Chris Brown :: Education by Design Store

Editorial Review
He's a lot like the 16-year-old boy living in the house next door to you: one minute he's five-foot-seven, the next he's 6'1. One minute he's a cute little boy trying to dribble a basketball, the next a superstar point guard. One minute he's ducking under the covers pleading for five more minutes of shut-eye, the next he's racing through a day full of recording, performances and interviews. With his easy-going demeanor and schoolboy charm, Chris Brown could easily be somebody that you know. With his incredible voice and a debut cd laced with clever lyrics, hypnotic tracks and impeccable vocals, he's someone that the world will soon know. Chris isn't part of some A-list producer's camp. Nor does he hail from any of those famous urban music hubs like NYC, Compton or the ATL. Straight from Tappahannock, VA --- population 2000 -- Chris Brown proves that real talent, persistence and charisma still have a place in the music industry. One listen to Chris' 16-year-old voice and you're tempted to draw comparisons: Michael Jackson, Tevin Campbell, and Usher. But listen a bit longer and those comparisons begin to dissipate as it becomes clear that, while Chris certainly channels the creativity of those who have come before him, he definitely has a style, a flavor and a place in music that are all his own. His debut CD Young Love takes us on a journey through the malls, parties and teen hangouts as Chris covers a variety of subjects: A girl that he's dying to hit the dance floor with. A girl that's got another man. A girl that has him totally and completely head over heels in love. It's an album about young boys, young girls -- Young Love. In selecting songs for Young Love, Chris said he simply relied on his own sense of what was hot and what was real for him and his peers. "When I hear these songs, I feel something. I know I can relate to them. I take myself out of the artist box and I become an audience member and I critique myself." Chris got his musical initiation early on, inspired by what he refers to as the "eclectic" taste of his parents and soaking in the sounds of his favorites: Michael Jackson, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway, Anita Baker, and Aretha Franklin. But, like most young boys, Chris was soon drawn to rap and was certain that he would be the first emcee to put Tappahannock on the map. "I was rapping," he recalls. "I didn't understand that I could sing until I was like 11 or 12. My mom heard me singing around the house and she said, 'What are you doing? You really can sing!' So then I started going to school and singing to the girls." By the time he was 13, Chris realized that his voice was more than just a chick magnet. And so did his mother as he began to hook his son up with various producers. "When I went in and started working, there were ups and downs but I loved it and I knew I wanted to do it for the rest of my life." Chris may still be a lot like the boy who lives next door to you. But not really. You'll see.
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Customer Reviews

Impressive Debut!

2007-05-07
I loved this album!For a 16-year old this is very impressive! My favorite songs on this album are the club hit RunIt!,of course, Young love, Gimme that remix, and just fine being my most favorite song on the album. Because of this album i am now a big fan of chris. I can wait to see him in concert!!

HOTTEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR!!!

2007-03-27
This is my favorite album along with Lloyd's "street love"[which i have also reviewed].This Boy can sing his heart out and is also a talenter actor/dancer.This guy has my heart.Not only is he a great performer,he is just so hot!lol.I love every track on this cd.It is definetly my fave.Keep up the good work Chris!!!!!Can't wait for your "Graduation" album!!!!!!!!!BUY THIS ALBUM PEOPLE!!!!!!!!

The Future Of R&B He Ain't, But He Definitely Has Skills

2007-03-10
Chris Brown's self-titled album is something that kinda slipped by me last year. He had a few hits but I think Jive spent a lot of time marketing the singles and not the album. The songs were just decent on the radio and I really didn't care to pick up the album until my iTunes playlist started to play "Gimme That" and just thought "I wonder how good his album would be?" Now I'm kinda perplexed by some of these earlier reviews. I scrolled through a good amount of them and seem to be ridiculously mixed. A ton of 5 star reviews saying he's the future of R&B (that's definitely not true) and one star reviews that just hate that he sounds even 10% of Usher. (I only thought "Run It!" sounded like Usher). Anyhow, I decided to try Chris Brown's CD. He's definitely got a good voice on him, and this album is slickly produced and has a good 90s R&B feel with a few scattered club bangers. The only actual issue are the lyrics, which can get very cheesy at times. But that put aside, this is a decent male R&B CD that doesn't try too hard but still has enough tracks going for it.

