History of Chris Brown in Timeline
Christopher Maurice Brown is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. Known for his pop and hip-hop-influenced R&B music, he has been dubbed the "King of R&B" by some. His work often explores emotional and hedonistic themes. Brown's singing and dancing abilities have drawn comparisons to Michael Jackson.
May 5, 1989: Chris Brown's Birth
On May 5, 1989, Christopher Maurice Brown was born. He would later become known as an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor, often referred to as the "King of R&B."
1995: First Male Act Since Montell Jordan to Top Billboard Hot 100
In 2005, Chris Brown became the first male act since Montell Jordan in 1995 to have his debut single, "Run It!", reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1995: First Male Artist to Top Billboard Hot 100 Since 1995
In 2005, Chris Brown became the first male artist since 1995 to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart with his debut single, "Run It!".
1997: "Tight Up Skirt" track recorded
In 1997, the dancehall track "Tight Up Skirt" recorded by Red Rat, from which Chris Brown's single "Privacy" allegedly lifted a line, was released.
2004: Signed to Jive Records
After signing to Jive Records in 2004, Chris Brown began recording his self-titled debut studio album in February 2005.
2004: Discovered by Hitmission Records
Around 2004, at age 13, Chris Brown was discovered by Hitmission Records, leading to voice coaching and demo arrangements. He also performed for Puff Daddy, who declined to sign him.
2004: Dropped Out of Essex High School
In late 2004, Chris Brown dropped out of Essex High School in Virginia to relocate and pursue a music career.
February 2005: Began Recording Self-Titled Debut Album
In February 2005, Chris Brown began recording his self-titled debut studio album after signing with Jive Records in 2004.
November 29, 2005: Release of Self-Titled Debut Album
On November 29, 2005, Chris Brown released his self-titled debut album, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and sold 154,000 copies in its first week.
2005: "Kiss Kiss" reaches Number One
In 2007, "Kiss Kiss" was released as the album's second single, received huge success, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and becoming Brown's second number one single following "Run It!" in 2005.
2005: Reunion with Producer Scott Storch
In 2019, Chris Brown reunited with producer Scott Storch, who previously worked with Brown in 2005 on his breakout hit 'Run It!'.
2005: Dropped Out of Essex High School
In early 2005, Chris Brown dropped out of Essex High School in Virginia to relocate and pursue a music career.
June 13, 2006: Chris Brown's Journey DVD Release
On June 13, 2006, Chris Brown released a DVD entitled Chris Brown's Journey, featuring footage from his travels and preparations for the Grammy Awards.
August 17, 2006: The Up Close and Personal Tour
On August 17, 2006, Chris Brown started his major co-headlining tour, The Up Close and Personal Tour.
2006: Start of tour earnings
Between 2006 and 2022, Chris Brown grossed $166 million from 284 shows, according to a February 2023 report.
2006: "Thriller" recreation at the World Music Awards
Chris Brown did a "Thriller" recreation at the 2006 World Music Awards.
January 12, 2007: Film Debut in Stomp the Yard
On January 12, 2007, Chris Brown made his film debut in Stomp the Yard.
January 2007: The O.C. Appearance
In January 2007, Chris Brown landed a small role as a band geek in the fourth season of The O.C.
April 2007: Opening Act for Beyoncé
In April 2007, Chris Brown was the opening act for Beyoncé on the Australian leg of her The Beyoncé Experience tour.
July 9, 2007: Chris Brown: My Super 18 on MTV
On July 9, 2007, Chris Brown's eighteenth birthday was celebrated on an episode of MTV's My Super Sweet 16, retitled Chris Brown: My Super 18.
November 6, 2007: Exclusive Album Release
On November 6, 2007, Chris Brown released his second studio album, Exclusive, in the US, which debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart.
November 2007: Video Host for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's Math-A-Thon
In November 2007, Chris Brown was a video host for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's Math-A-Thon program, encouraging students to use math skills to help children with cancer and other diseases.
November 21, 2007: Leading Role in "This Christmas"
On November 21, 2007, Chris Brown appeared in a leading role in the family drama "This Christmas" starring Regina King. He also contributed to the movie's soundtrack, covering "Try a Little Tenderness" and "This Christmas".
December 6, 2007: The Exclusive Holiday Tour Begins
On December 6, 2007, Chris Brown started "The Exclusive Holiday Tour" to support the album Exclusive. The tour started in Cincinnati, Ohio.
2007: Brown founded record label CBE
In 2007, Chris Brown founded the record label CBE ("Chris Brown Entertainment" or "Culture Beyond Evolution") under Interscope Records.
2007: Acting Debut in Stomp the Yard
In 2007, Chris Brown made his feature film debut in Stomp the Yard, also appearing on The O.C.
2007: On-screen feature film debut and TV series roles
In 2007, Chris Brown made his on-screen feature film debut in Stomp the Yard and took a leading role in This Christmas. He also appeared in three episodes of The O.C. and guest-starred on Sesame Street.
