Make Room for Chris Brown

What a difference a few months makes. When Vibe.com first caught up with Chris Brown, he was on the verge of releasing his self-titled debut album. It was late summer and “Run It” featuring Juelz Santana was still bubbling under and hadn’t yet become the hit single that would drive this sixteen-year-old’s freshman album to the very top of the Billboard charts.

Fast forward to the present and Brown has secured himself an NAACP Award nomination, has a highly coveted solo VIBE magazine cover story, and the second single from Chris Brown, “Yo! (Excuse Me Miss)” is aiming to break “Run It”’s top charting peak status, among other things.

Brown’s silky, youthful vocals echo a maturity and clarity that is definitely more reminiscent of Ralph Tresvant than the often compared Tevin Campbell. However at age 16 he has plenty of time to grow into those huge shoes.

Young Brown had this to say about his friends back home, the love sick girls and his competitors and comrades Omarion, Ray J and the like.

Vibe.com: When “Run It” was done, did you think it was going to be the jam it turned out to be? What was your reaction?

Chris Brown:I did love it. I just wasn’t sure of what my family or friends would say. I’m from a small town in Virginia and I am just Chris. Nothing really happens in that small town of like 3,000 people. I love that song but I was kinda nervous.

Has your stardom affected your life with the girls as well as with your homeboys?

C.B.: The girls are screaming now but my friends still treat me the same. Like when I go back home I am not like Chris some big person. I am just one of the homies.

We always hear about influences like Michael, Tevin etc…. who currently out right now do you feel like… damn, that was a hot joint he or she did, I want my song to replace that on the charts?

C.B.: I don’t really look at it as who do I want to replace. I just want to do well.

Come on now…

C.B.: But I think Omarion is doing his thing and I respect him. There are a lot of people.

Like Ray J?

C.B.: Him too man. Everyone’s doing their thing. But we all can do it and be successful.

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