Chris Brown "X" --- Inside the mind of an R&B bad boy

Have you ever wanted to know what it was like to be a world-famous singer with a criminal past, raging hormones and relationship drama played out in front of the world?  Hold tight you might find a few tracks that lay it out for you.  The track heavy album has 21 songs on the Deluxe version and is  currently available for purchase on iTunes.  Here are my thoughts track for track:


X

The first line of the title track reads "If you're only as good as the company you keep, then imma blame you for what they say about me".  One can only speculate this would refer to his ex-girlfriend Rihanna, who in back in 2009 he was arrested for assaulting.  Their well-publicized on-again-off again relationship since the incident has been tabloid fodder and people are always looking for him to comment on it.  It might be a retrospective on that relationship, who knows.  It has a mellow, if not melancholy feel.

Add Me In

I can honestly say that this mid-tempo track had me moving my shoulders a little.  I found the melody to be very Michael Jackson-esque, which seems to be a reocurring motif with his work.  Overall I think it's a great song to groove to in your car or have in the background when entertaining.

Loyal 

This single, with help from Lil Wayne and Tyga quickly became the hit of summer 2014.  I won't lie, when I first heard this song the lyrics bothered me.  I had a problem with grooving to a joint that discounts the loyalty of women and referring to them as "hoes".  However, being as hip-hop inclined as I am, that would make me a hypocrite.  RnB has been married to hip hop culture (which includes a lot of misogyny) for many years now, and I can't listen to (old) Jay-Z and Rick Ross and be okay with it but be all "How dare he!" when RnB singers do it.  So I jam to it.  Sue me.

New Flame feat. Usher & Rick Ross

I was a little underwhelmed with this track.  On paper, everything about it seems to point to it being a huge hit.  From the production to the features, the song has all the ingredients of a hit.  But something is missing.  Perhaps the lyrics are a bit formulaic, and the verse from Rick Ross was unnecessary.  However, I always enjoy a good Usher collabo, and am glad that male RnB singers enjoy working together.  Which brings me to...

Songs on 12 play

Trey Songz and Chris Brown have been friends for years.  Both from Virginia, they entered the music business as teenagers and have grown into R. Kellys of this generation.  I think this persona works for both of them because it seems pretty genuine.  They really do live that lifestyle.  In case you didn't know, the title of the song is an ode to R. Kelly's famous 12play album.  I get the whole vibe they were going for here.  The song is sexy.  If you like sexy, this will be your shit.  You might even want to add it to your sex song list.

Drown in It

I would have the same sentiments about this song as the previous track, if it weren't for the R.Kelly feature.  I know I am not the only one who cannot get past the accusations about Mr. R-Uh. It is a sexy song indeed, and I respect the fact that Chris wanted to work with someone who had such a major influence on the very genre he is a part of.  I gotta draw the line at alleged pedophelia though.

Came to Do

This sounds a lot like "Loyal".  It's a pretty good jam though.  Akon is on it.  I was just wondering where he's been.  Now I know.  Singing on Chris Brown's song.  Who knew?

Stereotype

Another look inside his mind.  Again, you wonder who exactly he's directing his words to.  Is it his current girlfriend or his ex?  Maybe a combination of women he's known and dated.  One lyric states "you have become my biggest regret".  The lyrics are not as insightful as they could be, and I think it relies heavily on the heavy dance beat.  I can't quite see myself dancing to this though.

Time for Love

This might be my favorite song so far.  I hear a sample from "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume.  I am always here for that beat.  Always!

Lady in a Glass Dress (Interlude)

Who is the lady in a glass dress? I think it's a metaphor for something but haven't figured it out yet.

Autumn Leaves feat. Kendrick Lamar

Pretty Melody.  Perfect song for a Kendrick Feature.  I am a Kendrick fan.  I appreciate his lyrics because he's really great at painting a picture with his words and that's one of my criteria for a great lyricist.  Overall this is a very chill song.  An extra verse or two from Kendrick and you could throw it in the middle of Good Kid M.A.A.D city and it would fit right in.

Do Better feat. Brandy

More insight into Chris Brown's inner turmoil with relationships.  Of course her "girlfriends think you ain't shit".  You don't have the best track record with women my friend.  The theme here is "if I knew better I would do better".  I do really like this song though.  Judge me if you must but I always thought Brandy was a little underrated as a singer.  I love her voice and she can do runs like you wouldn't believe.  This was a great collabo.  I listened to it twice in a row.

See You Around

I really thought I was listening to Mumford and Sons until the drums hit.  I can see this being a pop chart-topper a-la "Forever" from his Exclusive album.  It has a crossover appeal.  So far it's my least fave.  It just doesn't grab me.

Don't be gone too long

Phew.  I was getting worried he had left EDM behind.  This is sure to be a club fave.  With the heavy club beat you can't go wrong.  Bring out the glowsticks!

Body Shots

Album filler in my opinion.  Definitely has an EDM feel.

Drunk Texting feat. Jhene Aiko

Here he collabs with the self-proclaimed Sade of this generation, Jhene Aiko.  Seems like she offered more or less background vocals.  As the title suggests, Chris Brown is inclined to drunk texting.  Aren't we all? I'd probably skip this song.