2007: Exclusive Album Release
In 2007, Chris Brown released his second album, Exclusive, which achieved commercial success and included his second Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, "Kiss Kiss."
2007: Started dating Rihanna
In 2007, Chris Brown started dating singer Rihanna.
February 9, 2008: The Exclusive Holiday Tour Concludes
On February 9, 2008, Chris Brown ended "The Exclusive Holiday Tour" in Honolulu, Hawaii.
March 2008: Featured on Jordin Sparks' Single "No Air"
In March 2008, Chris Brown was featured on Jordin Sparks' single "No Air", which became a worldwide success, peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
June 3, 2008: Release of Exclusive: The Forever Edition
On June 3, 2008, Chris Brown released the re-issue of his album Exclusive, titled "Exclusive: The Forever Edition", featuring four new tracks.
August 2008: Guest Star on Disney's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
In August 2008, Chris Brown appeared as himself on Disney's "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody".
2008: Begins Work on Third Studio Album
In 2008, Chris Brown began working on his third studio album, Graffiti, experimenting with a different musical direction inspired by Prince and Michael Jackson.
2008: Guest star on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
In 2008, Chris Brown guest starred as himself on the children's program The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.
February 8, 2009: Domestic Violence Scandal with Rihanna
On February 8, 2009, Chris Brown was involved in a domestic violence scandal with his then-girlfriend Rihanna, leading to significant backlash and loss of endorsements.
June 22, 2009: Brown pleads guilty to felony assault
On June 22, 2009, Chris Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault against Rihanna and accepted a plea deal involving community labor, five years of probation, and domestic violence counseling.
September 29, 2009: Release of "I Can Transform Ya"
On September 29, 2009, Chris Brown released "I Can Transform Ya" as the lead single from his album Graffiti.
October 2009: Founded lifestyle website, Mechanical Dummy
In October 2009, Chris Brown founded a lifestyle website called Mechanical Dummy, serving as its creative director.
November 23, 2009: Release of "Crawl"
On November 23, 2009, Chris Brown released "Crawl" as the second single from his album Graffiti.
December 8, 2009: Release of Graffiti
On December 8, 2009, Chris Brown released his third studio album, Graffiti, which he took full artistic control over.
2009: Domestic violence case with Rihanna
From 2007 to 2009, Chris Brown dated singer Rihanna until their highly publicized domestic violence case.
2009: Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
In 2009, Chris Brown most notably earned a Grammy award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Take You Down".
2009: Guilty Plea and Graffiti Release
In 2009, Chris Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault of Rihanna and received a sentence of five years probation and six months community service. In the same year, he released his third album, Graffiti.
2009: Wrote About Teen Experiences on First Album
In 2009, Chris Brown reflected on his first album and noted that he co-wrote about the experiences that 16 year olds go through every day.
August 2010: Stars in Crime Thriller Takers
In August 2010, Chris Brown starred in the crime thriller "Takers" alongside an ensemble cast and also served as an executive producer of the film.
September 2010: Announcement of F.A.M.E. Album
In September 2010, Chris Brown announced his album F.A.M.E., which stands for "Forgiving All My Enemies", and that it would be released in October.
2010: Appearance in Takers
In 2010, Chris Brown appeared in the film Takers.
2010: Hip-hop genre approach
In 2010, Chris Brown approached the hip-hop genre differently after his mixtapes, starting to rap frequently on mixtapes and features.
2010: Brief relationship with Jasmine Sanders
In 2010, Chris Brown briefly dated professional model Jasmine Sanders.
2010: Executive producer and actor in Takers
In 2010, Chris Brown executive produced and acted in the heist thriller, Takers.
2010: Fan of a Fan Mixtape Release
In 2010, Chris Brown released his mixtape with Tyga, titled 'Fan of a Fan'.
2010: Release of Three Mixtapes
In 2010, Chris Brown released three free mixtapes: In My Zone (Rhythm & Streets), Fan of a Fan (with Tyga), and In My Zone 2, showcasing a new writing style and mixing R&B with hip-hop.
February 2011: Restraining order modified
In February 2011, at the request of lawyers for both Chris Brown and Rihanna, the restraining order was modified to a "level one order", which allowed both singers to attend awards shows together.
March 18, 2011: Release of F.A.M.E. Album
On March 18, 2011, Chris Brown's fourth studio album, F.A.M.E., was released, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.
March 23, 2011: Graffiti Sales Update
As of March 23, 2011, Chris Brown's album Graffiti had sold 341,000 copies in the US.
October 7, 2011: RCA Music Group Disbands Jive, Arista, and J Records
On October 7, 2011, RCA Music Group announced it was disbanding Jive Records along with Arista Records and J Records, leading Chris Brown to release future material on the RCA Records brand.
2011: MTV Video Music Awards medley performance
At the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, Chris Brown performed a medley that included flying parts in the choreography.
