"Deadwood" is a song by American recording artist

Toni Braxton Toni Michele Braxton (born October 7, 1967) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, actress and television personality. She has sold over 70 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling female artists in history. Braxton has won ...

released on September 14, 2017. The song serves as the lead single from Braxton's eighth studio album ''

Sex & Cigarettes ''Sex & Cigarettes'' is the ninth studio album by American singer Toni Braxton. It was released on March 23, 2018, by Def Jam Recordings. Her first solo album in eight years, it served as her debut for the label after signing a new record deal. Br ...

'' (2018). Written by Braxton, Royce Doherty, Kwame Ogoo and Fred Ball and produced by Ball.

Background and release

On August 25, 2017, it was announced that director Bille Woodruff was directing a new music video for Braxton confirming the name of a new single titled "Deadwood". On September 5, 2017, in an interview with ''The Insider'', Braxton confirmed the title of her upcoming eighth studio album ''Sex & Cigarettes'' stating "I feel like I'm older, I wanna say what I feel. I don't wanna be censored". Braxton released the cover art of the single on September 12, 2017.

Critical reception

The song was met with positive reviews from critics. ''That Grape Juice'' favored the track "Ever in fine-form, this gorgeous guitar-led offering proves that her tone has lost none of its buttery brilliance. The production serves as a slick, crisp vehicle driving the song's lyrical agenda and does so dynamically. Marvellous melody and memorable hook too." ''

Essence Essence ( la, essentia) is a polysemic term, used in philosophy and theology as a designation for the property or set of properties that make an entity or substance what it fundamentally is, and which it has by necessity, and without which it ...

'' stated: "Deadwood, is the first step to revealing an uncensored Braxton. It's the debut track from her upcoming album, which is set for release at the top of 2018, and sees the singer exploring a complicated love." '' Rap-Up'' gave a positive review of the track stating "Toni Braxton comes back to life with 'Deadwood,' the first single off her forthcoming album ''Sex & Cigarettes''. Over guitar strums, hard drums, and soothing violin strings, the R&B songbird sings about heartbreak and rejuvenation with a soulful air."

Music video

The music video was filmed on August 24, 2017, and directed by

Bille Woodruff Bille Woodruff is a director of film, television and music videos, noted for directing many videos for a number of R&B and hip-hop artists since the mid-1990s. These artists include Joe, for whom Woodruff has directed 9 music videos since 1994, ...

. The audio video for the song was released to Braxton's Vevo account on September 14, 2017. The video premiered on October 6, 2017.Archived a
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Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''Sex & Cigarettes''. * Jonathan Allen – recording * Fred Ball – instruments, producer, writer *

Paul Boutin Paul Boutin (born December 11, 1961 in Lewiston, Maine) is an American magazine writer and editor who writes about technology in a pop-culture context. Boutin, who began writing for ''Wired'' in 1997, wrote for ''The New York Times'' from 2003 ...

– mixing,

percussion A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Ex ...

* Toni Braxton – producer, vocals, writer * Royce Doherty – writer * Ben Epstein – bass * Clarissa Farran – strings arranger * Steve Fitzmaurice – recording * Earl Harvin – drums * Kwame Ogoo – backing vocalist, guitar, writer * Hilary Skewes – stings contractor

Charts

Release history

References

{{authority control 2017 singles Toni Braxton songs Songs written by Toni Braxton Contemporary R&B ballads 2017 songs Def Jam Recordings singles Songs written by Fred Ball (producer) Soul ballads Songs about heartache 2010s ballads