Chris Brown has been one of the most successful singers to grace the music industry in the last two decades. His first album, which dropped way back in 2005, solidified his place in the music industry for good. Chris's singing and dancing abilities scored him many comparisons to the late Michael Jackson.
After 15 years in the entertainment business, Chris Brown has released a total of 10 solo studio albums, which has guaranteed his spot as one of the best for time to come. Despite his success with music, Chris has found himself in a lot of trouble with the law, landing him in prison and being banned for over two countries.
Chris has always gotten right back up from his mistakes and grown, putting a lot of his energy into his music, which certainly paid off. While you might think you know everything about Chris Brown, there is still a lot that has been kept on the down-low. Without further ado, here are 18 facts that show who the real Chris Brown is.
18 He Is From Tappahannock, Virginia
Chris Brown, born Christopher Maurice Brown, was born in Tappahannock, Virginia! Say that five times fast. A young Chris always had a passion for music and dance, and little did he know just how big of a star he would eventually grow up being. While he may have grown up in a small town, it didn't take him too long before moving over to Los Angeles to record his first album as a teenager.
17 He Owns Over 14 Burger King Restaurants
While we know him for his music career and stellar dance moves, there is one thing that many of you might not know about Chris Brown. Besides his discography and countless acting gigs, the singer is also a restaurant owner! Chris owns a whopping 14 Burger King franchises. According to Mashable, Burger King owners have to have $1.5 million in their bank accounts and $500,000 in liquid assets before owning one restaurant, so you know Chris is rolling in it to be able to own 14!
16 He Is Banned From A Number Of Countries
Chris Brown has certainly showcased a lot of great sides of himself throughout his career, however, there have also been an array of scandals that have got him in a lot of trouble not only in the United States but other countries as well. After a domestic abuse incident, Chris Brown was officially banned from entering the United Kingdom in 2011 and then banned from Australia in 2015.
15 Chris Was Discovered At A Gas Station
When it comes to celebrities and their discovery stories, Chris Brown definitely has one worth tuning in to. The singer was only 13 years old when he was discovered by a production company paying a visit to his dad's place of work. Chris' father, Clinton Brown, was working at a gas station where Chris would hang out alongside dad for the day. Turns out, it was his lucky day after he was able to perform for a production crew popping in.
14 He Comes From A Small Family
Many times you will hear celebrities talk about their upbringing and how they come from relatively big families, however, when it comes to Chris Brown, he actually comes from quite a small family! It was just him, his sister and mom and dad! While the fam might not be the biggest, his love for his mom definitely is.
13 He Once Had A Stage Name
While we know Chris Brown as just that, or of course, Breezy, he had a completely different stage name in school. During Chris' time in high school, the singer released a number of mixtapes under his previous stage, C-Syzle! Yes, you read that right, Chris Brown is now the artist formerly known as, C-Syzle.
12 He Was 16 Years Old When His Career Kicked Off
While he may have been discovered at 13 years old at a gas station, it was not until he was 16 years that his career officially kicked off. Chris sang for an A&R representative and was instantly brought to the office of LA Reid, where he was offered a record deal right off the bat. Talk about good luck!
11 He Is A Father Of Two
In addition to his successful music career, Chris Brown also has another job, being a father! While many of you might not know this, Chris is a father to only one, but two children. His eldest, Royalty Brown, was born back in 2015, and his newborn, Aeko Brown, was born only 3 months ago.
10 His Biggest Inspiration Is Michael Jackson
Growing up, Chris Brown always had good taste when it comes to music and dancing, which makes sense considering Michael Jackson was his idol. The singer looked up to the 'Thriller' singer and practiced dancing just the way Michael did it on stage. It definitely paid off considering he was credited as being the "next Michael Jackson" when he first broke out.
9 He Is A Dog Lover
If there is one thing that we absolutely love about Chris Brown is his love for his furry friends! Chris is quite the fan of dogs and owns a number of them, including his extremely rare purchase back in 2016. Chris added a new pup to the mix, but not just any dog, a rare Tibetian Mastiff, which is valued at a whopping $1.5 million, says Daily Jukebox.
8 His Temper Runs High
Chris Brown made headline news back in 2009 for one of the biggest scandals surrounding the artist to this very date. While we are certain you know exactly what we are talking about, it involves his domestic abuse case with his former girlfriend, Rihanna. The star shocked the public after pleading guilty, showing that he certainly has a bad side too.
7 He Writes For Other Artists, Too
While Chris Brown has had a lot of success with his records, he also has quite the talent when it comes to writing for other artists too. Chris has written a number of songs for other artists, including Rihanna, Joe Jonas, Pitbull, Tinashe and David Guetta, to name a few! Not only is he an extraordinary performer, but he definitely has writing talent as well.
6 Chris Brown Rejected His First Record Offer
Chris Brown has had quite the journey to fame and success, however, when it came to signing on with a record label, Chris Brown declined his first offer. According to Captial Xtra, the singer first auditioned in front of Def Jam executives, including LA Reid, however, Chris decided to go another direction and signed with Jive Records instead.
5 He Has Served Time In Prison
Chris Brown appears to have found himself in hot water quite a lot throughout his career. In addition to his 2009 domestic violence case, Chris has also spent time in prison for other violent acts and has also been detained in the past due to carrying illegal substances and a number of allegations that led him to receive a misdemeanour and spending time behind bars.
4 He Is Also An Actor
While Breezy is definitely known for his music career, the star has also dabbled quite a lot when it comes to acting. Chris Brown has been featured in a number of television shows and movies, including 'Stomp The Yard', 'The O.C", and "Takers", to name a few. Breezy also has made a few appearances on Disney shows such as 'Suite Life Of Zack & Cody", playing himself.
3 He Sang In His Church's Choir
Chris Brown was raised in a religious household, where he and his family would frequent church often. With that being said, Chris Brown also performed in his church's choir as a kid and has even returned to his roots and performed with a full choir during some of his own performances.
2 He Loves To Play Video Games
Everybody likes to sit back and unwind after a long day of work, and for Chris Brown, he likes to do just that with video games. The singer is a huge fan of video games and revealed that his favourite game to date is 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas', which happens to be one of the most successful video game titles to date.
1 He's Released A Whopping 10 Studio Albums
After being in the business for over 15 years, Chris Brown has certainly made a name for himself and left his mark in the music industry. After breaking out in 2005, the singer has released a total of 10 studio albums, which is quite a lot for any artist in the business for 15 years. Chris has produced and written tracks, albums and loads of records for himself, and has proven his musicality time and time again.