Chris Brown's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Chris Brown.

Chris Brown is a highly successful American singer, songwriter, rapper, dancer, and actor. Known for his blend of hip-hop and pop-influenced R&B, and versatile genre exploration, he's been dubbed the 'King of R&B' by some. His music often delves into emotional and hedonistic themes. Brown is frequently lauded for his vocal and dance prowess, drawing comparisons to Michael Jackson.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1992: Records on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay

Since the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart was first established in 1992, Chris Brown holds the record for the two longest running #1 hits on the chart.

1995: "Run It!" tops Billboard Hot 100

Chris Brown's debut single, "Run It!", topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making him the first male artist since 1995 to achieve this with a debut single.

Loading Video...

1995: "Run It!" Reaches Number One

In 1995, Chris Brown became the first male act since Montell Jordan to have his debut single, "Run It!", reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Loading Video...

2009: Grammy Nomination for Take You Down

In 2009, Chris Brown's song "Take You Down" earned him a Grammy award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

Loading Video...

2011: Wins multiple BET and Hip Hop Awards

In 2011, Chris Brown received six nominations at the BET Awards, winning five, including Best Male R&B Artist and Video of the Year for "Look at Me Now". He also won three awards at the BET Hip Hop Awards, including the People's Champ Award and Best Hip Hop Video for "Look at Me Now".

Loading Video...

2011: F.A.M.E. Album Release and Grammy Award

In 2011, Chris Brown released his fourth album, F.A.M.E., which topped the Billboard 200. The album included singles like "Yeah 3x", "Look at Me Now", and "Beautiful People", and it earned him the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.

Loading Video...

2011: "Look at Me Now" becomes best-selling rap song

In 2011, Chris Brown's single "Look at Me Now" featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes, became the best-selling rap song of the year in the US and one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Loading Video...

February 12, 2012: Wins first Grammy Award

On February 12, 2012, Chris Brown won his first Grammy Award for Best R&B Album for F.A.M.E.. He also performed at the ceremony, marking his first appearance since his felony assault conviction.

March 20, 2015: Brown's Probation Ends

On March 20, 2015, Chris Brown's probation ended, formally closing the felony case emanating from the Rihanna assault that happened over six years prior.

2015: Grammy Nominations for X and "New Flame"

In 2015, Chris Brown's album X was nominated for the Best Urban Contemporary Album at the Grammy Awards, while his song "New Flame" was nominated for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song.

Loading Video...

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.

2019: Billboard Names Chris Brown Top Artist

In 2019, Billboard named Chris Brown the third most successful artist of the 2010s decade in R&B and hip-hop music, behind Drake and Rihanna, demonstrating his legacy and impact on the genre.

2019: Indigo album release

In 2019, Chris Brown's ninth studio album, Indigo, debuted atop the Billboard 200. It included the single "No Guidance", which broke the record for longest-running number one on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.

Loading Video...

2019: Longest Running #1 Hit on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart

In 2019, Chris Brown's single "No Guidance" became the longest running #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart with 27 weeks.

Loading Video...

2019: Lawsuit 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 reaching a confidential deal.

January 2020: Longest Running #1 Hit on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay

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.

Loading Video...

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 2022: Surpassed Elvis Presley on Billboard Hot 100

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

In August 2022, the judge dismissed the lawsuit against Chris Brown due to lack of prosecution by the plaintiff. The lawsuit was dismissed on procedural grounds without prejudice, meaning it could be reinstated.

September 4, 2022: International Artiste of the Year at Headies Awards

On September 4, 2022, Chris Brown won International Artiste of the Year at the 15th annual Headies Awards, recognizing his impact on Afrobeats as a non-African artist.

September 2022: First R&B Singer with 50 Top 40 Billboard Hot 100 Hits

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."

Loading Video...

January 2023: Broke Elvis Presley's Record for Most 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".

Loading Video...

January 2023: Surpasses 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 February 2023, Chris Brown became the first male vocalist in RIAA history to score 20 multi-platinum singles in the US.

February 2023: Pollstar Report on Career Gross Earnings

In February 2023, Pollstar reported that Chris Brown had grossed $166 million from 284 shows between 2006 and 2022, marking him as one of the highest grossing African American touring artists of all time.

March 2023: Reaches 10 No. 1s on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart

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".

Loading Video...

January 2024: Charted on the Billboard Hot 100 for at Least 20 Consecutive Calendar 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.

November 2024: First Male Vocalist with Over 40 Platinum Singles

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

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.