After almost a year of reports that focused mostly on his personal life (rather than his music), Chris Brown is hoping to put the past behind him by way of his new album “Graffiti.” Although the album provides much of what we’ve grown to love and expect from Brown: a fusion of pop/R&B with a hint of hip-hop, you can’t help but wonder if art is merely imitating life.
Tapping big name producers like Polow Da Don and Swizz Beatz, on “Graffiti,” Brown reminds us why he’s so good at what he does. Even still, the lead single “I Can Transform Ya,” is nothing to write home about. The futuristic production and typical lyrics courtesy of Lil Wayne’s feature makes the song intriguing but far from certified banger material. On the contrary, “Sing Like Me,” is smooth a butter as Brown contemplates which woman to choose in a room full of options. Content aside the delivery is where the 20-year-old is luminescent.
Everything runs pretty steadily until the “Rihanna potholes” rear their heads. Despite stating that certain songs are not about the pop singer, at this point it’s very hard to believe. The first of his sob story begins with “Crawl,” where he pleads with his lover to return and they will slowly put the pieces of their embattled relationship back together. Then there’s “So Cold” which is full-fledged self-loathing. Underneath soft piano keys the Virginia native takes us through all the symptoms of a broken heart. “Tell her I miss her. Tell her I need her. Tell her I want her, I really want her to come back home, back to keep me warm. Tell her I’m sorry, I’m really sorry, Can you forgive me? Please forgive me.” Null of personal references this track is an impressive hybrid of sad love song and hopeful reconciliation. Lastly, the Ryan Leslie produced “Famous Girl,” is pretty much an open letter to Riri; and it’s not a sugary sweet letter either, which is kind of cool.
We can undoubtedly hear Brown’s metamorphosis from baby-faced teenager to grown man status on “What I Do,” an upbeat drum intense club joint featuring Plies. For his part, Plies manages to stay within the lines of the beat providing for a match made in “hip-pop” heaven. “Take My Time” featuring Tank serves up some classic R&B melody circa the late 90s Jodeci era, but once Brown hooks up with Trey Songz on “Wait,” he finally gets the ball rolling. Similar to the “Gimme That,” off his debut “Wait” (produced by Polow Da Don) is something like a phenomenon.
Perhaps the most reflective, as opposed to descriptive, song on the album is “Lucky Me” which details the downfalls of fame (i.e. having your domestic altercation become the subject of public banter). For the first time in the entire album, the listener will get a glimpse into Brown’s heart, which is just the kind of support he needs right now.
In its entirety “Graffiti” holds a little something for all of the Billboard charts: pop, R&B, hip-hop and even dance, which to Brown’s credit is a clever approach. No the music is not earth shattering, but its solid as a rock, so whether you love him or hate him Chris Breezy is back and he brought his A-game.
Yes! His album is decent. I hope Chris charts @ # 1 next week. *fingers crossed*
Go Chris!
I WILL BE GETTING THIS CD AFTER WORK ……….SUPPORT CBREEZYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i have forgiven this young boy for what he has done… i’ve dealt with domestic abuse from fam and guys i’ve dated… and i have forgiven them and still talk to fam… i’ll listen to chris’s songs and not ban him from my musical life like i did…but i will not support this young child by buying his album but i do wish him the best in his career!!!
album is crack
besides 1 or 2 songs
Im so anxious to hear it.. Im supporting it
His new image is getting undeniably gay…. not very suprising when his x is looking more and more like a boy…is it me or is riri looking very rough these days? switching roles wha? not feeling this cat suit he’s got on in this prom either!
Haven’t listened to the songs yet but just wanted to comment on what a well-written, thought-provoking review this is. Great job Latifah!
Hmm from the album preview I’m not really feeling it… I will just download a few singles from limewire that I liked cuz it was only 4 n that includes the ones he came out with… I hope his album dont flop tho that would suck I never bought a CD of his and this one def dont do it for me to actually want to buy one
THIS DUDE IS CRAZY AND I DONT RESPECT HIM AS AN ARTIST KNOW AND IT ANIT CAUSE OF RIRI. CHRIS LOOK LIKE A DUD WHO WOULD BLOW UP THE SCHOOL OR SOMETHING
I’ll be getting his cd today….I wonder what his first week sales will be?
