Toni Braxton
The perfect matchup of singer, song, and producer is a wondrous thing, and no more so in the producer-driven realm of black pop. Such a wonderful moment was the debut from Toni Braxton who, in Kenneth Babyface Edmonds, had an uber lord who tapped into the dark yet radio-friendly recess of her soul. Braxton gives nobility to heartbreak with classics like "Breathe Again." Her debut remains one of the best of the '90s. --Amy Linden