Chris Brown- F.A.M.E. Album Review

F.A.M.E, the fourth studio album by R&B crooner Chris Brown, was released on March 18th 2011 with very high expectations. The record, standing for “Forgiving All My Enemies” or “Fans Are My Everything” (a direct nod to anyone who has discredited the 21-year old due to his attack on ex-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009), combines all of Brown’s best attributes: a swagged-out “rapper” demeanor, sexy ballads for his female fans, and energizing beats that are club-ready.

The album is solid, but I wouldn’t give a majority of the tracks a second listen. But there are many stand-out tracks that reflect Chris Brown’s budding artistry. “Look At Me Now”, the MVP track of the record (produced by Diplo), is a confident song with an intriguingly futuristic sound that only Diplo could master. Backed by mega rappers Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne, Chris Brown taunts us with smooth & positively arrogant lines that solidify his status as a pretty decent rapper. But the true star of “Look At Me Now” is Busta Rhymes; his effortless way of spitting out words at top speed is very commendable & sonically playful to the ears.

Tracks like “Yeah x3” & “Beautiful People” (produced by one of techno’s finest, Benny Benassi) are feel-good dance tracks that echo Brown’s 2008 chart topper “Forever”, a smart move for the young artist. Both songs will definitely have people rushing to the dance floor! “She Ain’t You”, a mid-tempo jam that samples Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature”, does the King of Pop’s hit song justice. The major setbacks of F.A.M.E. are the ballads. They sound like rejected songs that didn’t end up making it on Brown’s mixtapes In My Zone & Fan of a Fan. The only stand-out ballad is “No Bullshit”, if only we haven’t heard the song countless times before.

I believe Chris Brown tried to make a so-called “comeback” album with F.A.M.E, in order to silence his critics & prove that his is still a great artist. While I respect his efforts, I don’t think this album highlights Brown’s talent. For his next record, I suggest he finds a fresher sound that will steer away from everything we’ve heard from him before.

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Songs on Repeat

“Look At Me Now”

“Bomb” (deluxe edition)

“Deuces”

“She Ain’t You”

Songs to Skip

“Wet The Bed”

“Next To You”

“Beg For It” (deluxe edition)