Yay!! The album is here!! I’m so excited about it!! He is so talented, I wish him nothing but the best!!
Graffiti ii a very good album and it’s already doing well in sales. Its no denying he’s talented. Exclusive was a great album as well.
I dont know why him and rihanna made albums that fast after their karateka. Instead of going to do therapies, they think albums are the solutions. They gonna help u to tell things u want ppl to hear about but its not what u need. She didnt do well, I wont be surprised if he doesnt either. Its sad for Chris cuz he is talented.
They need to grow musically, better lyrics, quality sounds.
The world will never see him the same. NEVER. EVER. No matter how many amounts of sorry ass interviews, sorry ass songs. I tried, I tried but I failed, just thinkin about Rihanna’s blood in the car makes me sick and I dont even like that hoe. I dont even know why his sorry ass mama didnt took him to do therapies, she knows damn well about women beaters, they need serious help, they got anger issues.
SOME PEOPLE ARE SO SHALLOW-MINDED, THEY FAIL TO REALIZE IT IS ABOUT THE MUSIC, NOT WHAT AN ARTIST DO IN THEIR PERSONAL LIFE. WHAT IF EVERY JOB YOU WORKED OUT FIRED BASED ON WHAT YOU DO IN ” YOUR PERSONAL LIFE”?….THEN NOBODY WOULD EVER HAVE A JOB. IF YOU ARE HIRED AS A SALES ASSOCIATE AT BLOOMINGDALE TO SALE CLOTHING, THATS SHOULD BE THE MAIINE FOCUS. YOU, AS A N EMPLOYEE DOING YOU OCCUPATION DUTIES. IF YOU GO HOME AND STICK CUCUMBER UP YOUR BEHIND, THATS YOUR PERSONAL BUSINESS AND THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR JOB.ITS SAD PARENTS ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN TO CHOOSE SINGERS, ARTIST, BASKETBALL PLAYERS, ETC, AND AS A ” ROLE MODEL”. IT SAD CELEBRITIES PUT PRESSURE WITHIN THEMSELVES TO BE PERFECT, BECAUSE YOU WILL NEVER BE. THIS IS SILLY, CELEBRITIES ARE NOT ROBOTS , THEY WILL MAKE MISTAKES, INCLUDING YOU. WHY NOT PUT YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS IN SOMEONE WHO IS PERFECT AND FREE FROM FLAW….GOD
I’ve been a huge chris brown fan from day one! I hope his album is a success and I’ll be copping that jank today
I too have not yet listened to the album but I am definitely going to check it out. Latifah great great wording of this review. Keep of the good work! I only hope this is solid as a rock as you suggested.
TALENTED NON SHADES THROWER LATIFAH, YOU SHOULD DO MORE POSTS IN THIS BITCH.
DONT CARE ABOUT A DAMN CHRISSY WOMAN BEATER BROWN GO PHUCK USELF.
THATS ALL I WANTED TO SAY.
i’ll be buying!
This is an album that you can listen to the whole thing without skipping.
THE ALBUM IS AMAZING, PEOPLE LEAVE THE PERSONAL SOMEWHERE ELSE AND LISTEN TO THE ALBUM FROM BEGINNING TO END THE ALBUM IS GREAT. MUSIC THAT EVERYONE CALL LISTEN TO.
I pre ordered mine last week….. I wasnt sure if the CD was gonna be here today or not but to my SUPRISE I have the Album right know,… Im sooo ready to put it on my ipod….. && Later on Imma run to target and pick up a few more copies and hand them out as gifts for the holidays… (Great gift idea and saves me mooney))
i really dont got nothing nice to say so i’m just gonna say GOOD LUCK chris!
dont even know why his sorry ass mama didnt took him to do therapies,
……………………………………………………..
I am literally ROTF! some ppl are way too funny….
From NYT:::
There it is, reasonably well hidden, 3 minutes 38 seconds into “Lucky Me,” the 11th of 13 tracks on “Graffiti,” the third album by Chris Brown: the moment of contrition. Up through that point he tried out some other strategies for publicly facing his tarnished reputation following his assault of Rihanna, then his girlfriend, in February. There’s evasion, masked indignation and, in a couple of places, pleading.