2011: Brief relationship with Draya Michele and dating Karrueche Tran
In 2011, Chris Brown briefly dated media personality Draya Michele and later began dating Karrueche Tran.
2011: Guest star on Tosh.O
In 2011, Chris Brown guest starred as himself on the Comedy Central series Tosh.O.
2011: F.A.M.E. Album and Grammy Win
In 2011, Chris Brown released his fourth album, F.A.M.E., which topped the Billboard 200 chart and earned him a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.
2011: BET and Hip Hop Awards Wins
In 2011, Chris Brown won five awards at the BET Awards, including Best Male R&B Artist, and three awards at the BET Hip Hop Awards, including the People's Champ Award.
2011: "Look at Me Now" Success
In 2011, the single "Look at Me Now" became the best-selling rap song of 2011, as well as one of all-time best-selling singles in the US.
February 12, 2012: Grammy Award Win
On February 12, 2012, Chris Brown won his first Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, marking his first appearance at the awards show since his conviction of felony assault.
February 2012: Release of remixes and speculation about Rihanna relationship
In February 2012, Rihanna and Chris Brown released remixes to their singles "Turn Up the Music" and "Birthday Cake", leading to speculation about their relationship.
May 2012: Partnership with Ron English for "Dum English" line
In May 2012, Chris Brown partnered with artist Ron English to create a limited-edition toy and sculpture line called "Dum English", which they debuted at the Toy Art Gallery in Los Angeles.
June 14, 2012: Scuffle with Drake at nightclub
On June 14, 2012, Drake and his entourage were involved in a scuffle with Chris Brown at a nightclub in New York City. Several people were injured, and Brown publicly criticized Drake afterward, with his attorney alleging Drake as the instigator.
July 3, 2012: Release of Fortune
On July 3, 2012, Chris Brown released his fifth studio album Fortune, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 but received negative reviews.
September 25, 2012: Brown tests positive for cannabis; court hearing date changed
On September 25, 2012, while completing his community service in Virginia, Chris Brown tested positive for cannabis, leading to a court appearance and a change in his hearing date to November to determine whether he violated his court order terms.
November 2012: Launched Symphonic Love Foundation
In November 2012, Chris Brown launched the "Symphonic Love Foundation", a nonprofit charity organization supporting arts programs for kids and health/education programs on domestic abuse, dating violence, HIV/AIDS, and leadership programs for children with developmental disabilities.
2012: Role in Think Like a Man
In 2012, Chris Brown acted in the romantic comedy Think Like a Man.
2012: Carpe Diem Tour Conclusion
In 2012, Chris Brown concluded his Carpe Diem Tour, and his next studio album started to develop.
2012: Fortune Album Release
In 2012, Chris Brown released his fifth album, Fortune, which topped the Billboard 200 chart.
2012: Start of Mixtape Recording Sessions
In 2012, Chris Brown started recording unreleased tracks for his mixtape 'Before the Party'.
2012: Mike G hired to help repair Brown's image
In 2012, Mike G was hired as Chris Brown's manager to help repair his public image.
January 2013: Altercation with Frank Ocean
In January 2013, Chris Brown was involved in an altercation with Frank Ocean over a parking space outside a recording studio in West Hollywood, with police investigating the incident as "battery" due to Brown allegedly punching Ocean, though Ocean did not press charges.
January 2013: Rihanna confirmed resumed relationship with Chris Brown
In January 2013, Rihanna confirmed that she and Chris Brown had resumed their romantic relationship.
February 15, 2013: Unofficial Release of "Home"
On February 15, 2013, Chris Brown unofficially released the song "Home", which reflected on the dark side of fame.
March 26, 2013: Announcement of X Album
On March 26, 2013, Chris Brown announced the release of his album X, discussing his intention to shift to a more mature and soulful sound.
March 29, 2013: Release of "Fine China"
On March 29, 2013, Chris Brown released "Fine China" as the lead single of X, receiving critical acclaim.
May 2013: Breakup with Rihanna
In a May 2013 interview, Chris Brown stated that he and Rihanna had broken up again.
July 2013: Probation revoked after alleged hit and run
In July 2013, Chris Brown's probation was revoked following an alleged hit and run incident in Los Angeles. He was scheduled to reappear in court in August 2013 to determine if he would serve time in prison.
August 9, 2013: Chris Brown Suffers Seizure
On August 9, 2013, Chris Brown reportedly suffered a seizure at Record Plant Studios in Hollywood, California, prompting a 9-1-1 call. Upon arrival, paramedics were turned away as Brown allegedly refused treatment and transport to a local hospital.
August 2013: Scheduled court appearance for probation revocation
In August 2013, Chris Brown was scheduled to reappear in court to determine whether he would serve time in prison related to his probation revocation. The charges were later dropped, but additional community service was added to his probation terms.
October 2013: Arrested for felony assault in Washington, D.C.
