Brown, Chris

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Chris Brown

Singer, actor

At 16, R&B singer Chris Brown was being hailed as the next Usher, and had even earned comparisons to Michael Jackson. Brown's dancing was almost as impeccable as his voice. His young age gave him an advantage: he could use his sweetness for the younger fans and his maturing sexiness for the older. His self-titled debut went double platinum off the success of the infectious hit single "Run It" (featuring rapper Juelz Santana for some weight). The week the song was released, it became the first single from a male artist to debut at number one. Rolling Stone writer Rob Sheffield wrote that Brown was "an undeniably major pop star." "I'd rather be known as the first Chris Brown," the young star admitted on his Web site. "Usher and Michael Jackson aren't going anywhere. They're still doing their thing, but I feel I can be a part of that and just continue to be the best that I can be at what I do." No scandals, no inappropriate dance moves; Brown had it down at just 16, and his family backed him up. "My family loved the fact that I followed my dream and became a singer. They already knew I was a show-off at parties and dinners and stuff," Brown said in an interview with Clarence Waldron in Jet. "When they saw that I got my break, they were really proud of me and gave God a lot of glory for giving me the best. I know I did."

Chris Brown was born in Tappahannock, Virginia, a small town with a population of 2,000. In 2005 the 16-year-old Brown received almost overnight success with the help of uber producer Scott Storch and the smash hit tracks "Gimme That" and "Run It!." "Run It" was a playful and sexy song that was beat-heavy enough for the clubs, but melodic enough to sing along with. Brown released his self-titled debut record in November of that year, when it debuted at number two on the Billboard charts. "Chris Brown manages to stand out amid the sea of young singers vying for the top," wrote Billboard journalist Clover Hope. In addition to the Scott Storch hits, Chris Brown had a handful of popular tracks, including "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)" and "Say Goodbye." Brown's music stood right in between innocence and sexual maturity. "Though Brown's sweet songs are set up to appeal to a young female fan base, the narratives are mature enough to sway some older folks," continued Hope.

"I never imagined that I could be what I wanted to be. … I never knew how fast this would take off, so I'm just thankful for it," Brown stated on his Web site. In early 2006, Brown was nominated for two Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Best R&B Contemporary Album. Though he didn't take home a Grammy, he won a number of other awards, including a Soul Train Award (Best R&B/Best New Artist), two BET Awards (Best New Artist and Viewer's Choice), an NAACP Image Award (Outstanding New Artist), and three Billboard Awards (Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and New Artist of the Year). In September of 2007, now considered one of the biggest young R&B stars in the world, Brown gave an outstanding and memorable performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, with dance moves that beat out any of his contemporaries, and a theatricality to his performance that was invigorating-jumping from celebrity table to table but never breaking a sweat. If anyone in the audience or at home watching didn't know who Brown was before that almost legendary routine, after his performance of "Wall to Wall," no one would forget the name Chris Brown.

Music and dancing weren't Brown's only talents. After a few TV appearances on shows including The O.C., the TV and film industry began looking at Brown as a capable actor. "I want to show people that I'm not just a singer, but an all-around entertainer," Brown stated on his Web site. "I love acting." With feature roles in major movies, including Stomp the Yard and This Christmas, Brown was more than a triple threat in the entertainment world. He was also a savvy young businessman. November of 2007 saw the release of the film This Christmas, as well as Brown's sophomore album Exclusive. "Everybody knows that Chris Brown is an incredible singer," Preston A. Whitmore (director for This Christmas) affirmed to Waldron. "But I think of one of the things that people aren't aware of is that he is also a very good actor. Unlike some singers or rappers who want to undertake this but don't get serious about it, he's done everything necessary to become a good actor."

Pairing the release of This Christmas and Exclusive was not only good timing but good business. Exclusive showcased a more mature young man than the 16-year-old kid who had been an instant superstar. His debut earned him some credibility on the R&B scene, and Brown was able to score some of the biggest names in the business to help him on his second record. will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas and rappers Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Outkast's Big Boi and Kanye West all appeared on Exclusive. "Brown's gotten a stronger grip on his Stevie Wonder croon," wrote Sheffield, "and it's hard to imagine he doesn't have an album's worth of hits here."

Rap star T-Pain put a little oomph in one of Exclusive's popular tracks, "Kiss Kiss," while producer and songwriter Sean Garrett offered Brown's next "Run It!," a track called "Wall to Wall." In the song, Brown sings about all the ladies chasing him now that he's famous: "I don't hear nothing but ladies calling." He's not necessarily complaining; just telling it how it is. Big Boi appeared on the song "Hold Up," and mega star West appeared on the bonus track "Down." For this sophomore effort, Brown had a bigger hand in the songwriting process. "This time, I was more physically and mentally into the whole process," he said on his Web site. "I just jumped in head first…. It's another stepping stone for me. Every day is a learning experience when you're in the music industry. From day one, I've learned how to be a better artist, working on my music and with other people."

Comparisons to Michael Jackson and Usher are always welcomed by Brown because he aims for that kind of popular success and longevity. "I'm about to start getting to my prime," he told Tim Stack of Entertainment Weekly. "I hope I can be the next Michael Jackson," Brown added. "He's made music that's for every age. It's right in the middle so everyone can have it." That half innocence-half sexiness is exactly where Brown is at. In 2007 Brown celebrated his eighteenth birthday at two separate New York parties, and rewarded his adulthood by purchasing himself a Lamborghini. Even with the extravagant car and lifestyle, Brown knows that just a few years back, he was a regular kid in high school. "I just see myself as Chris, a regular dude doing what I love," he confessed to Waldron. "If females see me as a sex symbol, that's dope." Brown spent much of 2008 working on starring roles in two feature films, including Caramel and Phenom.

For the Record …

Born on May 5, 1989, in Tappahannock, VA; son of Joyce Hawkins.

Released Chris Brown, Jive, 2005; acted on the television series The O.C., 2007; appeared in the films Stomp the Yard and This Christmas, 2007; released Exclusive, Jive, 2007.

Awards: Soul Train Award, Best R&B/Best New Artist, 2006; NAACP Image Award, Outstanding New Artist, 2006; BET Award, Best New Artist and Viewer's Choice, 2006; Billboard Award, Artist of the Year, Male Artist and New Artist of the Year, 2006.

Addresses: Record company—Zomba/Jive Records, 137 W 25th St., New York, NY 10001. Web site—Chris Brown Official Web site: http://www.chrisbrownworld.com.