Lost in ya Love

Another mid-tempo groove.  Saturday house cleaning music is what I like to call this.  Good melody although the lyrics are not catchy.  Maybe after a few listens.

Love More

I wish I loved this song more.  It's gotten tons of spins on the radio, and depending on my mood I will  jig to it.  It's a dance song and I guess would serve its purpose at the club.  Guess you gotta have at least two of these kinda songs on the album.

Don't Think They Know

RIP. Aaliyah.  I appreciate this song.  The lyrics appear to be about fan appreciation.  I like the beat.  The late Aaliyah's vocals were a nice addition.

Fine China

My fave overall.  This song was released almost a year ago with a video.  Everything from the rhythm to the smooth vocals to the MJ feel I appreciate everything about this song.  He clearly saved the best for last.  If this song doesn't make you want to dance I'm judging you.  Not really (but really).


Overall, there's a little bit of everything on this album.  There are more songs I like than those I don't care for, so I guess that makes it pretty good!

On a scale of wack to dope I would give it a dope minus.

Baggage Claim

Every man has them.  Some have big ones.  Some have small ones.  Sometimes it hurts to empty them.  Some let them get so big and full it's like an explosion when there's finally a release.Women have them too.  Many women get them from dealing with Men.  Quite a few from their fathers.

Have you claimed your baggage?


There's no doubt that even the most well-adjusted, emotionally stable adult can have baggage.  It's an important issue that I think not everyone understands before deciding to date someone.  The most important aspect of this though is dealing with baggage within a relationship.  Even if you are not delusional and understand that you have baggage, how do you go about entering and sustaining a healthy, successful relationship while still dealing with it?  I've watched enough Couples Therapy and read enough articles to know that many psychologists will say that you need to find a partner suitable for you that can accept and help you work through your baggage.  But is that the best way to get past it?  Is it fair to even expose anyone to your issues before truly dealing with them on your own?  That's hard for many people to do, especially those who don't even realize that they have baggage until a significant other holds the mirror up for them.


I dated a man once who was riddled with so much baggage it was crippling.  Obviously for him but for the relationship as a whole.  This was mostly because he could not articulate the issues he had, he just knew he had them and it affected his desire to commit.  Playing that scenario out in my head and now writing it out actually seems like I was totally naïve for believing that was the sole reason behind his commitment phobia.  In the end, by the time he figured it all out and was ready to work through it, it was too late.  The relationship was over and I moved on.


To me, the most logical way of dealing with emotional baggage is to be in a relationship where neither party judges each other.  Part of someone accepting that they have baggage and working through it is being able to communicate about it knowing that your partner is going to listen and be open and receptive to dealing with it.  Your partner may have trust issues, anger issues, and violent patterns that all stem from a prior relationship...and you may not.  But you have other issues of your own that you will subject your partner to.  Once you understand it requires compromise and you are willing to be unselfish about it the journey becomes a lot easier. The other part requires patience.  I think patience is the hardest part. 

“It has been said, ‘time heals all wounds.’ I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.” ~ Rose Kennedy

Am I a Feminist?

For a long time I sort of just assumed that feminism is something completely innate to all women.  Being a woman and being a feminist seems to go hand in hand.  However, lately I've realized that this definition seems to vary for each individual.  A quick Google search yields this definition:

fem·i·nism

ˈfeməˌnizəm/

noun

noun: feminism

1. the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.

But what does Feminism mean to me?  Well for one, feminism means not supporting those who are against gender equality.  Can you really call yourself a feminist if you are against equal pay and equal treatment in the social and political landscape? Not in my view.

There is an aspect I struggle with.  Is equal treatment with regard to sexual promiscuity a feminist concept?  Some would argue that feminism means not being a thot.  Thots can't be feminists because thots by definition are women who are sexually promiscuous (the word is an acronym for "that hoe over there").  No matter how progressive the women's movement has been, by society's current standards there is nothing empowering about promiscuity.  I don't judge people who choose to share their body with everyone, and it has nothing to do with women's rights and gender equality.  Perhaps even use of the word itself is anti-feminist, I don't know.  But while there are many ways to define what isn't feminism, it seems to me there are many schools of thought and philosophies about what it is.  It also seems possible to agree with and support the general idea of the advancement of women's rights while supporting concepts and philosophies that contradict the those embedded in feminism.  Which is why I wonder whether calling someone a thot in the first place means I am not a feminist.

It's all so confusing.  It is just a title though.  I am not one for titles and placing myself in a respective box so that it makes it easy for others to think they have me figured out.  I do think that the movement has brought some positive attention to women's rights.  I also think there are some people that use the term without really defining it for themselves.  I suppose one is entitled to support equal treatment in some aspects and not others.  Where does the line get drawn?

I will continue to support advancements in women's rights until we really get to run the world.  In the meantime, I will be inspired by news like this: http://jezebel.com/aol-ceo-to-lead-venture-fund-aimed-at-female-led-startu-1629743454