In October 2013, Chris Brown was arrested for felony assault in Washington, D.C., after an incident where he refused to take a picture with a man and allegedly broke the man's nose. The charge was later reduced to a misdemeanor.
October 30, 2013: Brown voluntarily enters rehab
On October 30, 2013, Chris Brown voluntarily entered rehab.
November 2013: Partnership with Sprayground for "Invasion Capsule Collection"
In November 2013, Chris Brown partnered with Sprayground, a New York backpack company, to launch a limited line of custom backpacks called the “Invasion Capsule Collection”.
November 19, 2013: Mixtape Release
On November 19, 2013, Chris Brown released a mixtape titled 'X Files' to hold fans over until the release of his album 'X'.
November 20, 2013: Chris Brown Sentenced to Anger Management Rehabilitation
On November 20, 2013, Chris Brown was sentenced to a three-month anger management rehabilitation center, which put the December 2013 release of his album 'X' in jeopardy.
2013: Role in Battle of the Year
In 2013, Chris Brown acted in the dance film Battle of the Year.
2013: Personal experiences in songs
In 2013, Chris Brown stated in an interview with Rolling Stone that his songs are derived from personal experiences, blending reality with art.
2013: Sentenced to rehab and diagnosed with bipolar II disorder and PTSD
In 2013, Chris Brown was sentenced to 90 days in rehab and was formally diagnosed with bipolar II disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
2013: Jive Records Influenced Chris Brown's Music
In a 2013 interview, Chris Brown stated that when he was trying to get his music heard by major labels, during his permanence in Harlem, his artistic intention was to both rap and sing on his records, but Jive convinced him to stick to just singing because according to him "it wasn't acceptable yet" for an R&B singer to also rap on records.
2013: Brown's incarceration
Prior to Chris Brown's 2013 incarceration, he admitted in a 2014 interview to abusing "the syrup, the Xanax".
February 22, 2014: Album Release Date Announced
On February 22, 2014, the release date for Chris Brown's album 'X' was announced to be on his birthday, May 5, 2014.
March 14, 2014: Kicked out of rehab
On March 14, 2014, Chris Brown was kicked out of the rehab facility and sent to Northern Neck Regional Jail for violating internal rules.
April 14, 2014: Teaser Release
On April 14, 2014, Chris Brown released a teaser of the new track "Don't Be Gone Too Long" featuring Ariana Grande.
April 23, 2014: Judge denies release from custody
On April 23, 2014, a judge denied Chris Brown's request to be released from custody, either on bail or his own recognizance, after he was kicked out of rehab for violating internal rules.
May 5, 2014: Initial Album Release Date
May 5, 2014, was the initially announced release date for Chris Brown's album 'X'.
May 9, 2014: Sentenced to Jail for Probation Violation
On May 9, 2014, Chris Brown was ordered to serve 131 days in jail for his probation violation, delaying the release of his album 'X'.
June 2, 2014: Released from jail
After being released from jail on June 2, 2014, Brown wrote that he was "Humbled and Blessed" and tweeted the words "Thank you GOD."
August 25, 2014: Title Track Instant-Gratification Release
On August 25, 2014, the title track "X" was released as an instant-gratification track alongside the album pre-order on iTunes.
September 16, 2014: X Album Release
On September 16, 2014, Chris Brown's sixth studio album, 'X', was released, receiving positive reviews and debuting at number two on the US Billboard 200.
2014: CBE signs exclusively Brown's works
From 2014, Chris Brown's record label CBE started to sign exclusively Brown's works.
2014: X Album Release
In 2014, Chris Brown released his album X, which peaked in the top three of the Billboard 200.
2014: Contrast to X
In 2014, album "Royalty" waves goodbye to amour on its way out the door, noting it to be a “stark contrast to 2014’s X, which included professions of affection”.
2014: Brown reveals substance abuse issues
In a 2014 interview, Chris Brown admitted to abusing "the syrup, the Xanax" prior to his 2013 incarceration, stating that he would fall asleep in the recording booth due to the effects of lean.
February 24, 2015: Fan of a Fan: The Album Release
On February 24, 2015, Chris Brown released his first collaborative studio album with Tyga, titled 'Fan of a Fan: The Album'.
March 20, 2015: Brown's probation ends
On March 20, 2015, Chris Brown's probation officially ended, closing the felony case related to the assault on Rihanna that happened over six years prior.
April 2015: Brown relapses after sobriety
Around April 2015, Chris Brown broke a 15-month period of sobriety and relapsed into drug use, reportedly using Xanax and lean, leading to more frequent use in early 2016, according to ex-members of his team.
October 13, 2015: Royalty Album Release Date Announcement
On October 13, 2015, Chris Brown announced that his album Royalty would be released on November 27, 2015.
November 27, 2015: Before the Party Mixtape Release
On November 27, 2015, Chris Brown released a free 34-track mixtape called 'Before the Party' as a prelude to his album 'Royalty'.