Although this is an R&B album, I actually found Chris doing better on the up-tempo songs. Yes, "Run It!" (regardless of the amount of people wanting to admit it) sounds very much like Usher's "Yeah!", but that's not to say it's undeniably catchy with its hook "Let me see if you can run it, run it" and a needed Juelz Santana rap line (although some versions of the song don't have the rap?). Back in '05 this song was huge and I was sure loving it for the time it was big. But the other (yes the other) single "Gimme That", in my opinion, is possibly the best song on the album. The beat is absoultely and insanely catchy and hits the bass hard, and has a fun hook line, Even if the lyrics can get monotonous when Chris starts to talk about how much money he has, its production and Chris's rapping flows so well. Other decent up-tempo songs include "What's My Name", a decent song and it's without a doubt that it sounds a lot like some songs from Usher's Confessions (the dreaded comparison, but it is true). It's a bit more uptempo and is nicely jazzed up. There's nothing special about the song--but it sure is relieving after "Winner". Also "Is This Love" scores as a bit more hard-hitting with the bass drums (reminds me of a slower version of Will Smith's "Switch") than the other songs and seems to take a techno-ish vibe; which isn't necessary a bad thing. The lyrics are pretty average fair--Chris is pretty much asking himself love questions which gets boring after repetitive listening, but its at least tolerable.

Chris also has a lot of very solid R&B on the disc. The hit song "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)" being an obvious standout, with thumpin-hitting beats and a laid back sound. Chris's vocals are good here, and has decent lyrics which follow a story where Chris spots a lady and sings the title. "Young Love" is proven to be a good slice of jazzed up R&B; nicely produced with (I don't want to say this but must) Stevie Wonder feel to it. The lyrics lean toward the cheesy side a bit ("We ain't 21, this is young love", someone called Kraft on me) but Brown's voice is like always, soothing and layers completely flat on the tracks. Also "Just Fine" is a solid mid-tempo, soothing R&B song with a guitar instrumental to make it a bit more full, and still leans on the 70's sound. The lyrics are actually okay, and although Chris Brown starts rapping a bit, he actually doesn't sound bad (Akon another story). And Chris's "Thank You" to the Lord isn't bad, but it's nothing amazing and does not help nor hurt the album.

However, the album is definitely not without some questionable tracks. "Ya Man Ain't Me" is one of the filler tracks to my ears. The production is decent and kinda gives you the vibe of Ciara's "Other Chicks", but the lyrics are completely lame. ("I want you to see just how much your man ain't me"...what???) Chris's voice also sounds a bit odd, as if he were uncomfortable on the track and sings off-key occassionally. "Winner" gets even worse and could possibly be the album's worst offender. Somehow Chris's girlfriend is winning as if she won a car race. Honestly, can you get any lower than that? (Maybe Christina Milian could) And it even makes things more confusing when he can't decide if his girlfriend has won (in past tense) or is going to win (future tense), or if he's using them both chronologically throughout the song. "Poppin" absoultely sucks. Flat out. Chris Brown is actually more annoying instead of the lyrics--he starts to yell the last word of the line ("We gonna get CRUNK!"). It works well in Lil' Jon's "Get Low" but not so much the slowest song on the disc. Not to mention when he is singing, for some reason it sounds like he isn't even trying. And "Say Goodbye" is boring, with a looping and incomplete sounding production. Chris Brown's singing can't even save the cheesy lyrics "There's never a right time to say goodbye."

Overall, Chris Brown's self-titled is a good CD and very decent for a debut. Chris has got a good voice, a great production team, and an overall above average CD with few bad tracks. No, its no where near the future of R&B, but this is good for what its worth and should stand some time before something huge hits the earth. 4 stars.

