You never really know what to expect at a Chris Brown concert. The last time he played the Bay Area, cops and security were in full force, mostly because he seems to attract somewhat of a rowdy type of crowd. Last night was rather tame aside from the expected metal detectors and maybe a few flare-ups in the crowd, moments before Brown hit the stage. The Multi-platinum selling artist played San Francisco for one of three dates tour dubbed the Royalty Live concert series in support of his upcoming album, “Royalty,” and no matter what your opinion is of the cat, one thing’s for sure — his talent is undeniable.
Brown has something unique in the field of R&B in that he not only possesses the pipes and moves to seduce the ladies, but also a thug-like appearance and edge that men can respect. Lots of his music is a mix of soulful crooning with hip hop beats but also urban samples that create a sound that is truly his own. The songs are anthemic in nature and had his fans singing along to them all night long, with women screaming and swooning at each sultry note and pelvic giration. The green leaf was also very present during the evening as concert attendees were puffing away throughout the night, dancing along to a tight backing band comprised of musicians that looked more like gangsters than the typical session musicians.
Some interesting facts about Brown are that he’s had his sixth #1 album entry on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart with the release of 2014’s “X.” The album also debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Top Albums chart, marking his sixth album debut within the Top Ten. “X” sold over 140,000 units in its first week and has since sold over 400,000 copies. Earlier in 2015, Brown released his first collaborative studio album, “Fan of a Fan: The Album, with Tyga.” The album debuted in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200. Chris recently wrapped up his sold out “One Hell Of A Nite Tour”w earlier this summer that played to nearly 300,000 fans across North America. With an ongoing list of chart-topping albums and singles and hugely successful tours, Brown remains to this day one of today’s most influential entertainers.
Brown also hits the stage tonight at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago and the Palladium in Los Angeles on Dec. 18.
Photos courtesy of Louis Raphael