“Lucky Me” initially appears to be the most disingenuous of the songs here, trying to evoke pity for a life lived in the limelight — “I’ve gotta pose for the cameras/Even when my world’s falling down/I still wear a smile.” But then, just as the song is shaking off its light sarcasm and its digitized Ladysmith Black Mambazo-esque chorus, for two bars Mr. Brown slips into a melody lifted from Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror,” then drops it just as quickly.
As a performer Jackson has long been the guidepost for Mr. Brown, as fluid a dancer as singer. (More so, really.) But this tiny borrowing, from a signature Jackson song about reckoning, resonates louder than almost everything else on “Graffiti,” a curiously faceless album that largely thumbs its nose at close reading.
Two songs near the beginning, “So Cold” and “Crawl,” come off as thoughtful, even if they’re not quite mea culpas. In these moments Mr. Brown is pining, mildly apologetic. And “Famous Girl,” a sprightly Ryan Leslie production, seethes credibly, with Mr. Brown seemingly tossing accusations and barbs in his ex’s direction, though all its internal references to other R&B singers and songs only make Mr. Brown appear willfully emotionally distant.
But mostly he’s moved back to the angular seduction numbers he’s made his specialty. “I Can Transform Ya” is an electric, brassy collaboration with Lil Wayne. “Take My Time,” featuring the underappreciated R&B singer Tank, churns like vintage Jodeci, with achingly slow drums, heavy female breathing and little room for innuendo. And “Wait,” with the more blatantly sensual R&B singer Trey Songz and the rapper the Game, comes the closest to capturing the frenetic energy of Mr. Brown’s early singles. (It’s tough to tell which singer promises his lover he’ll “beat it like a boxer,” but it’s safe to say that lyric shouldn’t be within 500 yards of Mr. Brown.)
In an interview with “20/20” on Friday Mr. Brown said a song, “Changed Man,” that he’d written for Rihanna a few weeks after the assault had brought her to tears when he played it for her. “I remember your touch/God, I miss you so much,” he sings on it. “Please believe me, baby, I’m sorry.” But while that song has been available on the Internet for months, it’s not on this album: too literal, perhaps, for a singer still in hiding. JON CARAMANICA
I don’t plan on buying his CD but I think he will probable sell well though.. he has a lot of young and older fans.
I can appreciate QUALITY music , & this is what Chris is giving us….
@Cot: STFU!! Stick to the topic and comment on the MUSIC! Damn! We don’t need to bring up the situation and how the world will see him right now! How the hell do you know how the world sees him! His CD is No. 1 in Autralia, Belgium and New Zealand right now and is No. 2 in the Netherlands and on itunes! So apparenlty the world does not feel that same way as you! Comment on the damn music and move the f@ck on! His CD is bangin and his fans are the only ones he cares about impressing! Not asswipes like YOU!
As long as they we the music, which we do, he will be fine! Your dumbass just wants to come in here and bring up the ‘incident’ to distract people from the music! It WILL NOT work. His CD is already doing well and no amount of negative energy you try to throw at him will stop him from having success in his career!
The fact that you would refer to someone’s mother as a ‘sorry ass’ and refer to Rihanna as a ‘hoe’ says a lot about YOUR character! Verbal abuse towards a woman is no better than physical abuse! YOU are the one who needs help you arrogant asshole!
ASK OURSELVES ARE WE BUYING HIS ALBUM FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. IS IT BECAUSE WE LIKE HIS MUSIC OR WE WANT HIM TO SELL MORE RECORDS THAN RIHANNA. I BOUGHT THE ALBUM THIS MORNING AND I SWEAR ON MY BARITO IF I COULD FOUND MY RECEPT I WOULD TAKE IT BACK. IF YOU ARE 17 AND UNDER THIS ALBUM IS FOR YOU. THIS ALBUM IS DEDICATED TO THEM TWEENIE BOPPERS. THE BEATS ARE HOT THE LYRICS ARE FOR KIDS.
end of the day
the cd is the business
the people who buy it will be jammin
the people who choose not to listen to it (for whatever reason) will miss out
period.
I don’t condone men hitting women but i can say Chris is going to beat the hell outta Rih Rih’s wack ass album. I’m loving the songs i heard so far and he stepped his vocal game up. I still don’t think he’s all that cute…nice ass body and big Dyck!!! Thats all!
