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Brown's fifth studio album follows on the heels of his 2011 record "F.A.M.E," which debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart in March last year and won a Grammy for best R&B album.

But if early reviews are any indication, Fortune appears to be a misfire, as most critics appear to have been unable to ignore Brown's history.

The 23-year-old singer is currently midway through a five-year probation sentence after pleading guilty to beating ex-girlfriend Rihanna on the eve of the Grammys in February 2009.

Three years later, he is unable to shake his bad-boy reputation -- last month, he and rapper Drake made headlines after a bloody bar brawl among their respective followers.

Time Magazine's Melissa Locker gave both Brown and "Fortune" a damning review, questioning why the music industry had forgiven the singer for his crimes and calling the album "boring". She urged readers to avoid buying it.

Randall Roberst of the Los Angeles Times gave two out of four stars, calling Fortune "the work of an artist who has gone all-in with a handful of commercial tracks designed to get Our Hero paid and back in America's good graces".

The album scored 40 out of 100 on the review website Metacritic.com.

Entertainment Weekly's Kyle Anderson said the album "furthers the uncomfortable and frustrating disconnect between Brown's hotheaded personal life and his oddly edgeless musical persona", and gave it a 'C-minus'.

In Britain critics have been unimpressed too. The BBC's Nick Levine said the work delivered "unremarkable mid-tempo RnB," and called it "cripplingly pointless".

Despite the poor reviews, Fortune topped the iTunes album chart after its release on Tuesday, and Brown has been defiant.

In March, he stormed out of an interview on Good Morning America, tweeting "HATE ALL U WANT BECUZ I GOT A GRAMMY Now," after his win in February.

The rapper has avoided interviews to promote the album, but has been plugging it hard on Twitter and doing high-profile performances of its hit single, "Turn Up The Music," at awards shows.

The lead single is an electronic dance and club-friendly track that has reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

Elsewhere, the album features a mix of musical styles, including dance beats on tracks such as the Benny Benassi-produced "Don't Wake Me Up," heavy bass and electronica on "Bassline" and steamy R&B on "2012" and "Sweet Love".

Brown also tries to convey his softer side through ballads such as the piano-led "Stuck On Stupid" and acoustic love song "4 Years Old".

Listeners seeking references to Brown's troubles need look no further than "Don't Judge Me," in which he sings "Just let the past just be the past ... take me as I am, not who I was".

Comments

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Mon May 20 00:25:27 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 5, 2012

Bdoobs

They straight hating this boy, Drake probably pay them to say all this garbage. Don't worry Breezy boy, your female fan base will prove these haters wrong...
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Jul 5, 2012

sabza007

...''Time Magazine's Melissa Locker gave both Brown and "Fortune" a damning review, questioning why the music industry had forgiven the singer for his crimes and calling the album "boring". She urged readers to avoid buying it''......

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Don't hate the player, hate the game. This Mellisa chick can go to hell, we will buy our black brother's album. There is no pure musician or entertainer in this world. This man owned up to his mistakes and he is paying for it...but its unfair to cling on his past and don't look at his current achievement.
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Jul 5, 2012

member

Are those real tatoos, things we do for money and fame.
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Jul 5, 2012

Cl!ck

Who is this now??

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Jul 5, 2012

MISSTY!!!

those tattos r scary and toooooo damn much! but imma support u all da way regardless da critics...
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Jul 5, 2012

Idohl

I only knew this fella after he bliksemed Rihanna, I guess he should moer another one, then his sales will skyrocket.
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Jul 5, 2012

daluks

Listening to the album right now...Not bad. Even though i am not a chris brown fan
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Jul 5, 2012

msyhlezz

Nonsense...this album is brilliant, proper RnB not that trash by Usher.
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Jul 5, 2012

daluks

@msyhlezz

I agree big time with you!!
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Jul 5, 2012

MsHollyHerb

member
Are those real tatoos, things we do for money and fame
========================================================================im im thinking the same thing ci ci ci its doesnt look ryt at all its a no no
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