Chris Brown - F.A.M.E

[stillmatic]

R&B needs its own section.

I'm down with Breezy. Even at a young age, he's one of the last of a dying breed, that is an R&B artist who is genuine, that is write his own music, can sing, can dance, and doesn't try and follow the crowd in terms of whatever is hot - something that none of the likes of Usher, Trey Songz, Taio Cruz etc. do. That is Chris Brown is genuinely R&B. He is not pop.

Also, he has a fuck you attitude to the industry that is very reminiscent of a Whitney Houston or Lauryn Hill. He hasn't forgotten his roots, the industry hasn't changed him. Black music stand up.

So I picked up his album yesterday, and here's my review. Hoping Breezy stays true.

1. Deuces (ft. Tyga/McCall) - 4.5/5 - Dope fucking song. Ridiculous sound to it. The song would be perfect without the two weak verses from some average MC's. This is R&B from its golden age.

2. Up 2 you - 4/5 - Another pure R&B song. A classic type of R&B ballad from the golden age. This reminds me of BoyzIIMen.

3. No Bullshit - 4/5 - Dope, again. Lovin the genuine R&B feeling to this. You RARELY ever get an R&B album for supposed R&B artists anymore. Very similar contrast to hip hop.

4. Look at me now ft. Busta & Lil Wayne - 3.5/5 - Breezy always has some hip hop influenced songs on his album. Breezy raps and does fucking well. Good looking out on the LL shoutout too. Busta kills it. Wayne, meh.

5. She ain't you - 4.5/5 - Ah man, theres so many people that sample great MJ tracks and fuck it up, but with Breezy, no chance. A sample of MJ's classic "Human Nature' and Breezy strolls through it with ease. Dope fucking track. MJ would be proud.

6. Say it with me - 3/5 - Whatever he's trying to do, it sounds a little forced. First hiccup of the album.

7. Yeah 3x - 2/5 - I am not a fan of this dance-electro faze thats taken over in hip hop and R&B. So no surprise I hate this song

8. Next to you (ft. Justin Bieber) - 4/5 - WTF??? How the fuck did Breezy pull this off. I was expecting a failure of massive proportions. Their voices blend in crazy. First Bieber track I've ever enjoyed.

9. All back - 4.5/5 - What a fucking song. Classic R&B. Lyrics are all about Rihanna without making it too uncomfortable or obvious. R&B niggas, take note, this is what R&B is about. Guitar rift is crazy.

10. Wet the bed (ft. Ludacris) - 4.5/5 - Pause of a title, but cool song. Reminds me of Brian McKnight when he was on his A game. Girls gonna go crazy to this shit. Ludaaaaaaaa is fucking dope too. This is the type of features he should make if it's not hip hop.

11. Oh my love - 3/5 - Very similar to 'Look at me now' where Breezy is rapping, and singing the hooks. High energy track. Again, I can see he does well here, but I grew on old school R&B, so this is not exactly for me. Still would be off to this at clubs though.

12. Should've kissed you - 4/5 - See this is why Breezy is dope. He exposes his vulnerable side, that is something thats relatable, unlike this bullshit Usher and Taio Cruz come out with these days. Luther Vandross feel to it.

13. Beautiful people - 4/5 - See when you make a dance R&B song, this is how it should sound. That is, it should still have the overall feel of an R&B song. The voice is still the key here, and that's what makes the song. Doesn't rely on the beat at all.

14. Bomg (ft. Wiz Khalifa) - 3.5/5 - See when other R&B artists try something that is outside of R&B, 100% of the time it's going to be electro bullshit. Breezy? Nah, he does Reggae here. Cool chill track. Nothing but fun.

15. Love the girls (ft. The Game) 3.5/5 - The darkest song of the album. Game does okay, Breezy takes it though.

16. Paper, scissors, rock (ft. Big Sean) 4/5 - This song would be dope without Timbaland on it. Fucking dropkick ruins the start. Thankfully, Breezy brings it up from disaster status to cool.

17. Beg for it - 4/5 - Slow jam stats. Breezy on his R. Kelly shit. Dope finish.

Overall: 4/5. R&B niggas, take note, this is what R&B should sound like. Has a classic 90's R&B feeling to it. R&B overall is pathetic these days, but with Breezy at the top, there's still gonna be some dope music. We need more to follow his lead, and not this electro bullshit.