December 11, 2015: Chris Brown becomes the face of BAPE Black Label
On December 11, 2015, Chris Brown was announced as the face of BAPE Black Label, the high-end range of the Japanese fashion brand A Bathing Ape.
December 18, 2015: Royalty Album Release
On December 18, 2015, Chris Brown's album 'Royalty' was released and debuted at number 3 on the US Billboard 200.
2015: Freestyled dancing at Vestival The Hague Malieveld
In 2015, Chris Brown freestyled dancing over Future's "March Madness" at the Vestival The Hague Malieveld, which included an acclaimed front-flip.
2015: Royalty Album Release
In 2015, Chris Brown released his album Royalty, which peaked in the top three of the Billboard 200.
2015: Interview about God and prayer
In 2015, Chris Brown said during an interview for Vibe, that God is the only thing that he is afraid of. He speaks about praying for knowledge, understanding, and peace of mind, rather than success.
2015: Owned Burger King restaurants
In 2015, Chris Brown stated that he owned fourteen Burger King restaurants.
2015: Graffiti works for the Grammy Museum
In 2015, Chris Brown worked on some of the walls of The Grammy Museum, mixing his spray paint drawings with images of James Brown, Prince, Michael Jackson and himself.
2015: Grammy Nominations for X
In 2015, Chris Brown's album 'X' was nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the Grammy Awards, and "New Flame" was nominated for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song.
2015: Started working on next album
In late 2015, Chris Brown started working and recording tracks for his next album shortly before the release of Royalty.
March 2016: Collaboration with Benny Benassi
In March 2016, Chris Brown collaborated with Italian DJ Benny Benassi for the song "Paradise" from Benassi's album 'Danceaholic'.
May 5, 2016: "Grass Ain't Greener" Single Release
On May 5, 2016, Chris Brown released the single "Grass Ain't Greener", which he announced was the first single from a new album titled 'Heartbreak on a Full Moon'.
June 2016: Chris Brown sued by former manager
In June 2016, Chris Brown was sued by his former manager, Mike G, for assault, false imprisonment, and battery, stemming from an alleged incident on May 10 of that year where Brown assaulted him.
August 30, 2016: Police standoff at Brown's house
On August 30, 2016, police responded to a call accusing Chris Brown of threatening a woman with a gun inside his house, leading to a standoff with the LAPD. Brown was arrested and later released on bail.
September 1, 2016: Lawyer states no evidence found
On September 1, 2016, Chris Brown's lawyer, Mark Geragos, stated that there was no standoff and that nothing was found to corroborate the accuser's statement during the LAPD search.
December 16, 2016: "Party" Single Release
On December 16, 2016, Chris Brown released the second official single from his album, "Party", featuring Usher and Gucci Mane.
2016: Partnerships and Modeling in 2016
In 2016, Chris Brown partnered with German streetwear company Snipes for a capsule collection and also served as a model for Philipp Plein's fall and winter campaign. He also discussed his definition of style in an interview with Vanity Fair Italia.
2016: Expanded distribution of Black Pyramid
In 2016, Chris Brown's Black Pyramid clothing label was set for larger release, partnering with streetwear clothing lines such as Snipes for worldwide distribution and through its own boutiques.
2016: Increased drug use
In the first months of 2016, Chris Brown spiraled into more frequent drug use. Former members of Brown's team also told Billboard that he was using cocaine, Xanax, marijuana, molly and lean.
August 4, 2017: "Pills & Automobiles" Single Release
On August 4, 2017, Chris Brown released "Pills & Automobiles", the fourth single from his album, featuring Yo Gotti, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, and Kodak Black.
August 2017: Album Concept Explained
In August 2017, Chris Brown explained the concept for the album in an interview for Complex
October 25, 2017: Pop-Up Concert in New York City
On October 25, 2017, Chris Brown organized a free pop-up concert in New York City with Tidal to perform the singles from his album and promote it.
October 31, 2017: Heartbreak on a Full Moon Album Release
On October 31, 2017, Chris Brown's album 'Heartbreak on a Full Moon' was released as a double-disc album.
December 13, 2017: Cuffing Season – 12 Days of Christmas Deluxe Edition Release
On December 13, 2017, Chris Brown released a surprise deluxe edition of 'Heartbreak on a Full Moon', titled 'Cuffing Season – 12 Days of Christmas'.
2017: Billboard publishes article on Brown's mental health issues and addiction
In 2017, Billboard published an investigative article detailing Chris Brown's mental health struggles and battle with addiction, drawing on accounts from former members of his team.
2017: Release of Welcome to My Life documentary
In 2017, Chris Brown produced and starred in a documentary on himself entitled Welcome to My Life.
2017: Heartbreak on a Full Moon Album Release
In 2017, Chris Brown released his eighth album, Heartbreak on a Full Moon, which was certified gold in one week and later certified double platinum.
2017: Tran granted restraining order against Brown
In 2017, Chris Brown's ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran was granted a 5-year restraining order against him after presenting text messages and voicemails in court where Brown threatened her.
