5 out of 5 stars @ARTISTdirect". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 2013-09-09.
20. Kellman, Andy. "Love and War – Tamar Braxton | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
21. Iandoli, Kathy (2013-09-05). "Review: Tamar Braxton's 'Love And War' LP Is Emotional And Amazing". Vibe. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
22. Braxton, Tamar. "Love and War (CD, Album)". Epic/Streamline Records. 2013. https://www.discogs.com/Tamar-Braxton-Love-And-War/release/4899136
23. Gebremariam, Mereb. "Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood Yung Berg Explain Tamar Braxton Beef Over 'The One' Single". MStars News. 30 January 2015. http://mstarsnews.musictimes.com/articles/51315/20150130/love-and-hip-hop-hollywood-yung-berg-explain-tamar-braxton-beef-the-one-single-video.htm
24. "Love and War Best Buy Exclusive Bonus Track – CD". Best Buy. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
25. "2013 Top 40 R&B Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. September 14, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
26. "Tamar Braxton – Chart history". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
27. "Tamar Braxton – Chart history". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
28. "Billboard 200 Albums (Year End)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
29. "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: 2013 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
30. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
31. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2020.