Chris Brown: The Electric Youth

Chris Brown

WHEN: July 1, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Dodge Arena

COST: $49, $69, $89, $99

FOR MORE INFO: (956) 668-7740 or www.dodgearena.com

By Miriam Ramirez

mramirez@themonitor.com

At 19, R&B sensation Chris Brown has tallied more award nominations, record sales and media hype than most artists do in a career span.

In just a couple of years the "Run It" singer and dancer glided across the stage and into the hearts of millions of adoring fans.

Could he have been the one to dethrone Usher from young R&B royalty? That debate continues.

Recently, though it was rumored that rival singer Ne-Yo launched a diss track against Brown to further fuel how much weight the singer carried in the industry.

You may sell a million more than me, but you don't have a million more than me/You're girlfriends favorite song is mine/My middle name is 'More Bread' and my last name is 'Than Your Bread'.

In retrospect no one expected Brown to take the industry by storm the way he did except for maybe the talent-seeking production team who discovered the east coast native at his father's gas station back in Virginia.

At 15, Brown was sent to perform for L.A. Reid and soon enough signed to Jive Records. By early 2005, he began work for his debut album, working with hot shot producers including Scott Storch, The Underdogs, and Jermaine Dupri.
With an infectious groove, and dashes of Michael Jackson-like moves Brown was the labels sure-fire hit. Not to mention a solid manager behind him, Def Jam's own Tina Davis, Brown soared to superstardom especially among a rather stagnant, female-dominated R&B genre.

After Jive picked him up, he debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 200 selling over 155,000 copies in first week of sales. Five weeks later, became certified platinum, and within a year, went double platinum. Following "Run It!", "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)" became Brown's second top 10 hit in the U.S, peaking at No. 7 and has also been certified platinum.

That album scored Brown three Billboard Awards in 2006, one of them being the most prestigious, Artist of the Year. The album also received a nomination for a Grammy, in the Best Contemporary R&B Album category.

The R&B's star continues to rise and leads the way for individual nominations at the Teen Choice 2008 Awards, with nine separate mentions, including Male Artist and Red Carpet Icon

His collaboration with American Idol winner Jordin Sparks received two nods - Choice Love Song and Choice Hook-Up.
Brown will go head-to-head with his rumoured girlfriend Rihanna for Choice R&B Artist. Rihanna will also compete in Choice Female Hottie, Choice Single for "Don't Stop The Music" and Choice Female Artist.

Miriam Ramirez covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4468.