Teen R&B star has joined forces with Keri Hilson for this brand new cut titled 'Superhuman'. Set to feature on the re-release of Chris' sophomore effort 'Exclusive', the track is much better than I had anticipated. The oddly matched pair trade verses over the R&B/Pop inspired mid-tempo production, meshing surprisingly well. Perhaps the re-release will be worth it after all. 'Exclusive: the Forever Edition' hits stores June 3rd.

LISTEN: Superhuman (ft. Keri Hilson)

Labels: Chris Brown, Keri Hilson

R&B stars Rihanna and Chris Brown were snapped smooching at a KFC in Miami yesterday. The not-so-surprising, yet surprising public display of affection comes on the heels the pair both denying they are an item. I guess, the hush-hush of it all was to keep Chris' largely young female audience appeased. No so luck after this.

Labels: Chris Brown, Rihanna

With the re-release of Chris Brown’s Platinum selling sophomore effort 'Exclusive: The Forever Edition' set to hit stores on June 3rd, the LP's cover has surfaced. Hardly original; just a (badly) re-colored version of the initial cover. Labels and these re-releases; if they are going to churn out the same album with a few new tracks tacked on, they could at least do it properly. It seems like they went to put little funding into a project, yet want large returns. SMH...

Labels: Chris Brown

R&B teen star Chris Brown features on the cover of the latest issue of Ebony magazine. The pic along with the article tag-line ('Chris Brown On Women, Sex & Music'), definitely show he's of age now.

Labels: Chris Brown

Chris Brown's video for new single 'Forever' premiered today. The track is lifted from the upcoming re-release of his sophomore LP 'Exclusive' (due June 3rd). About the clip; put simply, I think it's wack, as is the song. However I do commend Chris for experimenting with a 'different' sound and trying to appeal to a wider audience. It's just a shame the execution fell short of his (label's) intentions.

What do you think of the video?

Labels: Chris Brown

R&B star Usher recently spoke on the young talent in the today's industry - more specifically teen singer Chris Brown:

Usher has hailed fellow singer Chris Brown as a younger version of himself - insisting the star will “follow the same path”. Usher, 29, was just 15 when he released his self-titled debut album in 1994 and has gone on to forge a highly successful music career. And Usher is convinced Brown, 19, is all set to follow in his footsteps and dominate the R&B scene.

He says, “All of this young energy is great for the industry. Chris is the guy who dances and sings, which is a lot like I do and did as a young artist as well. If time serves us correctly, and artists are continuing to better themselves, then hopefully he’ll follow the same path that I did.” {Source}

While it's good to see Usher giving props to the crop of younger stars on the come-up, I can't help but feel he's a tad on the self-indulgent side. I mean after all, he along with the Justin's and co are evidently still students at the 'Michael Jackson School of Performing'. To be honest, I can't pick any one male artist of today that has carved out a lasting trademark in the way the MJ's and Prince's did.

Your thoughts?

Labels: Chris Brown, Usher

Teen stars Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown performed their hit 'No Air' on American Idol last night. For all it's success, the song doesn't really move me - ok, at best. About the performance, Jordin sounded great; Chris, however, has had better days.

What do you think of the performance?

Labels: Chris Brown, Jordin Sparks

R&B star Chris Brown is set to re-release his successful sophomore effort 'Exclusive' in June, and has lined up 'Forever' as the lead single. Produced by Polow Da Don, the track sees the teen singer venture into a, somewhat, different musical direction than we're used to hearing from him; with the song sounding more Hip-Hop/Euro-Pop than his commercial R&B mainstay. Put simply, I'm not really feeling this one. While I expected more from 'Exclusive', the album does boast cuts that are better than this, so I'm kinda puzzled at the logic behind repackaging it.

Labels: Chris Brown

The video for Chris Brown's latest single 'Take You Down' premiered on BET just a few short hours ago. While it's footage from his 'Up Close & Personal' tour, I'm still pleased it's getting a release in some capacity. IMO 'Take You Down' is one of, if not the, best track I've heard from Chris. About the video, Chris really is morphing into a very seasoned performer.

What do you think of the video?

Labels: Chris Brown

With the UK leg of Chris Brown's world tour fast-approaching, a rep for the R&B star forwarded this on to me for you guys:

Chris Brown's European tour is starting soon! He will be in concert at the indigO2 in London on 23 March and 24 March 2008.

Upgrade your Chris Brown concert experience to include a backstage pass to meet Chris Brown. Go to http://www.ucptouring.com/ for more information.

I hope this proves helpful to those who hope to meet Chris (I did receive your emails).

As many of you know, That Grape Juice will be interviewing Chris during his stay here in London. Click here to submit a question(s) if you haven't already

Labels: Chris Brown

It would that R&B stars Rihanna and Chris Brown are no longer concealing their much-talked about romance. The pic above was taken at a Paris nightclub this past weekend, where Rihanna, 20, met up with Brown, 18, before he launches his International tour. Publicity stunt or legit? Who knows.

