American
R&B group
the Braxtons released a cover of "
The Boss" in 1997. The song was written by
Ashford & Simpson and produced by
Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez and
"Little" Louie Vega. It was released on March 17, 1997 as the third single from their first studio album,
So Many Ways (1996).
Critical reception In his review of the
So Many Ways album, Peter Miro from
Cash Box wrote, "Can't say "The Boss" by
Diana Ross belongs on the collection, unless it's there to appeal to a
techno-oriented dance crowd. Its straight-up
hip-hop intro would have made a nice tune if it was fleshed out, but the rest of it sounds incongruous on this otherwise tranquil, luxuriant disc." Jeremy Newall from
Music Week's
RM Dance Update praised the track, rating it five out of five. He added, "Live bass, real strings and
disco drums capture the lush feeling of the original in breathtaking style."
Commercial performance On February 1, 1997 the
Masters At Work produced track topped the
Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart for one week a #1 in the United States. The song stayed in the chart for 14 weeks. On March 29, 1997, the song debuted at number 31 on the
UK Singles Chart. The song spent a total of three weeks on the chart at numbers 50 and 69 respectively before leaving the Top 75 on April 12, 1997, becoming their second top 40 in the UK.
Music video A
music video was produced to promote the single. The video starts with Towanda Braxton kissing her husband goodbye as he rushes off to work. Then, Towanda is shown in a living room with
Trina Braxton and
Tamar Braxton singing and dancing. The video also shows The Braxtons talking on the phone to each other and singing by a tree. The plot of the video revolves around Towanda acquiring photos of her husband with another woman, and after he leaves for work, the sisters have a garage sale clearing out the entire house. The video ends with Towanda's husband coming home to an empty house with the pictures left in an envelope on the floor.
Credits • Producer, Mixed by – Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez, "Little" Louie Vega* • Executive producer – Bryant Reid
Track listings and formats •
US 12" vinyl single • "The Boss" (Kenlou Mix) – 9:03 • "Only Love" (Radio Mix) – 4:13 • "The Boss" (
Masters at Work Dub) – 7:15 • "The Boss" (MAW Album Mix) – 9:41 • "The Boss" (MAW Groove) – 7:33 •
US, UK 12" vinyl promo • "The Boss" (Kenlou Mix)- 9:03 • "The Boss" (Kenlou Radio Mix) – 4:13 • "The Boss" (Masters at Work Dub) – 7:15 • "The Boss" (Reprise) – 6:12 • "The Boss" (MAW Album Mix) – 9:41 • "The Boss" (Hip Hop Vocal) – 1:33 • "The Boss" (MAW Groove) – 7:33 •
US, CD, 12" vinyl maxi-single promo • "The Boss" (Radio Edit of Album) – 3:32 • "The Boss" (Spyda Mix with Rap Radio Edit) – 4:21 • "The Boss" (Spyda Mix without Rap Radio Edit) – 4:23 • "The Boss" (H.O.P. Quiet Storm Mix Radio Edit) – 4:20 •
UK 12" vinyl single • "The Boss" (Masters at Work Album Mix) – 9:40 • "The Boss" (Reprise) – 6:12 • "The Boss" (Kenlou Mix) – 9:03 • "The Boss" (Masters at Work Dub) – 7:15 •
Europe, Australia CD maxi-single • "The Boss" (Kenlou Radio Mix) – 4:13 • "The Boss" (Kenlou Mix)- 9:03 • "The Boss" (Masters at Work Album Mix) – 9:40 • "The Boss" (Masters at Work Dub) – 7:15 • "The Boss" (Reprise) – 6:12 •
Germany CD single • "The Boss" (Kenlou Radio Mix) – 4:13 • "The Boss" (Kenlou Mix)- 9:03 • "The Boss" (Masters at Work Album Mix) – 9:40
Charts Release history ==Other cover versions==