Christopher Maurice Brown was born on May 5, 1989, in Tappahannock, Virginia. He began singing and dancing at an early age and was discovered by a local talent show producer when he was 13 years old. He was signed to Jive Records in 2004 and released his self-titled debut album in 2005. The album was a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies in the United States and spawning the hit singles "Run It!" and "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)".
Rise to fame
Brown's second album, Exclusive (2007), was also a commercial success, selling over 2 million copies in the United States and spawning the hit singles "Kiss Kiss", "With You", and "Forever". He has since released five more studio albums, including Graffiti (2009), F.A.M.E. (2011), Fortune (2012), X (2014), and Royalty (2015). His music has been certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and he has won numerous awards, including a Grammy Award, an American Music Award, and a BET Award.
Controversies
In 2009, Brown was arrested and charged with felony assault after he physically assaulted his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. He was sentenced to five years of probation and six months of community service. The incident had a significant impact on his career, and he lost several endorsement deals and saw his album sales decline.
Comeback
In the years since the Rihanna incident, Brown has worked hard to rebuild his career. He has released several successful albums and singles, and has toured extensively. He has also appeared in a number of films and television shows. In 2017, he won a Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album for Royalty.
Current projects
Brown is currently working on his eighth studio album, which is expected to be released in 2020. He is also set to star in the upcoming film, Superfly.