REVIEW: CHRIS BROWN – F.A.M.E.

F.A.M.E. – Forgiving All My Enemies or Fans Are My Everything, either way Chris Brown has amassed more fame than a new socialite’s sex tape. This is not the fame that Lady Gaga markets, or created with her Fame album series, but an unplanned series of negative and positive events by a truly talented young man, growing up in the music industry; under the bright lights of the big cities, but raised from under the stars of a rural small country town. This is Chris Brown’s “moment for life”. We are all watching a true star, on the heels of a terrible personal decision, remaking himself through acceptance of fault, growth, and raw talent. The fourth studio album by Brown was his 2nd chance. His true fans stuck with him while commercial radio and the media shunned him. He fought it though, and as his fan base, Team Breezy, grew worldwide he showed us that real stars, the big ones, they are all a bit crazy, but it takes a bit of crazy to keep us interested, and maybe shock us too, when the music is just as crazy-good.

F.A.M.E. was built around the success of two records Brown recorded and released during his period of struggle; “Deuces,” a collaboration with newcomer Kevin McCall, who is a rising star to watch, whom we have Brown to thank for introducing to us, and “No BS” produced by Tha Bizness. A modern day love making, mid-tempo ballad. Their success is a perfect example of the place a real artist needs to be in to create great music. These records were made just for the fans; it was an organic method, releasing music for free through full-length mixtapes. This is now common practice, and it proves that letting an artist create without outside input or pressure is where the magic happens. Listening to F.A.M.E. straight through, it plays as if it’s a greatest hits compilation of a seasoned artist with a successful two or three decade long career. Not in the sense that every record is That good, but in the sty lings and diversity of genres he can create in. When can you say there was another artist who had a #1 and #3 R&B single playing next to a #1 Rap single, next to a Top 40 smash, next to a Dance hit all at the same time! Before their album was released! F.A.M.E. may jump around from bedroom ballad’s to dance floor thumpers, and even straight youth pop songs like the Justin Bieber featured “Next To You”. But, then it has highlights of maturity and reflection such as “All Back” and “Should’ve Kissed You”. If you had to give F.A.M.E. a genre you could call it Pop & B, but don’t take that as if it’s cheesy. The greatest of all time – Michael Jackson, made Pop R&B music. Brown is a voice of new generations, and we are still just watching the process of a young lion learning to become king of the jungle.