Everything happens as it should, right? Well, even if that’s true, let’s imagine that each time a choice is made, the other options play out in a parallel dimension. Doesn’t that make you feel better? To know that in another life you’re living out every one of your dreams? Yeah, let’s roll with that and imagine Tamar Braxton was full-out famous as Beyoncé back in the early 2000s.
Ms. Tamar Estine Braxton – premier vocalist extraordinaire – has become well-known for her one-of-a-kind personality and out-of-this-world vocals. She’s been around since her teenaged years, starting out in the 1990s as a member of The Braxtons with her four sisters, including THEE Toni Braxton, and later launching a solo career (late 1990s – early 2000s). However, her well-deserved ascension to stardom didn’t happen until over a decade later when her reality show, Braxton Family Values, came on air in April 2011. It wasn’t until then did we get to behold the authentic personality that would set the internet abuzz with tons of catchphrases. And with the release her first post-reality-show album, Love and War (2013), Tamar had proven that she was slept on for far too long. A solid R&B EP with her personality shining through fully, I was completely sold. Before that, she lived in her big sister’s shadow and never really got the shine she was due. Not that I’m obsessed or anything, but I often wonder why she never blew up back in the day. She definitely had the potential. Besides, she would’ve been good competition for Ashanti… and eventually Beyoncé. Yes, I said Beyoncé.
Don’t get me wrong, I am a card-carrying member of the BeyHive; however, I’m not so blinded by the ineffable Mrs. Knowles-Carter’s grandeur that I cannot give props to other artists as I see due.
After witnessing the very outspoken Ms. Braxton on Braxton Family Values alongside her sisters, I realized that we’d been deprived for many years of something amazing. Not that she didn’t make good music prior to that, it’s just that she didn’t get the play or notice she deserved. “Get None” (1999), from her eponymously titled debut album is so very Tamar and the video was giving! She also killed her feature on R&B group, Silk’s, song “Don’t Go” from their album Love Session (2001). She was not a one hit wonder type of artist. It’s like there was something trying to keep her in a box, and that is just someplace Tamar didn’t belong.
I wonder if it was because her voice or look was too similar to Toni’s? Maybe music executives felt there wasn’t a clear-cut niche for Tamar so the “machine” wasn’t put in full-throttle to push her forward? I can see how it could appear that way, and maybe back in early 2000s, personality wasn’t as important is it is today, but we sure could have used a Tamar in that era. The Tamar with the outrageous commentary and tear-provoking vocals. The girl who could drop it low but also sit on a stool in the middle of an empty stage and send chill-bumps up our arms with those chilling vocals.
Oops, too much like Beyoncé? Well, that would have been a bit of healthy competition that would have required Tamar to give it all she had, which means we would have seen all that poppin’ and droppin’ and sassiness given and received with full adoration. That Beyonce/Tamar [healthy] rivalry would have been lit.
Watching her “Love It” video (from her Calling All Lovers album) makes me believe she felt like she had FINALLY burst out of her box and was able to be the woman she wanted to be from the very start. The woman who would’ve given all the early 2000s hot girls a run for their money.
When we want to bring someone up against Beyoncé Giselle Knowles, there must be verifiable receipts to back up such audacious claims of worthiness. Besides the fact that this is all how I personally envisioned that era with Tamar Braxton officially on the scene, there is no doubt that Tamar has the talent. Don’t get me wrong, Beyonce shut it down with the whole package – dancing, vocals, and fabulousness beyond measure, giving life from the moment we heard “uh oh, uh oh, uh oh oh no no”… it was done. But just to imagine that there was another on the scene who could keep up – and in my mind, that would’ve been Tamar, if only the stars had aligned correctly. Had she had the team and the backing, she could have torn up the 2000s. With vocals comparable to Mariah Carey, I am for sure in my heart of this.
No, she doesn’t do much dancing in her current videos, but obviously she has the ability. Please take the time to view The Braxtons’ “Good Life” performance from 1990. Just find it online and behold the moves that a young Tamar was giving. Watching her compete on the 21st season of Dancing With The Stars in 2015 actually caused me a bit of grief because I felt we had long been deprived of something great. Not that what she’s giving us at the present isn’t great enough, I just realize that there could have been so much more given had her star arose back in the 2000s. So much talent was subdued for far too long.
I don’t know all the details of what happened with Tamar back then. Her big personality could’ve been an hindrance or maybe it just wasn’t her time yet.
Drama + Controversy 