R&B superstar Toni Braxton says she is up for a Verzuz battle, and she already has her competition in mind.
Braxton told mega-artist Missy Elliott, who was questioning her for Interview magazine, that her Verzuz challenger would have to be “Mariah [Carey] or Mary J. [Blige] or something.”
Braxton is reportedly among some of the most requested artists for participation in a Verzuz battle, along with the likes of Usher and Chris Brown.
in mind: Mariah Carey or Mary J. Blige. (Photos by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for dcp,
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images and Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Saks Fifth Avenue)
In the recent article in Interview, Elliott shared her with Braxton her thoughts on the importance of Verzuz, the virtual musical-meetup brainchild of Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, to current culture knowing how “it just seems like the girls don’t do that.”
“People should know, ‘Oh, Toni, she co-wrote this, she co-wrote that, she was part of this production.’ I feel like that should be known,” Elliott said, noting “I’m happy with Verzuz because it allows people to see that, especially when the artist can say, ‘Hey, this person wrote this for me.’ Because now we’re in a time where you’re not getting the hard copies to be able to see all the credits.”
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Braxton, who is promoting her 10th studio album, Spell My Name, characterized competing against Carey or Blige in a Verzuz match as “Us girls from the ‘90s. But no, I haven’t put it on the register to do it yet.”
In the April battle between Babyface and Teddy Riley, one of Braxton’s signature songs was the first one played by the legendary singer-songwriter-producer. ‘Face matched “Love Shoulda Brought You Home Last Night,” against Riley’s “Human Nature” by SWV.
Braxton has teamed up with Babyface again on Spell My Name. She also has a single, “Do It,” with Elliott.
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In Interview, both Braxton and Elliott professed their mutual fandom, and both say they are excited to have finally worked together.
Braxton also asked Elliott who she would want to go against in a Verzuz battle.
Elliott replied: “I’m going to be quiet.” She did, however, say that she can battle herself in a “Missy versus Misdemeanor” Verzuz session.
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