2017: Welcome to My Life self-documentary
In the 2017 self-documentary, Welcome to My Life, Chris Brown reflects on his reputation dropping sharply after his 2009 assault on Rihanna.
January 31, 2018: "State of the Union" Track Release
On January 31, 2018, Chris Brown released the track "State of the Union" for free, expressing a message about social harmony.
February 2018: Angels & Demons Collaboration Project
In February 2018, Chris Brown and Joyner Lucas announced an upcoming collaboration project, titled Angels & Demons, with the release of the single "Stranger Things". However, the project ended up never being released.
March 15, 2018: Featured on Lil Dicky's "Freaky Friday"
On March 15, 2018, Chris Brown was featured on Lil Dicky's hit single "Freaky Friday".
June 2018: "Heartbreak on a Full Moon Tour"
In June 2018 Chris Brown embarked on his US "Heartbreak on a Full Moon Tour" to further promote the album.
January 4, 2019: "Undecided" Single Release
On January 4, 2019, Chris Brown released "Undecided" as the lead single from his ninth album, Indigo. Signing an extension and a new license agreement with RCA Records, that gave him the owning of his master recordings, making him one of the youngest artists to do so at the age of 29.
May 2019: Surpassed James Brown on Billboard Hot 100
In May 2019, Chris Brown surpassed James Brown for the most Billboard Hot 100 entries among R&B singers.
June 10, 2019: Announcement of "Indigoat Tour"
On June 10, 2019, Chris Brown announced his "Indigoat Tour" to promote his album throughout the US. The tour was scheduled to begin in August.
June 28, 2019: Indigo Album Release
On June 28, 2019, Chris Brown released his second double album, Indigo.
October 4, 2019: Indigo Extended Deluxe Version Release
On October 4, 2019, Chris Brown released a deluxe version of Indigo entitled Indigo Extended, which included 10 additional songs.
December 2019: Started working on tenth studio album
In December 2019, Chris Brown revealed that he started working on new material for his tenth studio album.
2019: Album Certified Double Platinum
In 2019, 'Heartbreak on a Full Moon' was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
2019: Billboard's Ranking
In 2019, Billboard named Chris Brown the third most successful R&B and hip-hop artist of the 2010s decade, following Drake and Rihanna.
2019: Indigo Album Release and Success
In 2019, Chris Brown released his ninth studio album, Indigo, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 and included the hit single "No Guidance."
2019: Lawsuit with Mike G settled out of court
In 2019, the lawsuit between Chris Brown and his former manager Mike G was settled out of court, with both parties reconciling and reaching a confidential agreement.
2019: Single "No Guidance" remained #1 for 27 weeks
In January 2020, Chris Brown initially set the record for longest running #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart with his 2019 single "No Guidance", which remained #1 for 27 weeks.
January 2020: Longest running #1 on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay with "No Guidance"
In January 2020, Chris Brown initially set the record for longest running #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart with his 2019 single "No Guidance", which remained #1 for 27 weeks.
April 29, 2020: Announcement of Slime & B Mixtape
On April 29, 2020, Chris Brown announced the release of a collaborative mixtape with Young Thug titled Slime & B.
May 1, 2020: Feature on Drake's Mixtape
On May 1, 2020, Chris Brown was featured on Drake's Dark Lane Demo Tapes mixtape, on the track "Not You Too". The song earned Brown his 100th career entry on the US Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 25.
May 5, 2020: Release of Slime & B Mixtape
On May 5, 2020, Chris Brown and Young Thug released their collaborative mixtape, Slime & B, which featured the hit single "Go Crazy".
May 2020: First R&B artist with 100 Billboard Hot 100 entries
In May 2020, Chris Brown became the first R&B artist in history to achieve 100 entries on the Billboard Hot 100.
July 9, 2020: Album Title Announcement
On July 9, 2020, Chris Brown announced via Instagram that the title of his tenth album would be Breezy.
December 2020: Alleged rape on yacht in Miami
In December 2020, Chris Brown allegedly raped a woman on a yacht in Miami, which later led to a $20 million civil lawsuit filed against him in January 2022.
2020: Mural in memory of Kobe Bryant
In 2020, Chris Brown painted a mural in memory of Kobe Bryant, including Kobe's face, a mamba, and pictures of Kobe dribbling and dunking.
April 2021: "Go Crazy" broke record
In April 2021, "Go Crazy" broke the record for the longest running No. 1 song on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.
August 2, 2021: Short Film Announcement
On August 2, 2021, Chris Brown announced that his Breezy album would be accompanied by a short film of the same name. It ultimately did not happen.
November 11, 2021: Launched cereal, "Breezy's Cosmic Crunch"
On November 11, 2021, Chris Brown launched his own cereal, "Breezy's Cosmic Crunch", in partnership with SoFlo Snacks.
2021: Supporting role in She Ball
In 2021, Chris Brown played a supporting role in the sports comedy film She Ball.
