Chris Brown realized that his “no more interviews” strategy was ineffective, so he sat down with a number of media outlets to update the public on his forthcoming music and current sanity level. In summation, he’s solely focusing on the positives this time around. Like Mary J., there’s no more drama in his life. Don’t hold your breath.
On the heels of his 24th birthday, Chris is prepping the release of his sixth album in eight years, X. “I came up with the concept because the letter stands for a kind of forbidden fruit,” he tells BET. “You see it with the skull-and-crossbones. It’s also the Roman numeral 10. I wanted to do it for my birthday. Five, Five (May 5). X is also the 24th letter in the alphabet, and I’m turning 24.”
Timbaland, Pharrell, Diplo and Drumma Boy are a few notable names Chris worked with on the album. He says the first single, “Fine China,” produced by Roccstar and PK and co-written by Brown, Sevyn, Roccstar and Eric Bellinger, is his way of paying homage to the greats–Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke and Michael Jackson.
MTV claims it’s not over-produced or plagued with auto-tune like most of Chris’ recent songs. We’ll reserve that judgment when the audio and video arrives on April 1st.
“Autumn Leaves” is being described as a laid back, melancholic tune that will feature Kendrick Lamar. “I picked Kendrick because his subject matter as a lyricist is beyond everybody else’s,” Chris tells Rolling Stone. “There’s a substance to what he says.”
Diplo (“Look At Me Now”) crafted the album’s title track, which is unanimously the most reflective record on the LP. Although it “thunders from dubstep bass to trap beats,” Chris admits to being “associated with the wrong crowd” and vowing to change. The song, co-written by Brown, Roccstar, Sevyn and Dewaine Whitmore, doesn’t address any particular issue, though.
Brown describes “Add Me In,” a “clever offering that makes mathematics a metaphor for love,” as an “old-school with a new-age feel.” “Your love is trigonometry/ Just trying to solve the whole equation,” he sings on the Danja-produced track.
Chris gets vulnerable on the nearly beatless “Lady in the Glass Dress,” produced by Camper and co-written by Brown and Sam Hook. He encourages Karrueche girls to seek love after having their hearts broken.
Last week, Jennifer Lopez tweeted a photo of herself in the studio with Chris. He spoke on the collaboration, notorious valet parking incident and being forgiven by Rihanna with Ryan Seacrest.
Ryan Seacrest Part 1
Part 2
“Fine China” Video Set
“Fine China” Video Sneak Peek