The cd is nice wait take my time and sing like me is my sh*t!! lucky me was emotional for me..chris is a true artist i can say that much!
@4 STFU! who the hell r u 2 say u 4give him FU!!! he did nothing 2 u, doesnt even no u exsist! u ppl kill, talking about u dont want 2 support a woman beater and deserves what he gets, so friggin narrow minded, put that shyt 2 the side and c the bigger picture! which is this boy is undeniably TALENTED and his place belongs in this industry, personally i dont think he owes any1 an apology EXCEPT Rihanna, which he has done OVER n OVER again! I’m over the situation , its dead 2 me, i dont know him personally, i know him musically! and the boy is good! I got my Graffiti copy, time yall get urs 2!! OWWWWW
I love Rihanna, but I can front Graffiti is the business and way better than RR
@17 jump in a river somewhere!
I will admit I thought he was going to flop and some part of me still thinks that but his CD is good.
I swear every review seems to be hungry to say this CD is bad but he actually made good music.
I still wont be buying it though.
I’ll blast it in my Ipod all day though.
@Cot The fact that you would say that about someone’smother makes you lose all credibility! You don’t give a damn about abuse towards women because if you did you wouldn’t disrepect them with words either! You are another sorry excuse for a human being. Chris is moving on with his life and career while sit here and b!tch on a blog and insult two women in his life who have been hurt the most! I suggest YOU find the time to get the help that you suggested for CB, cause trust you are NO better than you think he is!
@24: If you honeslty find humor in someone insulting someone’s mother than you need help as well. There is nothing humorous about disrespecting someone’s mother because you are bitter about their actions! That make you NO better than the them. Both of you need to get lives and establish a relationship with God!
Thank you CL for a fair, informative unbiased review! CB definitly did his thing on this album and he is back! CB you didn’t let your fans down with this album and we won’t let you down either! Going to get my copy right now!
Now that is nice. I see him out selling RiRi ‘s first and second weeks together sales in one week..
BREEEEEEZYYYYYYY FAN IN THE BUILDING..HATE AND MISS OUT ON GOOD MUSIC..BUY AND JAM WITH US..WE AINT PLAYING..CB WENT INNNNNN..
GRAFFITI DROPS TODAY GET YOUR COPY..TEAM BREEZY!!!
@28 Um…I am not a teenie bopper! I am 23 years old and I love the CD! Apprently you didn’t listen to the whole album cause their are plenty of songs on their that cater to a older crowd! ‘Take My Time’ ain’t hardly one for the underage crowd! ‘Wait’ I am sure will be a hit when released! ‘Crawl’ is probably the one that has the most cross over appeal! ‘Pass Out’ will probably do really well in the UK as well. It is truly a mix different sounds and it appeals to a wide variety of ages. It seems as if you just have an old soul and can’t appreciate a variety of music.
PS: Sucks for you, cause once you open it you can’t return it! Every unit sold counts whether you like the CD or not! Whoop!
@36 Hi 5! AHAHAHAHa @ 28
ANA… you make no sense..
because I’m sure Bloomingdales ask on their application if you ever been arrested and charged for a felony…And best be know the moment you check yes…your application goes in the garbage..
SO AGAIN WHAT IS YOUR POINT?
BTW…#22 YOU ARE SO RIGHT..lyrically for the most part this CD is a womp womp womp..
The beats are good tho, for the most part. On the other end most of the slow songs begin to sound the same… The more upbeat songs begin to sound the same.. I actually like Famous Girl, I like Brown Skin girl but mostly because it has a Carribbean vibe and Im Jamaican…But the lyrics make no sense…Crawl is a solid song…I like the intro to Gotta be your man, but then the lyrics to the rest make me wanna shut it off.. The wait song wit Trey songz the only part I like is when Trey says ” you gotta lie lie to your man”..lol…Timbalands songs all sound the same…
So in terms of variety and growth…Chris is still in his debut album stage, although his voice did get better.
I love how this album is getting PANNED by most critics. This album is trash..I downloaded it illegally of course because I’m not supporting his ass. There were only 4 alright songs on the whole album.
BTW…#28 YOU ARE SO RIGHT..lyrically for the most part this CD is a womp womp womp..
