Deadwood (Toni Braxton song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Deadwood

| cover = Toni_Braxton_Deadwood.png

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Toni Braxton

| album = Sex & Cigarettes

| released = September 14, 2017

| recorded = 2017

| studio = Eastcote Studios (London){{cite AV media notes |title=Sex & Cigarettes|publisher=Def Jam Recordings |others=Toni Braxton |year=2018}}

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:59

| label = Def Jam

| writer =

Toni Braxton
Royce Doherty
Kwame Ogoo
Fred Ball

| producer =

Braxton
Paul Boutin
Ball

| prev_title = Roller Coaster

| prev_year = 2014

| next_title = Long as I Live

| next_year = 2018

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|-4qwqG8a32k|"Deadwood"}}}}

}}

"Deadwood" is a song by American recording artist Toni Braxton released on September 14, 2017.{{cite web|title=Deadwood – Single by Toni Braxton on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/deadwood-single/1444281442|website=Apple Music (US)|access-date=September 14, 2017}} The song serves as the lead single from Braxton's eighth studio album Sex & Cigarettes (2018). Written by Braxton, Royce Doherty, Kwame Ogoo and Fred Ball and produced by Ball.

Background and release

"Deadwood" was initially written and performed by singer-songwriter Emil Kwame Ogoo (simply known as EMiL at the time). Emil's version was originally released in 2012, with a music video being released earlier in December 2011.{{cite web |title=EMiL - Deadwood |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qRYppQ6NVQ&t=57s |website=YouTube | date=21 December 2011 |access-date=25 June 2024}} Emil later sold the song which led to Braxton receiving and recording it. 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".{{cite web|title=Bille Woodruff on Instagram "Back together again⚡️🎬⚡️ @tonibraxton @dpjmw5 @iamjoycewashington #Deadwood"|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BYNwSHDH4l8/|website=Instagram|accessdate=September 14, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Bille Woodruff on Instagram "On set making magic with the legendary @tonibraxton My #BFF"|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BYN-6EpH5K6/|website=Instagram|accessdate=September 14, 2017}} 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".{{cite web|title=Toni Braxton Talks New Album: 'I'm Excited to Be Doing What I Love Doing'|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crN9RSlakeI|website=The Insider| date=5 September 2017 |accessdate=September 14, 2017}} Braxton released the cover art of the single on September 12, 2017.{{cite web|title=Toni Braxton on Instagram|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BY61A84lGjB/|website=Instagram|accessdate=September 15, 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."{{cite web|title=New Song: Toni Braxton – Deadwood|url=http://thatgrapejuice.net/2017/09/new-song-toni-braxton-deadwood/|website=That Grape Juice|date=14 September 2017 |accessdate=September 14, 2017}} Essence 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."{{cite web|title=EXCLUSIVE: Toni Braxton's New Music Is 'About Me Feeling Sexy and Independent'|url=http://www.essence.com/celebrity/exclusive-toni-braxton-new-music|website=Essence|accessdate=September 14, 2017}} 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."{{cite web|title=New Music: Toni Braxton – 'Deadwood'|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2017/09/14/new-music-toni-braxton-deadwood/|website=Rap-Up|accessdate=September 14, 2017}}

Music video

The music video was filmed on August 24, 2017, and directed by Bille Woodruff.{{cite web|title=Toni Braxton Prepping New Music; Shoots Video For 'Deadwood'|url=https://singersroom.com/.../toni-braxton-prepping-new-single-and-video-deadwood/|website=Singersroom|date=28 August 2017 |accessdate=September 14, 2017}} The audio video for the song was released to Braxton's Vevo account on September 14, 2017.{{cite web|title=Toni Braxton - Deadwood (audio)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdA7tUIzA5Q|website=YouTube| date=13 September 2017 |accessdate=September 14, 2017}} The video premiered on October 6, 2017.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/-4qwqG8a32k Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20171010084015/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4qwqG8a32k&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4qwqG8a32k| title = Toni Braxton - Deadwood (Official Music Video) | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Sex & Cigarettes.{{cite AV media notes |title=Sex & Cigarettes|publisher=Def Jam Recordings |others=Toni Braxton |year=2018}}

Jonathan Allen – recording
Fred Ball – instruments, producer, writer
Paul Boutin – mixing, percussion
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

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
align="center"\|Chart (2017-18) !align="center"\|Peak position
{{singlechart\|Billboardadultrandbsongs\|7\|artist=Toni Braxton\|accessdate=June 29, 2020\|rowheader=true}}
{{singlechart\|Billboardrandbhiphopairplay\|34\|artist=Toni Braxton\|accessdate=June 29, 2020\|rowheader=true}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

align="center"|Chart (2017-18)

!align="center"|Peak
position

{{singlechart|Billboardadultrandbsongs|7|artist=Toni Braxton|accessdate=June 29, 2020|rowheader=true}}

{{singlechart|Billboardrandbhiphopairplay|34|artist=Toni Braxton|accessdate=June 29, 2020|rowheader=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"\| Region ! scope="col"\| Date ! scope="col"\| Format ! scope="col"\| Label ! scope="col"\| Ref
scope="row" \| United States \| rowspan="1" \| September 14, 2017 \| Digital download \| Def Jam \| style="text-align:center;"\|

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format

! scope="col"| Label

! scope="col"| Ref

scope="row" | United States

| rowspan="1" | September 14, 2017

| Digital download

| Def Jam

| style="text-align:center;"|