Track Picks:
"Run It!"
"Yo (Excuse Me Miss)"
"Young Love"
"Gimme That"
"Just Fine"

How In The Heck Can Anybody Like This?

2007-02-23
How in the heck, can anybody like this? I just heard a couple of songs on the radio, and the they were horrible! He sounds like a little girl. if you're looking for good music, look past this because you're not going to find any here.

...yuck

2006-12-31
chris brown is a 16 yearold who had a hit song called run it thats wat made him so big i liked the song then they started playin it more and more and i notcie this kid can not sing at all he sings through his nose the boy is a little cute but hes not the great he dont excite me plus...he kind of copies of b5 he wants to be the next usher or micheal jackson good luck chris brown but your gonna fade out

Pleasant. But this contains no new tracks. Don't even be fooled.

2007-11-23
Excuse Me Miss, Run It, Say Goodbye, Poppin' and Ain't No Way (You Won't Love Me) are the standouts.

Thank You and Run It (Remix) are stupid crappy songs and should have stopped filling the disc with pointless drivel.

Anyway, this CD is decent fun. It is primarily Hip-Hop and R&B-fused production and there are some ballads present.

Chris is a decent singer but now he needs to start writing some of his hits. He will be big in the future though. Just wait and see!

3.5 stars.

Pleasant.

2007-09-28
Chris Brown's debut is impressive. He's a very good singer and his songs are good.

My favorites include all the singles, and Poppin, and Just Fine.

Highly recommended.

AGE AINT NOTHING BUT A NUMBER !

2007-07-09
There is a new star in town and all male R&B singers need to be on the look out for this newcomer who has been taking the music industry by storm.
His name is Chris Brown and already, he's being smashing up the charts with his single "Run It" featuring Juelz Santana of the RocaFella Label.
He may be only 16 years of age, but his vocal flow and dancing moves is out of this world. His signature style has already being compared to that of Grammy winners like Usher and Justin Timberlake.
Being the newest member on Jive Records, this Virginia native had the opportunity to work with producer Scott Storch, who helped him in recording more than fourteen tracks for his debut self titled album "Chris Brown."
Brown opens his album by first paying homage to his native state, followed by his smashing hit "Run It", where he sings about challenging female dancers to see if they can run the dance floor without their man(s) on their side like he does. /Is ya man on the flo? / If he ain't ----/ let me know/ let me see if you can run it run/ girl indeed I can run it run it/.
"Run It" is followed by his third track "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)" which people already are speculating to be his next single from the album. On this track, he harmonically sing his way in expectation of getting a young lady's attention across a room in a night club. /I don't know your name but excuse me miss/ I saw you from across the room/ and I got to admit that you got my attention/ you are making me want to say yo/.
"Gimme That" is another hot song on the album. The tempo of the song is very fast with its blend of ballads and has that ability to move the most timid person to stomp their feet or bump their heads to its sound woofing beat.
Being that, this is his first album, Brown collaborated with a mix of veteran artists like Noah, Jermaine Dupri and Bow Wow to help spice up his album.
Brown may be a teenager but his album is already attracting worldwide music lovers of all ages. The beats are very catchy and the lyrics contain no profanity making it a perfect album for any family. The album has very creative titles, like titles that have already being used by other artists and has being known to be a hit, like Jay-z's "Excuse Me Miss" and this album's "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)".
Although the thought of a Grammy nomination for "Best New Artist" may sound too early at this point, the album sounds promising; at the rate its first single has being jumping up the Billboard chart into being number one for the fourth consecutive week.
The recording is available in a conventional CD format and its available in all music stores.

Chris Brown, a force to be reckoned with

2007-06-08
This CD was the bomb! For a 16 year old his music is worth listening to. I was afraid it would be too bubble gum but any adult could and will enjoy this CD. There's no doubt that we're gonna hear a lot from him. Can't wait for his next CD.