Chris Brown - Exclusive [Bonus Tracks/DVD]

The instant number one hit "Run It!" proved to be no fluke. Two other songs from Chris Brown's debut album were moderate to major hits, enabling the entertainer to become a popular music star with platinum sales, not just a brief crush for thousands upon thousands of tween-aged females. Brown's second act, released almost exactly two years after his first, takes a "don't fix it if it ain't broke" approach, offsetting the innocent and age-appropriate material with a handful of songs that are squarely placed within lil' Lothario territory. When he works with Johnta Austin and Stargate, out comes young courtship fodder that is boyish enough to be reinterpreted by squeaky clean American Idol contestant David Archuleta ("You're my sweetheart and I'm so glad that you're mine"); switch the collaborators to Jazze Pha and Lil Wayne, and you get come-ons like "You like 28s on a Hummer/'Cause you the number one stunner" and "That's it, babygirl/Put it on my zipper." The two modes have had a popularity-maximizing effect, to say the very least. Falling into the relatively edgy category, the T-Pain collaboration and lead single "Kiss Kiss" duplicated the chart success of "Run It!," and perhaps only someone as likable and harmless as Brown could get away with "And I get a little mannish, and you see the bandanna hangin'/That means I'm like a bandit." You've got to credit Brown and his songwriters and producers for cranking out another handful of easy to remember hits that cover the bases, from upbeat and carefree numbers to go-to mixtape ballads that push all the right target-demographic buttons. [This edition contains two "special" bonus tracks and a DVD featuring two videos, behind-the-scenes footage from the making of those two videos, and a "Journey to South Africa" segment.] ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide

Name Credits Aaron Renner Engineer Andre Harris Producer Andrew Hey Engineer Anthony Palazzole Assistant Antonio Dixon Producer Brian Springer Engineer Brian Sumner Tracking, Engineer Bryan-Michael Cox Instrumentation, Producer Candice Childress Production Coordination Cara Bridgins Hutchinson Production Coordination Carlton Lynn Engineer Ced "Keyz" Williams Guitar Chad Jolley Assistant Chris Athens Mastering Chris Brown Producer, Executive Producer Chris Carmouche Engineer Chuck Prada Conga Corey Williams Engineer Courtney Walter Art Direction, Design Dave Hill Photography Dave Russell Mixing DJ Premier Scratching Don Cheegro Producer Dylan Dresdow Mixing Eric Dawkins Producer Eric Hudson Producer, Instrumentation Espen Lind Guitar Fabian Marasciullo Mixing Gary Fly Assistant Jamaal Andrews Guitar (Bass) James Burt Piano, Organ James Fauntleroy Vocals (Background) Jared Robbins Assistant Jazze Pha Producer John Frye Mixing Josh Houghkirk Assistant Kevin "KD" Davis Mixing Kevin Porter Assistant Engineer Kuk Harrell Engineer, Vocal Producer Lamar Edwards Producer Leticia Hilliard A&R Loren Dawson Keyboards Luke Boyd Vocals (Background) Manny Marroquin Mixing Mark Mann Photography Mark Pitts Executive Producer Mike Bogard Stylist Mike Tsarfati Engineer Mikkel S. Eriksen Engineer, Instrumentation Phil Tan Mixing Riley Mackin Engineer Rob Knox Musician, Producer Ruben Rivera Engineer, Assistant Sam Thomas Engineer Scott Naughton Engineer Steve Russell Vocals (Background) Swizz Beatz Producer Vernon Mungo Engineer Vincent Dilorenzo Mixing Warren Bletcher Engineer will.i.am Engineer, Producer