well its last year lol but hey i think its so cool how he loves his lady fans LOL he had a crush on ciara lets all pray bow wow stays with her forever




Every once in a while, some young'un comes around to show the adult artists that there are advantages that go along with their youth. Chris Brown is a prime example. When he performs, he shows his age. Full of energy, spirit and precision, at 16, Chris Brown is one of the most exciting R&B stars to debut since Usher. And you know how that story turned out.

BET.com caught up with the rising star and talked to him exclusively about his fortunate past, his present success, and his promising future.

Advertisement

So we heard through the grapevine that you actually were going to be a rapper before you decided to sing. Please, can you elaborate on that.

Well, actually I always loved the hip-hop, I’m still in love with hip-hop, but I just wanted to be a rapper when I was younger, [around] 13, 14. I would just go around my school with all my homies and was like, ‘yo let’s have a cipher, let’s rap, let’s rap.' So then when I was like maybe 13, I really started taking singing seriously, so I just switched over.

You’re from a small town in Virginia too, how hard was it breaking into the industry from for someone who wasn’t from New York, LA or Atlanta?

It was crazy, ‘cause at first, I would never have imagined in a million years that I would be in this position right now. So I just worked with some different producers and they took me to New York and brought me to another production team. From there, all the doors opened up for me. I met with different labels and I had deals on the table by that year, it was crazy!

You cited some of your influences as Donnie Hathaway, Sam Cooke, and Aretha Franklin. Who exposed you to such early music?

I probably would have to say my aunts and my uncles. My mom listened to it, but she was more like a Michael Jackson fan. My father who is who’s very eclectic, he listened to a lot of different music like, Bruce Springsteen and everything.

How would you say your parents influenced you?

I think they influenced me a great deal and just taught me how to express my feelings in my songs, as well as vocally and emotionally. It just makes the song feel like old school R&B used to, just pour your heart into the song and act it out.

:: NEW PAGE::

You’ve turned into quite the heartthrob. How have you been dealing with the female fans, have you been getting mobbed and everything?

Yo, I love the ladies, for real. It’s crazy. They starting to see that I am an artist, and they’re starting to take me seriously, so it’s been real lovely, I can’t complain. I’m a fan junky, I stay with the fans.

So all the young girls are going to be wondering if you’re single or not, though you're still kind of young to be talking about that.

Oh, most definitely. You see how most dudes try to be like, ‘nah I’m single,' but then are like, 'yo, baby let me holla at you right quick.’ Nah, I’m just focused on my music right now and then, as time progresses I’ll be like looking for that special lady, but I’m always looking for the fans. I love y’all ladies for that.

What would you consider to be the most difficult aspect of your career?

The most difficult aspect is controlling myself around the ladies, it’s just ridiculous, ‘cause I love ‘em so much. That’s the only thing. Everything else, I’m just learning, so I love the whole game.
What do you do to relax?

Play basketball, play video games, talk to girls, fans, sign autographs, paint, design my own shirts and everything.

Any thoughts of one day jumping off your own clothing line?

Most definitely.

Now, either in the past or in the present, was there ever an entertainer you had a secret crush on? And be honest...

Not really, I was feeling a couple artists, but not like a crush. Like, I know my man Bow Wow got Ciara now, so I was just feeling Ciara and her whole energy and dancing wise. I respected her. And I was like, 'yo that might be aright if I get to talk to her, but at the same time, I really aint have no crush on nobody though.