January 14, 2022: Release of "Iffy"
On January 14, 2022, Chris Brown released the single "Iffy".
January 2022: $20 million civil lawsuit filed against Brown for alleged rape
In January 2022, a woman filed a $20 million civil lawsuit against Chris Brown, accusing him of raping her on a yacht in Miami in December 2020. Brown denied the allegations.
March 27, 2022: F1 Post-Race Concert
On March 27, 2022, Chris Brown co-headlined a F1 post-race concert for the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
April 1, 2022: Release of "WE (Warm Embrace)"
On April 1, 2022, Chris Brown released "WE (Warm Embrace)", the second single from his album.
April 3, 2022: "Iffy" peaked to #1 of the Rhythmic Radio Chart
On April 3, 2022, Chris Brown's single "Iffy" peaked to #1 of the Rhythmic Radio Chart.
April 26, 2022: US Summer Tour Announcement
On April 26, 2022, Chris Brown announced his US summer tour "One of Them Ones" with rapper Lil Baby.
May 2022: Launched NFT collection, "The Auracles"
In May 2022, Chris Brown partnered with Renowned and BlackNFTArt to launch an NFT collection called "The Auracles", accompanied by physical streetwear pieces.
June 11, 2022: New Residency Launch
On June 11, 2022, Chris Brown performed at Drai's After Hours Nightclub in Las Vegas to mark the launch of his new multi-year residency at the venue.
June 17, 2022: Release of "Call Me Every Day" Audio
On June 17, 2022, Chris Brown released the audio for "Call Me Every Day", a collaboration with Wizkid.
June 24, 2022: Release of Breezy Album
On June 24, 2022, Chris Brown released his album Breezy, which debuted at number four on the Billboard 200.
July 2022: Released NFT collection, "The Breezyverse"
In July 2022, Chris Brown released an NFT collection called "The Breezyverse", consisting of 10,000 3D animated NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain, released in conjunction with his tenth studio album Breezy.
July 2022: Surpassed Elvis Presley on Billboard Hot 100 and overtook The Weeknd on Hot R&B Songs chart
In July 2022, Chris Brown surpassed Elvis Presley for the most Billboard Hot 100 entries among male singers. Also in July 2022, Chris Brown overtook singer The Weeknd for the most charted songs on Billboard’s nearly 10-year-old Hot R&B Songs chart.
August 2022: Lawsuit dismissed due to lack of prosecution
In August 2022, the judge dismissed the lawsuit against Chris Brown due to lack of prosecution by the plaintiff. However, the dismissal was without prejudice, meaning the case could be reinstated under proper legal grounds.
September 4, 2022: Won International Artiste of the Year
On September 4, 2022, Chris Brown won international artiste of the year at the 15th annual Headies awards for his impact on Afrobeats.
September 2022: First R&B singer with 50 top 40 hits on Billboard Hot 100
In September 2022, Chris Brown became the first R&B singer in history to chart over 50 top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, achieving the record with his single "Under the Influence".
September 2022: Lawsuit on "No Guidance" dropped
In September 2022, the songwriters who sued Chris Brown and Drake for copyright infringement on "No Guidance" dropped the lawsuit in its entirety.
October 14, 2022: Special Guest at Usher's Residency
On October 14, 2022, Chris Brown appeared as a special guest at Usher's Las Vegas Residency.
November 16, 2022: Released Christmas Songs
On November 16, 2022, Chris Brown released two Christmas-themed songs, "No Time Like Christmas" and "It's Giving Christmas".
November 18, 2022: AMA Performance Cancelled
On November 18, 2022, Chris Brown announced that the American Music Awards had canceled his scheduled tribute performance to Michael Jackson.
2022: End of tour earnings reporting period
Between 2006 and 2022, Chris Brown grossed $166 million from 284 shows, according to a February 2023 report.
2022: Sold Burger King portfolio
Chris Brown revealed in 2022 that he sold his portfolio of fourteen Burger King restaurants that he owned in 2015.
2022: Brown Discusses Prince Phone Call and Purpose
In 2022, Chris Brown revealed he received an influential phone call from Prince on the way to counseling and that following his release from jail he experienced more episodes of fans explaining to him how some of his records helped them through life-changing situations, making him realize that he was making music for an "actual purpose".
2022: "Under the Influence" Re-Release
In 2022, Chris Brown's Indigo album spawned a sleeper hit with the re-release of "Under the Influence" as a single.
January 2023: Broke Elvis Presley's record for gold certified singles
In January 2023, Chris Brown broke Elvis Presley's record for the most gold certified singles by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) among all male vocalists, scoring his 56th gold-certified single with "Call Me Everyday".
January 2023: Surpassed Elvis Presley for RIAA gold-certified singles
In January 2023, Chris Brown surpassed Elvis Presley for the most RIAA gold-certified singles among all male vocalists in history.