Labels: Chris Brown, Rihanna

Judging by this pic, taken in Jamaica over the weekend, I'm guessing the rumors about a romance between Rihanna and Chris Brown are true. Check out the report below:

“They were smooching in the pool and were really lovely dovey. They were playfully making out and he was kissing her on the neck.”

The attractive pair, who got matching star tattoos on their necks in January, got in the pool after a leisurely lunch yesterday at the Hilton Kingston Hotel in Jamaica. They were hanging out with friends and at about 3 p.m., Chris, 18, jumped into the water and waited while Rihanna went to her room and changed into a bikini.

“They were floating together with him carrying her and she kept saying, ‘Don’t get my hair wet.’ She was very soft and feminine but he was a big kid and splashing around.” {Source}

Labels: Chris Brown, Rihanna

Decent video. Prior to now I hadn't really warmed to Jordin's music, and still haven't - she has NOTHING on some of Idol's past contestants like Fantasia etc. Saying this, 'No Air' is a pretty solid effort and Chris Brown's contribution serves the song well.

What do think of the song / video?

Labels: Chris Brown, Jordin Sparks

For the last couple of months, speculation has been mounting as to whether R&B stars Rihanna and Chris Brown have been dating. Following the surfacing of the pic above, taken at LA Reid's post-Grammy party this past Sunday, PEOPLE.com report Brown, 18, was spotted at the 'Umbrella' singer's 20th birthday party recently:

When partygoers (like Kanye West and Wilmer Valderrama) weren’t flinging cupcakes, they offered a standing ovation after Chris Brown sang an acapella version of “Happy Birthday.” While Brown has denied that he and the birthday gal are dating (”We’re just friends … we hang out,” he told PEOPLE at a post Grammy party), a party guest tells us the two were cuddling and acting “very cozy all night.”

Add to this the fact Rihanna came to visit Chris on the set of Jordin Sparks 'No Air' video (which he features in), I'm thinking there may be truth to the rumors. Hmmm..

In other Rihanna news, her club-ready, bassline-heavy new single 'Don't Stop The Music' is performing fantastically well here in the UK. After a whopping 27 weeks on the Official Singles Chart, the song continues to hold steady, rising #5-#4 this week. The track is available at most music stores and iTunes.

Any thoughts?

Labels: Chris Brown, Rihanna

It has been confirmed that teen R&B star Chris Brown is to release 'Picture Perfect' as the next single from his current album 'Exclusive'. Though I think the will.i.am produced track is pretty solid, I'm kinda baffled as to why he/the label are overlooking better tracks as singles such as 'You'. Still, I'm sure Chris' CD will continue to shift units well into the year; since dropping 'Exclusive' back in November, the album has sold through a very impressive 1,121,800 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan. Anyway, you can check out the single - of which a remix featuring Bow Wow and Hurricane Chris will debut soon - below. {Source}

LISTEN: Picture Perfect (ft. will.i.am)

Labels: Chris Brown

Labels: Chris Brown

Additional Performances:

Will.i.am // Nicole Scherzinger // Fergie

The performances, to me, were kind of a mixed bag....

I mean, though it's understandable why Beyonce would perform 'Irreplaceable' (it's the song she was nominated most for), she performed the very same track at the 2006 American Music Awards; the country twist was a nice touch, though.

IMO Chris Brown took it to the next level tonight - in terms of stage spectacle. However the fact that he was lypsynching was painfully obvious. It's 2007, lipping to the CD version of a track isn't cutting it -he should have used pre-recorded vocals (See: Janet Jackson).

Call me a hater or whatever, but Rihanna's voice was extra nasal tonight and the lack of depth in her vocal ability really showed through. Ne-Yo, on the other hand, was great.

In what was the first televised performance of Mary J. Blige's new single 'Just Fine', I felt she did just that. Though kinda off at the start, she picked it up from the middle onwards and did her thing.

Performance of the night IMO goes to Alicia Keys. Vocally, she was as-ever, on-point. Moreover she switched things up with the remix and the surprise blasts from the past i.e. Chaka Demus and Pliers. Great stuff.

What do you think of the performances?

Labels: Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Chris Brown, Mary J. Blige, Will.i.am

I'm liking Chris' performances more and more these days; I wasn't really feeling all the crazy dancing and huffing and puffing of his past performances. He came across well in the interview as well. Chris' new album 'Exclusive' is in stores now.

What do you think of the performance / interview?

Labels: Chris Brown

R&B singer Chris Brown is set to star in holiday flick 'This Christmas' alongside Regina King. The teen star co-directed this video for the song (of the same name) from the film's soundtrack. Both the song and video are pretty decent. Veering off topic slightly, this has just reminded me of how quick 2007 has gone by - we're at the end of the year already. Anyway, 'This Christmas' will hit theatres across the US on November 21st.

What do you think of the song/video?

Labels: Chris Brown

With 'Exclusive' having hit stores last week, R&B star Chris Brown is hitting the promotional trail in support of the CD. The 18 year old star stopped by BET's 106 & Park earlier last week for an interview and to perform current single 'Kiss Kiss' along with T-Pain. You can check out their performance below:

Labels: Chris Brown