Many of the remaining tracks are unmemorable filler-“Up 2 You,” and “All Back,” the slower ballads on the album, lack the power of the 2008 hit “With You” or even the apologetic “Crawl” even while showing off Brown’s silky voice at its best. Unfortunately, the third of the album that we have already heard is the best part. “Deuces,” probably a nod to his relationship with R&B star Rihanna, has even more pointed lyrics: “I know you mad but so what? / I wish you the best of luck / And now I’m finna throw them deuces up / I’m on some new shit.” These songs are reflective of a more world-weary Brown looking to move forward and are successful in their own right, although they sound both musically and lyrically as if they come from a different album than “Yeah 3x” and “Beautiful People.” “Look at me now / Look at me now / I’m getting paper” is a lyric typical of R&B and rap’s chest-puffing, but in Brown’s sing-song rap and stinging delivery, it becomes an honest statement of growth. Like “Yeah 3x” and “Beautiful People,” it’s a crowd-pleasing, dance-floor filler, but instead of bouncy synthesizers, it has a spare, syncopated, hip-winding beat, more similar to his 2009 hit “I Can Transform Ya.” Unlike those two more youthful songs, it has sharper lyrics that send Brown’s message of resolute defiance to his naysayers. The album’s standout “Look at Me Now,” a collaboration with Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne, seems to represent the direction in which Brown wants to head as he matures as an artist.
The up-tempo beat, bright synthesizers, anthemic chorus, and tween-friendly lyrics work to create a song reminiscent of his 2008 hit “Forever.” “Beautiful People,” a Euro-inspired track featuring copious amounts of Auto-tune and the Italian DJ Benny Benassi, has a clubby house feel. The international success of “Yeah 3x” is a testament to Brown’s ability to create a chart-topping, party-ready dance hit. These tracks-some of the best of the album-represent what Brown does best. “Yeah 3x,” “Look at Me Now,” and “Beautiful People” were released as singles over the past year and have been climbing the Billboard charts ever since. “Deuces” and “No Bullshit” were released on Brown’s collaborative mixtape with Tyga, “Fan of a Fan,” which came out in May 2010. The world has already heard over a third of the tracks on Brown’s new album. Though it offers many potential hit singles, the album lacks a cohesive sound and style. As a result, “F.A.M.E.” bounces between youthful innocence, explicit sexuality, and time-tested weariness. He is still fighting negative press from previous abuse allegations-an occasional theme in his music-and as an artist he is continuing his transition from child phenomenon to fully-fledged adult R&B star.
#CHRIS BROWN DEUCES ALBUM HOW TO#
Chris Brown’s new album, “F.A.M.E.,” makes it clear that he continues to grapple with his past even as he figures out how to move forward.