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Hit the Freeway

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"Hit the Freeway"
Single by Toni Braxton featuring Loon
from the album More Than a Woman
ReleasedOctober 21, 2002[1]
Genre
Length3:48
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)The Neptunes
Toni Braxton singles chronology
"Christmas in Jamaica"
(2001) 		"Hit the Freeway"
(2002) 		"Please"
(2005)

"Hit the Freeway" is a song by American singer Toni Braxton from her fifth studio album, More Than a Woman (2002). The song, which features American rapper Loon, was written by Pharrell Williams and Loon himself, while production was handled by Pharrell's production duo The Neptunes. It is a hip hop and R&B song, with lyrics about an ex trying to rekindle with Braxton, but Braxton claims she's not interested in him anymore. It was released on October 21, 2002, to rhythmic and urban contemporary radio as the lead and only single from the album.

The song received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who praised its catchiness and contagiousness, and picked it as a stand-out track. However, the song proved to be a failure on the charts, reaching the top-forty in Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and UK, while only reaching number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. A music video, directed by Charles Infante and Dave Meyers, was released in October 2002 and features Braxton being chased by her ex.

Background

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After the success of her third studio album, The Heat (2000) and its lead single "He Wasn't Man Enough", which led her to win a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Braxton promised an upbeat new album, saying, "People like the slow, miserable love songs of Toni Braxton, but maybe the Prozac is working now, so let's give 'em some happier songs."[2] She started recording the album in March 2001, claiming that after a few tough years, she had a new personal happiness to bring to her music, part of that, she said, stems from her engagement to Keri Lewis of Mint Condition.[2]

In late 2002, Braxton revealed in a statement, "I'm ready to show other sides of what I can do musically. My first love has always been R&B, and I've been into hip-hop since it first started. On each of my albums I've done things to introduce people to other aspects of what I'm about musically. Sometimes, artists can get confined by what they've done in the past. When people hear I’m working with the Neptunes, they’re like 'I wonder what that will sound like?' I'm just being a part of my own generation — and we grew up with rap and hip-hop as well as R&B!"[3]

Release and composition

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"Hit the Freeway" was released in early October 2002, and was the first and only single taken from More Than a Woman, due to Braxton's second pregnancy announced in the same month.[4] The CD single features the radio edit and the extended version of the song, as well as a previously unreleased track called "And I Love You", which would later be featured on More Than a Woman, and a remix of her single "Maybe". The CD also contains an enhanced video, featuring "Hit the Freeway"'s music video.[5] The song is featured on her compilations, Ultimate Toni Braxton (2003), Platinum & Gold Collection (2004), Un-Break My Heart: The Remix Collection (2005), The Essential Toni Braxton (2007) and Playlist: The Very Best of Toni Braxton (2008).[6][7]

"Hit the Freeway" was written by Pharrell Williams and Loon, while production was handled by Pharrell's production duo The Neptunes. Pharrell also provides additional vocals.[8] "Hit the Freeway" is a "saucy", uptempo and synth-driven hip-hop and R&B song, in which Braxton serves a flame his walking papers.[4] Loon raps before the first verse and only lists all the things he bought her, "shoes from Milan, Louis Vuitton, animal arm bag and jewels on your arm". Then, Braxton talks about receiving a phone call from an ex-boyfriend, who she is not interested in hearing from anymore. Later he pipes in during the verses to respond to her point of view.[9] In the chorus, Braxton sings, "Farewell my lonely one, nothing else here can be done, I don't ever wanna see you again".[10]

Critical reception

[edit]
Pharrell Williams' production on "Hit the Freeway" received generally positive reviews.[11]

The song received mostly favorable reviews from music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic picked the song as a stand-out track of the album.[11] Keysha Davis of BBC Music called the chorus "eagerly contagious", writing that, "What at first sounds like a quintessential Neptunes track - melodic synthesiser, staged handclaps and funky drum patterns - later transpires into an impressive slice of pop R&B. Revenge has never sounded sweeter."[10] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine called it a "catchy and edgy hip-hop-flavored fare."[12] Tracy E. Hopkins of Barnes & Noble wrote that the song "reveals Braxton's fondness for beats and rhymes."[13]

Dan Gennoe of Yahoo! Music was less favorable, writing that, "The Neptunes muster a slack handful of their trademark bleeps and hope for the best with 'Hit The Freeway', leaving Braxton sounding, bizarrely, like the product of any number of Neptunes imitators."[14] A Bland Is Out There review was also mixed, writing that "Loon's appearance is insignificant and poor", while "The Neptunes overpower the music with their beats, leaving her buried underneath." The review concluded, stating, "'Hit the Freeway' is a great, but flawed single. It could've been better if it wasn't so focused on the Neptunes-based production."[9]

Commercial performance

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In the United States, "Hit the Freeway" only managed to peak at number 86, becoming Braxton's lowest charting-single since "Spanish Guitar" (2000).[15] On Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, the song debuted at number 77, before moving to number 67.[4] It peaked at number 32, being her third consecutive single to miss the top-twenty on the R&B charts. It fared better on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart, where its remix peaked at number 2.[16] In the United Kingdom, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 29, on March 8, 2003.[17] It was her lowest since "You Mean the World to Me" (1994).

