Chris Brown disappoints with retread of old albums
There are hits scattered throughout Chris Brown’s sixth studio album, X. However, it is hard to escape the feeling that it is yet another disingenuous effort with the sole goal of being on the radio, rather than striving for musical expression. There are a myriad of high profile artists on the album, ranging from Kendrick Lamar to Akon. But even they couldn’t save X from Brown’s lack of lyricism.
As if to alert his audience that he has not changed at all, these are the opening lines of Brown’s newest album: “If you’re only as good as the company you keep / Then I’mma blame you for what they say about me.” These self-centered lyrics draw attention to some of his negative media appearances, the most notable of which was the beating of his then-girlfriend Rihanna. These lines are an interesting yet uninspired start to the album that are a stark indication of its entire direction.
Most of the songs on the album are about sex, which does little to help the world forget about Chris Brown’s controversial past. Despite this, there are glimpses of reflection scattered throughout, such as on “Do Better.”
Brown sings, “I’m starting to hate me/A little more and more each day/I don’t know me/It’s like I can’t get out of my own way.” This is an intriguing contrast to his radio hit “Loyal,” which proclaims that “These h-es ain’t loyal.”
The featured artists on this album are perhaps the biggest highlight. Kendrick Lamar lays down a crisp verse on “Autumn Leaves,” and R. Kelly gives a dependable performance on “Drown In It,” but some of the best work on the album is from its female collaborators.
Brandy, Ariana Grande, Jhené Aiko and Aaliyah all have vocals on various tracks on the album, and the female influence does a lot to soften the vulgar edge of Chris Brown’s career and music. These women all have a soft vocal style that contributes to the latter half of the album’s distinctly personal and introspective selection of tracks. If the opening songs of the album are about Brown’s mistakes, the closing ones are his apologies.
Let’s be honest — Chris Brown has a history of misogyny and abuse that makes it hard to trust his intentions for the 21 tracks on the deluxe version ofX. After his abuse scandal with Rihanna, fights with Drake, Frank Ocean and even fans, and a stint in rehab, Chris Brown is still on a long road to recovery. Unfortunately, most of his songs don’t reflect on his very public past, and instead mimic the same old Chris Brown tracks we’ve been hearing for years. This lack of overall personal reflection, despite the more promising second half, is why the album leaves its audience with a surprisingly shallow feeling.
The production in most of the tracks is a saving grace, with some high profile producers like Diplo. But with a variety of producers comes a variety of tracks, and, unfortunately for Brown, these tracks don’t flow together well. The first two songs, for example, represent this lack of continuity. “X” is the opening track, and it opens the album perfectly, setting the listener up for a pensive, hopeful album. But the next song, “Add Me In,” quickly shatters that notion with completely ridiculous and unenlightening lyrics like, “Your body’s an isosceles and I just tryna try angles.”
There are a few tracks worth mentioning on X, namely Brown’s collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on “Autumn Leaves.” This track departs from the misogyny of the album and instead presents a brooding story about falling out of love, which sets up the much more real second half of X. If the album started right here, it would be much stronger. With the exception of “X” and maybe “Loyal,” there is not a solid track before “Autumn Leaves.” The album arcs, and afterwards it’s much more soulful, with tracks like “Don’t Be Gone For Too Long” and “See You Around,” in which Brown sings of lost love and heartbreak.
About a month before the album’s release, Chris Brown posted on Instagram that he had “50 songs” to choose from for X, so it’s a shame that these were the ones that made the cut. He also boasted features like Pharrell, Timbaland and others, none of which made it into the album. This leaves me wondering what happened to those tracks. The potential this album had prior to its release was, in my opinion, not at all realized. Though there are some hits, X does not mark the spot.
Matt Burke is a sophomore majoring in film production. His column, “Notes on Notes,” runs Thursdays.