1996 is one of the most beloved years in hip-hop and R&B, so we’re going to spend all month celebrating its greatness! All 2026, we’re turning the clock back 30 years to review, revisit and relive the most pivotal moments of Black music in that era. And, of course, I’ll be joined by a host of music homies as we debate the best of the best.

On her very first time out Toni Braxton dropped one of the greatest R&B albums ever made. How does she follow up? Well, with one of the best albums of the 90s! That woman was a force. My boy Darius Keeton is back to help me break down Toni’s Secrets 30 years later.

Let’s go! What were you inital thoughts of this album?

Darius: Of course I was entirely too young to experience it during it’s release even though I feel like “Un-Break My Heart” carried all the way to ‘99 because I vividly remember the radio station still playing it like it was a 1999 hit. But Secrets overall is a very solid piece of work and I can see why it sold millions, grabbing audiences that are adjacent to Céline Dion and adult contemporary-esque Mariah Carey listeners while still having that flavor that gets the attention of listeners that are likely Mary J. Blige and TLC fans. It is very ballad and midtempo heavy but Toni truly sells a story here.

Edd: Funny thing about this album – although I never owned a personal copy of Secrets until my wife and I merged music collections a full decade after Secrets originally dropped, I had heard it plenty of times before that fateful sonic union. Of the 12 tracks, about half made it to radio, with some getting LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of airplay (looking at you, “Un-Break My Heart.”). The others made it to my ears by osmosis – just hearing them as friends played them at gatherings. Surprisingly, the only song I don’t remember hearing in that era was “Why Should I Care,” and you’ll soon learn why I’m bitter I didn’t fall in love with that song sooner. But here’s my point – Toni was so ever-present in music by 1996 that I didn’t even need to cop the album to hear it, these songs were EVERYWHERE, and I loved pretty much everything I heard.

Let’s talk about your picks for best song.

Darius: “I Love Me Some Him”

Despite the other monster singles from this album, “I Love Me Some Him” is probably one of Toni’s most beloved love songs and amongst the best of her singles discography but it sucks that a song so great and had a single release, never gotten a music video. So blasphemous! Shoutout to Soulshock & Karlin for producing this record and rest in peace to Andrea Martin, her pen was always sick.

Edd: “Let It Flow”

Before I posted this list I told Dary that I had a very, very hard time ranking my top 5. All of them are equally strong in unique ways. “You’re Makin Me High” has the 90s attitude, “Un-Break My Heart” has maybe Toni’s best vocal performance to date, “I Love Me Some Him” has everything you want in a single, “Why Should I Care” is legit one of the best things she’s ever recorded – there are no flaws here. But I’ll give Let It Flow the slightest of edges. The production and writing are the perfect compliment to her tone – she actually feels like she’s flowing through the track. It’s a gentle, breezy track that’s truly captivating.

Visual time! What was the best video from this project?

Darius: “How Could an Angel Break My Heart”

I like how this music video is kinda the precursor to her Broadway debut of being Belle in The Beauty & The Beast. It’s like watching a short film telling a story through song. I must say that I do not like the eyebrow style choice in the video but overall she looks stunning.

Edd: “Un-Break My Heart”

I wasn’t the biggest fan of Disco Queen Toni in the “You’re Makin Me High” video and WE MUST NEVER SPEAK OF THE “LET IT FLOW” VIDEO. “Un-Break My Heart” takes the win for me. I love the juxtaposition of her reminiscing about her lost love Tyson Beckford while also performing while backed by an orchestra. Heartbreakingly classy.

Which song should have been a single?

Darius: “Why Should I Care”

After all the big ballad and slow song singles, “Why Should I Care” would have been a good choice to balance the era. It’s still in the midtempo range but has more umph and more pace that would’ve probably dominated radio.

Edd: “Why Should I Care”

THIS THIS THIS THIS. Secrets has no shortage of singles – Toni didn’t NEED another – but as Dary said, this would have been a nice departure from the slow burners and trauma ballads. Also that song is FIRE, one of her best ever. I can’t believe it took me so long to hear it. I’m firing my 90s friend group after this post.

What’s the most underrated song?

Darius: “In The Late of Night”

While heartbreak is the subject of a good chunk of this album, “In The Late of Night” paints a beautiful picture as the album closes.

Edd: “In The Late of Night”

Yep, agreeing with the homie again on this one. Many albums – both in the 90s and today – tend to sputter to a conclusion by records’ end. The final track may not be trash but it’s often unremarkable. On an album filled with hits, Toni saved one of the better efforts for last, allowing listeners to end on a good note and making the project feel fulfilling. I miss the art of album making.