The beats are good tho, for the most part. On the other end most of the slow songs begin to sound the same… The more upbeat songs begin to sound the same.. I actually like Famous Girl, I like Brown Skin girl but mostly because it has a Carribbean vibe and Im Jamaican…But the lyrics make no sense…Crawl is a solid song…I like the intro to Gotta be your man, but then the lyrics to the rest make me wanna shut it off.. The wait song wit Trey songz the only part I like is when Trey says ” you gotta lie lie to your man”..lol…Timbalands songs all sound the same…
So in terms of variety and growth…Chris is still in his debut album stage, although his voice did get better.
where i live the deluxe is selling like crazy my boyfriend went to get his sister a copy and it was only two left damn!! chris is doing the damn thing.. take my time isnt for teens..it is sexy more mature but seriously the baby is only 20 ya’ll want him to talk about making babies
even though MJ was found NOT GUILTY in a court of law he was found guilty in the court of ‘there’s no smoke without fire’ public
which left him fleeing USA just incase they decide to take his kids away from them
when he decide to do one last gig to secure they future, sadly it proved too much. and he was gone.
then they all said he ‘great’ an ‘inspiration’
his album sold millions, he got awards his children’s future are secure.
its a pity he had to died for us to realise this.
NO CB is NOT MJ but he has been named, shamed and punished
and even if he rescue one of the obama’s daughter from a burning building
u can bet ur ass someone will say “do u think this make up for beating up RiRi”
don’t slam the door in his face leave it ajar, he might change
@ Precious Beyonce lyrics are for 2-17 year olds and nobody stopping her! GTFOH!
I am buying 4 of them for gifts and fuk a review! Half of the people giving them aren’t no damn MUSIC EXPERTS anyway. They are giving their opinion like everyone else~
Do your thing Chris…Talent prevails over gimmicks (although I do like Rih Rih’s Cd)
Bootlegged of course..thou shall not feed the Carters & the Knowles
@40: Lyin your ass off! The album is not getting panned by ‘most’ critics! Effing lame! I don’t know what reviews you are reading but you know damn well you are talking out of your ass! It is FAR from trash! This is his best album to date! The critics that are panning the album are biased and full of BS! They all mention the ‘incident’ and Rih’s album and compare his to hers which is ridiculous! One of the articles from a negative review started off the very first sentence as ‘After Rihanna released a brilliant album’ it was so full of ish it was ridiculous! Like he is supposed to make a entire album apologizing for beating her ass! Please! He made an album for his fans, he didn’t address the incident and he didn’t make an album full of misery and dispair! It’s like the critics wanted it to be an ‘I’m sorry will you forgive me album!’ GTFOH!! He has to geive his fans what they want, they want variety and something you can dance to. He made some ode to Rih tracks but the majority of the album is up beat and flows well. This album is bangin and YOU, Rih stans and the critics can kiss his sexy yellow ass! Graffit in Stores now Bitches!!!!
chris is #1 on i tune say what you want but chris fans dont not play lol
I’LL BE PURCHASING ON FRIDAY aka PAY DAY!! BREEZY BACK…BIATCHES!!!
yawn at the miserable young chris brown fans GTFOH, number one in itunes doesnt mean the top spot, rihanna was one, even ciara so puhlease; anyway wish him the best
@45 GTFOH
Beyoncé lyrics are for 2 to 17 years??? beyoncé lyrics specially from this last album are beautifully written for grown and sexy ppl so please sit ur ass down somewhere, put a ring on it is for 12 years old teens who want to get married? GTFOH! ave maria? dont get confused about havein a large market of music buyers and your non sense! her fans go from 1 to 90 years old!
THANK YOU LATIFAH… This review is much better than CL usual ones.
