<P> The album's fifth single, "Let It Flow" by Toni Braxton, was released as a two - sided single with "You're Makin' Me High" from Braxton's second album, Secrets, in May 1996 . The double - A side single debuted at number seven on the Hot 100 and number two on the Hot R&B Singles chart, the issue dated June 8, 1996, becoming her highest - debuting single . It eventually topped the Hot 100 chart for a week, and the Hot R&B Singles chart for two weeks, which was her first number one single on both charts . Due to its staying power on the Hot R&B Singles chart, it was the #1 R&B Single on the 1996's Billboard year - end charts . The single sold over 1,500,000 copies in the United States and was certified Platinum by the RIAA on July 17, 1996 . Just as soon as the soundtrack was released, the song received critical acclaim, being chosen as one of the best tracks on the album by critics . Stephen Holden, the music critic of the New York Times, called it "small pop coup" and added "Braxton snaps out the words with a choked intensity, her dark, grainy contralto conveying a potent mixture of fury and sensuality ." </P> <P> "It Hurts Like Hell" by Aretha Franklin was released as the sixth single from the album in June 1996 . It failed to enter on the Hot 100 chart, but peaked at number fifty - one on the Hot R&B Singles chart, the issue date of July 20, 1996 . The song wasn't hit as big as some of the set's other tracks, but got good reviews at large from critics . Stephen Holden of the New York Times wrote "Franklin rises to heights of letting - it - all - out pop - gospel anguish that she has rarely reached before . Just when you think she can't spill out another drop, there is another melismatic gush of emotion ." Geoffrey Himes, in his review for the Washington Post, commented "the album's peak moment belongs to Aretha Franklin, who makes us hear in every note what the title of (the song) is talking about ." Babyface, in an interview on Billboard on the 20th anniversary of Waiting To Exhale soundtrack, says, "Then to be in the studio with Aretha for' It Hurts Like Hell ." To this day, when I hear that, that's one of my favorite songs . She's just killin' it . It's a blessing to have just been a part of it ." </P> <P> "Why Does It Hurt So Bad" by Whitney Houston became the seventh and final single to be released off the album in July, 1996 . Christopher John Farley of the TIME magazine commented "Houston more than holds her own, particularly on (this), with its masterly balance of pop zip and soulful melancholy ." At the time the single was issued, Billboard said "this should have been the follow - up to' Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"' and added "she (Houston) was positively luminous on this heartbreak ballad ." On August 3, 1996, the single debuted at number sixty and number thirty - four, on the Hot 100 and Hot R&B singles chart, respectively . In a few weeks later, it peaked at number twenty - six on the Hot 100 and number twenty - two on the Hot R&B . Houston performed the song at the 1996 MTV Movie Awards . The track was also included in a medley along with "I Believe in You and Me" and "It Hurts Like Hell" in her set list on her My Love Is Your Love World Tour in 1999 . </P> <P> Also of note, "This Is How It Works" by TLC and "My Funny Valentine" by Chaka Khan reached numbers 60 and 66 respectively on the Billboard R&B Airplay chart in early 1996 based on unsolicited radio airplay, while "Kissing You" by Faith Evans reached #57 on the R&B Airplay chart as well as #14 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart as the B - side tag along to her single "Ain't Nobody". </P>

Song at the end of waiting to exhale