Chris Brown didn’t hold back in his recent Billboard magazine cover story. The blond bad boy of R&B admitted that his personal life might have been out of control. Might? That’s definitely an understatement. Brown, who was recently released from jail, spoke to the magazine about his jailhouse experience, Rihanna and his fans.
“I realize that what I do for a living opens my life to public scrutiny and that I have a responsibility to everyone because of that exposure,” Brown told Billboard. He continued:
I can say that I am only human and I have made mistakes. I can say that I try to live my life in the most true, honest way that I can. I am not perfect, no one is. No one is harder on me than me. No one can please everyone. No one can live in the past and expect to grow. I have been moving forward and hope that I am not defined by just a few moments in my life but all of the moments that will make up my life.
The Billboard interview ironically happened two weeks before he was thrust back into the spotlight when a shoot-out happened at his pre-MTV Video Music Awards party. During the shoot-out, Suge Knight received multiple gunshot wounds.
Brown, who recently pleaded guilty in his Washington, D.C., assault case, feels that jail offered him a chance to mature:
My maturity level has risen as far as my realizing what’s important. Realizing that I’m human like everyone else. At the end of the day, it’s just a humbling experience. You’re more appreciative of everything else that’s on the outside. A burger tastes 1,000 times better when you’re out (Laughs.) I’m just more appreciative of the things I’m blessed with and the things I do: music, being able to take care of my family, being able to see my friends and family. And do what I love and still be able to do it in a timely fashion to where people don’t think, “Oh well, he fell off.” Still being able to be consistent.
As Brown preps for the release of his new album, X, he explains the source of his loyal fan base:
First, I’d say God. Honestly. My faith in knowing what my purpose is and how I’m trying to find out what my purpose is. My fan base speaks volumes [to that]. I never want to say that I know everything or I know what the best song or a hit is. I just put it out there for people to like and love. I make music for myself personally, but I also try to do music that people can relate to, have fun with; evoke as much emotion as possible from my audience and peers. It’s God and just consistency with my talent.
Billboard did ask Brown if he ever thought there would be a point in time when his relationship with Rihanna wasn’t brought up; he replied, “When we’re not relevant anymore, that might be the case.” Yeah, I don't see that happening anytime soon.
Read more at Billboard.com.