In Australia, the song debuted and peaked at number 46 on the ARIA Chart, only remaining on the chart for two weeks. It was also her lowest charting-single since "You Mean the World to Me" and her last single to chart in Australia.[18] In Sweden, the song was her second lowest single, peaking at number 40, and was her last single to chart.[18] In Switzerland, the song peaked at number 38, becoming her lowest charting-single ever there.[18] In Belgium, the single proved to be better, reaching numbers 1 and 3, on the Wallonia and Flanders charts, respectively.[19]

Music video

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The music video for "Hit the Freeway", directed by Charles Infante and Dave Meyers, was shot in Los Angeles, in September 2002. It tells the story of a woman leaving her cheating boyfriend. There are several shots of Braxton driving down the freeway while her ex follows her, trying to rekindle the relationship.[3]

Track listing

[edit]
CD maxi single[20]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Hit the Freeway" (Radio Edit)
The Neptunes3:48
2."Hit the Freeway" (Extended Version)
  • Williams
  • Hawkins
The Neptunes6:27
3."And I Love You"
Babyface4:02
4."Maybe" (HQ² Radio Mix)
  • Toni Braxton
  • Keith Crouch
  • John Smith
  • Mechallie Jamison
  • Samuel Gause
3:19
5."Hit the Freeway" (Enhanced Video)  4:47
CD single[21]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Hit the Freeway" (Radio Edit)
  • Williams
  • Hawkins
The Neptunes3:48
2."Hit the Freeway" (Goldtrix Full Vocal Edit)
  • Williams
  • Hawkins
7:16
3."Hit the Freeway" (Beatzworkin' Remix)
  • Williams
  • Hawkins
  • The Neptunes
  • Beatzworkin'[a]
5:58
4."Hit the Freeway" (Enhanced Video)  4:47

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer

Personnel

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Credits adapted from liner notes of More Than a Woman.[8]

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1475. October 18, 2002. p. 26.
  2. ^ a b VanHom, Teri (January 5, 2001). "Toni Braxton Promises Upbeat New Album". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Moss, Corey (October 2, 2002). "Toni Braxton Works With Gotti, Neptunes, Husband On New LP". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "Toni Braxton Is Back With 'More'". Billboard. October 19, 2002. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  5. ^ "Amazon.com: Hit the Freeway - Single, Enhanced, Import". Amazon.com. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  6. ^ "Toni Braxton / Loon - Hit the Freeway - Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  7. ^ "Hit the Freeway - Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Braxton, Toni (2002). More Than a Woman (liner notes). Toni Braxton. Arista Records
  9. ^ a b "Single Review: Toni Braxton & Loon "Hit The Freeway"". Bland Is Out There. July 5, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  10. ^ a b Davis, Keyshia (December 12, 2002). "BBC - Music - Review of Toni Braxton - More Than a Woman". BBC Music. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  11. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. More Than a Woman - Toni Braxton at AllMusic. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  12. ^ Cinquemani, Sal (November 11, 2002). "Toni Braxton: More Than a Woman". Slant Magazine. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  13. ^ E. Hopkins, Tracy. "More Than a Woman by Arista, Toni Braxton". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  14. ^ Gennoe, Dan (March 10, 2003). "Toni Braxton - 'More Than A Woman'". Yahoo! Music UK. Archived from the original on August 25, 2004. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  15. ^ "Eminem Notches First Hot 100 No. 1". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  16. ^ "More Than a Woman > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved October 5, 2008.
  17. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Hit The Freeway by Toni Braxton Search". The Official Charts Company. December 19, 2013.
  18. ^ a b c "Australian-Charts.com - Toni Braxton - Hit the Freeway". ARIA Charts. Retrieved October 5, 2008.
  19. ^ "Ultratop.be – Toni Braxton - Hit the Freeway" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  20. ^ "Toni Braxton – Hit The Freeway (Arista – 74321 95940 2)". Discogs. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  21. ^ "Toni Braxton – Hit The Freeway (Arista – 82876 506372)". Discogs. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  22. ^ "Toni Braxton – Hit the Freeway". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  23. ^ "Issue 672" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  24. ^ "Toni Braxton – Hit the Freeway" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 2018-06-03.
  25. ^ "Toni Braxton – Hit the Freeway" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 2018-06-03.
  26. ^ "Canadian Digital Song Sales". Billboard. December 27, 2003. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  27. ^ "Toni Braxton – Hit the Freeway". Tracklisten. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  28. ^ "Euro Chart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. March 15, 2003. p. 11. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  29. ^ "Toni Braxton – Hit the Freeway" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  30. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Toni Braxton". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  31. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  32. ^ "Toni Braxton – Hit the Freeway". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  33. ^ "Toni Braxton – Hit the Freeway". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  34. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  35. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  36. ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  37. ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  38. ^ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  39. ^ "R&R Urban Top 50". Radio & Records. No. 1480. November 22, 2002. p. 40.
  40. ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002 (Part 2)". Jam!. January 14, 2003. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004.
  41. ^ "Top 40 Urban Tracks Of 2002" (PDF). Music Week. January 18, 2003. p. 32. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
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