DWIGHT.. Shut up u loved him last year and was getting your kiss kiss kiss and forever on.. and if you dont like chris brown we not even thinking about you.. The Album is good.. duhh its chris brown.. Im proud of the album because he had no hype and he did his own promo and is killing the iTunes Charts.. PPl around the world couldn’t wait to hear Graffiti.. You his gay now the album cover looks bad.. But thats not his music.. His voice got stronger and its so crazy, sexy, cool and I love it.. Im an CHRIS BROWN STAN and I know he did wrong BUT ITS ALMOST 2010 AND NO ONE GIVES A F… Let them live and deal with this like real ppl would. I bought both Album and I like chris 1 it has more songs and saw him in concert this yaer and he can sing live and you cant say he doesn’t have talent. U KNOW U LOVED CHRIS BROWN DANCING AND SINGING BEFORE FEB2009. Im a fan.. AND THE REAL WAIT IS OVER.. U KNOW THE ONE THAT IS WORTH BUYING CAUSE HE CAN SING AND THE CD IS GOOD.. Get over your self.. I made mistake im not proud AND IF YOU DONT LIKE IT EAT A_________….
I’m glad Chris has taken a stand and accepted full responsibility. He should keep reminding young men that what he did was wrong. Just as Rihanna must remind young ladies to accept nothing less than the best when it comes to domestic affairs and respect. They both have a serious message to deliver. And, the more they sound off, the better.
I don’t think this is a Chris vs. Rihanna issue like people want it to be. They’re two young people who fortunately, won’t get to waste God’s blessing like Bobby and Whitney did. They will always be reminded and focused on the bigger picture of domestic violence among adolence. Keep your heads up Chris and Rihanna. Do what you have to do on your own seperate stages. One day, who knows, God may see fit to bring you back together. But for now, share the message every chance you get.
I’m glad he only said that she cried and lied about not hearing that song rather than calling her a lie about her version of the Night in Feburary. Man, if Michael was here, I know he could write a song about that night like, “Strangers In Moscow”. So, keep confessing, Chris…until you’re blue in the face. Confession is good for the soul and the critics don’t like it when you put it out there hard.
I support you, Brother.
Chris Brown’s CD is not good. I think there are so many people that want him to out-sale Rhianna that they try to say the CD is great, this and that. But both artist should have taken some time off. They both are trying to make money off the situation and to me, they both failed…….Basically, music now is made for the beat and catchy hooks. People cannot sing anymore PERIOD. I use to like CB, but his sound is not changing. At least I can say Rhianna tried something different and got out of the box. People got on Rhianna for her 20/20 interview coming out a week before her CD dropped, but no one said anything about Chris doing the very same thing. That is the point, they are both trying to make money and that is fine. But I just say learn from your situation, sit down for a minute. Because both of their work has suffered.
Why am I lmao @ #46?? ahahaa
im no chris fan but he will out sell rihanna horrblie album real talk!
Most of the reviews of this album are bad. I never liked his music..give me Marvin Gaye, Alexander O’Neal or Johnny Gill. This contrite, arrognant, liar..can go away
Dont give a efff about what young predictable chris brown fans have to say, I maintain what I said and if u dont like, I honestly dont care, his mom knows better, all those cryin wont help chris; she was a victim and he saw she was one, they never expect him to do victims as well and beat, knowin that his mom was abused; that must be the thing that will normally catch her attention as a mom and make him do therapies and such; u dumbasses only support him cuz he is famous, if it was a random guy who did that to ur sister or mom, I dont think u’ll be singin his songs again; can forgive cant forget, I have nothin against him and I still stand up for my opinion, ur judgment doesnt matter and never will. Yall talk about music, but what quality music anyway yall talkin about? yawn for me but to each his own! Music or personal life, its about the same guy; if I like his songs I will say it, matter fact, I love the beat of transform ya but his lyrics are not for me, if I cant see him the same I used to do, thats my damn problem, u dont know me, u dont know about domestic violence until u lived it or got family members who lived it, once u kill, u dont need a second murder to know u’re a criminal; women beaters have anger problems, before the riri incident, he already broke those damn windows of a car in barbados cuz he was too upset about her, he beat that face not one slap and then realize his fault ppl, he did it like she was a man and continuously did it until blood; and most of these men and entourage think it was just a bad day when they were beatin, but they will do it again until they decide to receive help; I guess yall need him to do it again so u can be sure now SMH and CB can have the success he wants, like I said, he is young and talented, I respect him for that at least. I care enough for him to want the best for him unlike yall fools with selective memory GTFOH.
@Po
Rihanna’s album never went to #1 in the US. Itunes only counts for 30% of your sales.
For example Ciara still flopped even though she was #1 on there. Its only when stores start saying that the store is selling out tells you that hes doing numbers.