What was the best vocal performance?

Darius: “Un-Break My Heart”

As I mentioned before, this song will probably play for many decades later but I can’t deny that she delivers the best vocal dynamics here. I was a huge fan of this song when I was little but now I do tend to skip it every once in a while but it doesn’t deny the impact or vocal prowess of this song.

Edd: “Un-Break My Heart”

If you were outside with us in 1996, I’m sure you’re still very, very, VERY tired of this song. The endless radio spins, the constant video airplay, it was a LOT. However, I cannot deny the unbridled emotion that Toni displays, and that’s what makes this song an undisputed classic. Many have called Toni’s vocals into question over the years – often unfairly in my eyes – but you cannot deny the mastery of her gift here. I’ve said many times that the art of R&B lies in emotional performances. “Un-Break My Heart” is the blueprint.

What’s the best example of great songwriting on this project?

Darius: “How Could an Angel Break My Heart”

Now Mr. Kenny Edmonds aka Babyface wrote alot on the album but this song really sounds like a beautifully written sad fairytale in song format. He writes this song very detailed without it being super cliche and super cheesy.

“I heard her face was white as rain
Soft as a rose that blooms in May.”

Was this written during the Waiting To Exhale sessions? (iykyk. Cue Angela Bassett’s opening scene)

Now today, I prefer this song over “Un-Break My Heart.”

Edd: “How Could an Angel Break My Heart”

I swear I’m not stealing all of Dary’s answers, he’s just right (most of the time). “How Could an Angel Break My Heart” features some of the most poetic writing on this project:

How could an angel break my heart?
Why didn’t he catch my falling star?
I wish, I didn’t wish so hard
Maybe I wished our love apart
How could an angel break my heart?

From the wishing on a falling star trope to Toni wondering if she is the cause for her own pain, there are so many layers here. Face’s pen was dipped in platinum ink.

“Let It Flow” was a standout on the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack. Which other song would have been a good fit for a 90s soundtrack?

Darius: “Talking In His Sleep” for the Love Jones Soundtrack

“Talking In His Sleep” is sensual, sultry and has spoken work verses where I feel would have made it a perfect fit for the movie’s soundtrack.

Edd: “Why Should I Care” for the Best Man Soundtrack

Quite frankly, almost anything could wind up on any soundtrack in the 90s, and that’s what made them so awesome. You never knew what gem would pop up. Though the movie wouldn’t drop till a few years after this project I think “Why Should I Care” would be an excellent fit in tone and subject matter for The Best Man soundtrack. That midtempo venom would work so well amongst the drama.

Babyface and Toni continued their incredible run on this album. What do you think is their best partnership?

Darius: “Give U My Heart”

I decided to go with a duet actually that was released a few years prior. We all know Babyface wrote a great deal of Toni’s discography at this point to Secrets but this shows that beyond his pen and her being his vehicle behind the songs, that they are a musical match made in heaven. Just a couple decades later, they finally gave us a duet collaboration album and it’s pretty good by the way. Just ask Edd.

Edd: “You Mean the World to Me”

Tough question! In an effort to not mimic yet another answer from my boy, let’s go with this: Toni and Face are one of the best singing/writing pair in R&B history – I can’t think of too many songs that don’t hit the mark. Although “Breathe Again” is my fave, I’ll put biases aside and go with the first thing that hit my mind when the question was raised – “You Mean the World to Me.” Between Toni’s passionate performance and Face’s passionate pen, it’s a hallmark of their union. But like I said, there’s no real wrong answer – even their latter-day collabs are noteworthy. Like Dary said, go check out the Love, Marriage and Divorce album for proof.

Is Secrets Toni’s best album?

Darius: No. Even though Secrets is my personal favorite Toni album, I can’t deny the greatness of her debut album. Her debut was perfectly crafted but Secrets is definitely a great follow up sophomore album and is probably ranked amongst her top 3 in her discography.

Edd: Secrets is an excellent album, silenced any sophomore slump whispers and is easily her second best album to date. But it cannot beat the majesty of Toni’s debut, one of the most seamless R&B records in history. That’s not a knock on Secrets – it’s fantastic in its own right. It just can’t beat that debut. Very few R&B albums can.

Your turn! Let us know if you agree with Darius or Edd and share your memories of Secrets below!