Artist: Chris Brown
Album: F.A.M.E.
Label: Jive
Release Date: March 18
Grade: D
Say what you will about hip hop and R&B singer Chris Brown, but the man certainly knows a thing or two about beats. If you need any convincing, look no further than Brown's fourth studio album, F.A.M.E.
The album begins with a song titled "Deuces," which starts with a smooth, somewhat groovy beat. Though the R&B bass lasts the whole song, things get messy when Brown brings in not one, but two guest performers to rap the last two verses. While Brown has generally been good with this kind of thing before, his use of Tyga's and Kevin McCall's vocal stylings ruin the song.
Next on the tracklist is "Up to You," which features more of Brown's signature sound. A slow R&B groove sets an intimate and sensual mood, and evokes the same circumstances under which many of Brown's more famous beats occurred.
The fast and furious tempo of "Say It with Me" will likely make the song a big hit in the clubs, while "Look at Me Now" will practically knock listeners out with its frenzy of different beats. Also of note is "Yeah 3x," which boasts perhaps the most intense rhythm of the whole album.
Despite Brown's established reputation as an artist without peer, F.A.M.E. falls short in most other departments. Brown's lyrics are insipid and craftless, and have all the subtlety of a slap in the face. The instrumentation and arrangements of F.A.M.E., meanwhile, practically assault listeners with how boring and generic they are.
In the end, F.A.M.E. is a forgettable album despite the notoriety of its artist. Most songs are about as fun as six months of court-ordered community service, while the album as a whole is about as original as making jokes about Chris Brown's domestic abuse history. To finally hit the point home, avoid this album like Rihanna avoids Chris Brown.
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