February 2023: First male vocalist with 20 multi-platinum singles in the US
In February 2023, Chris Brown became the first male vocalist in RIAA history to score 20 multi-platinum singles in the US.
February 2023: Financial success of Chris Brown's tours
In February 2023, it was reported that Chris Brown had grossed $166 million from 284 shows between 2006 and 2022, and an additional $34 million from his Under The Influence tour in 2023.
March 2023: "Under the Influence" hit record
In March 2023, Chris Brown became the fifth artist in Billboard's history to reach 10 No. 1s on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart with his hit record Under the Influence. Additionally, Brown earned his 18th No. 1 on the Billboard's Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart with Under the Influence.
April 2023: Co-headlined Rolling Loud Thailand
In April 2023, Chris Brown co-headlined Rolling Loud Thailand in its inaugural year, alongside Travis Scott and Cardi B.
May 2023: Chris Brown launches 3D printed slides line NAMI
In May 2023, Chris Brown partnered with Zellerfeld, Nos Ailes, and The Auracles to launch his own line of 3D printed slides, called NAMI.
June 2023: Released "Summer Too Hot"
In June 2023, Chris Brown released "Summer Too Hot", the lead single of his eleventh album.
June 2023: Lawsuit on "Pills and Automobiles" dropped
In June 2023, the musician who filed the copyright infringement on "Pills and Automobiles" dropped the lawsuit.
August 4, 2023: Released "How We Roll"
On August 4, 2023, Chris Brown released the single "How We Roll" in collaboration with Ciara.
August 27, 2023: Chris Brown and Friends Live In Jamaica
On August 27, 2023, Chris Brown headlined a one off concert from Jamaica National Stadium, titled Chris Brown and Friends Live In Jamaica, as apart his 'Under the Influence Tour'.
September 8, 2023: Featured on Tee Grizzley's Single
On September 8, 2023, Chris Brown alongside Mariah the Scientist appeared as featured artists on Tee Grizzley single IDGAF.
September 2023: Partnership with Originals to launch cannabis brand Bussin
In September 2023, Chris Brown partnered with Originals to launch Bussin, a recreational cannabis brand.
October 2023: Partnership with Faraday Future
In October 2023, Chris Brown partnered with Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc to become an ambassador and Co-Creation Officer of the company.
October 20, 2023: Released "Sensational"
On October 20, 2023, Chris Brown released the Afrobeats song "Sensational" featuring Nigerian artists Lojay and Davido, as 11:11's second single.
October 21, 2023: Clarified Album Track Number
On October 21, 2023, Chris Brown clarified that the album would actually contain 22 songs as opposed to the 11 he had stated previously.
November 6, 2023: Confirmed Featured Artists
On November 6, 2023, Chris Brown confirmed that there would be 7 featured artists on the album, including Lojay, Davido, Future, Fridayy, Byron Messia and 2 other artists who were listed as hidden features prior to its release.
November 7, 2023: Released "Nightmares"
On November 7, 2023, Chris Brown released the single "Nightmares" featuring Byron Messia.
November 10, 2023: Release of 11:11
On November 10, 2023, Chris Brown's album "11:11" was released.
December 2023: Vevo Stats
In December 2023, Vevo reported that Chris Brown was the 6th most watched artist in the US and 10th most watched artist globally for the 2023 calendar year.
2023: Record sales and status
As of 2023, Chris Brown has sold over 140 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling music artists. He is also one of the highest-grossing African American touring artists of all time.
2023: Interview with Shannon Sharpe
During a 2023 interview with Shannon Sharpe, Chris Brown recounted winning a talent show at 11 performing "Thong Song" and recognizing music as a potential career after an Usher performance.
2023: First Album as a Learning Experience
In 2023, Chris Brown described his first album as a "learning experience", recalling that he felt "insecure" about releasing "Run It!" as his first single.
January 2024: Charted on Billboard Hot 100 for 20 consecutive years
In January 2024, Chris Brown became the first artist in the 21st century to have charted on the Billboard Hot 100 for at least 20 distinct and consecutive calendar years.
March 5, 2024: Announced "The 11:11 Tour"
On March 5, 2024, Chris Brown announced "The 11:11 Tour", a North American arena tour featuring singers Ayra Starr, Muni Long and Maeta as supporting acts.
March 2024: Launched disposable vapes
In March 2024, Chris Brown launched a line of disposable vapes, the CB 15K x Chris Brown Disposable Vape.
April 11, 2024: Released 11:11 (Deluxe)
On April 11, 2024, Chris Brown released 11:11 (Deluxe), the expanded edition of his eleventh album, containing 13 additional tracks and features.
November 2024: First male vocalist with over 40 platinum singles in the US
In November 2024, Chris Brown became the first male vocalist in RIAA history to score over 40 platinum singles in the US.
2024: Digital singles certification in the US
As of 2024, Chris Brown has certified 114.5 million digital singles in the US, which is the most of any male R&B singer in history and tied for 11th overall among all artists across genres.
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