Graffiti (Chris Brown album)
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Graffiti
| type = Studio
| artist = Chris Brown
| cover = ChrisBrownGraffiti.jpg
| caption = Standard cover. Deluxe cover has a golden background.
| alt =
| border = yes
| released = {{Start date|2009|12|08}}
| recorded = 2008–2009
| studio = {{hlist|The Compound (Orlando, Florida)|The Record Plant (Los Angeles, California)|No Excuses (Santa Monica, California)|Chalice (Hollywood, California)}}
| genre = *R&B
| length = 51:50
| label =
- Jive
- CBE
| producer =
- Swizz Beatz
- Polow Da Don
- Ester Dean
- Nick Marsh
- the Messengers
- Brian Kennedy
- Eric Prydz
- the Runners
- The Co-Captains
- Ryan Leslie
- Tha Bizness
- Scott Storch
| prev_title = Exclusive
| prev_year = 2007
| next_title = F.A.M.E.
| next_year = 2011
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Graffiti
| type = Studio
| single1 = I Can Transform Ya
| single1date = September 29, 2009
| single2 = Crawl
| single2date = November 23, 2009
}}
}}
Graffiti is the third studio album by American singer Chris Brown. It was released on December 8, 2009, by Jive Records. The album serves as a follow-up to his previous album Exclusive (2007). Recording sessions took place from 2008 to 2009, with several record producers, including Polow da Don, Swizz Beatz, the Runners, Nick Marsh and Brian Kennedy, among others.
Primarily an R&B outing blended with synthpop and rock, Graffiti incorporates elements of hip hop, goth rock and Eurodisco, with its production showing a heavy usage of synthesizers. With this album, Brown sought to expand his musical boundaries beyond the genres of his earlier works. Its lyrical content has been characterized as multifaceted, exploring themes that range from remorse and regret to desire, affection, and the hedonistic allure of a playboy lifestyle.
The album debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200, selling 102,000 copies in its first week.{{cite web|last=Grein |first=Paul |url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74345/week-ending-march-20-2011-songs-the-chris-brown-matter/ |title=Week Ending March 20, 2011: Songs: The Chris Brown Matter | Chart Watch - Yahoo! Music |website=New.music.yahoo.com |date=2011-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430234208/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74345/week-ending-march-20-2011-songs-the-chris-brown-matter/ |archive-date=2011-04-30 |access-date=2017-07-14}} The album became his third consecutive top-ten debut in the United States following Exclusive in 2007, while producing two singles that has achieved moderate chart success. Released months after the domestic violence scandal that had him and his ex-girlfriend Rihanna as protagonists, Graffiti was considered to be a critical and commercial failure compared to the singer's previous works. In 2019, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Despite receiving generally negative reviews from most music critics, Graffiti was nominated for two Grammy Awards; including one for the Best Contemporary R&B Album and the other for the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for the track, "Take My Time" featuring Tank.
Background
In 2008, Chris Brown began working on his third studio album and confirmed the title, Graffiti, at the 2008 American Music Awards. In 2008 he said that with this album he wanted to experiment with a different musical direction inspired by singers Prince and Michael Jackson. He stated, "I wanted to change it up and really be different. Like my style nowadays, I don't try to be typical urban. I want to be like how Prince, Michael and Stevie Wonder were. They can cross over to any genre of music".https://www.itv.com/hub/categories/full-series
With Graffiti, Brown took complete control of his artistry, overseeing the entire artistic direction and writing every song himself, except for "I'll Go," which was written and produced by Brian Kennedy and James Fauntleroy.{{Cite web|url=https://globalgrind.com/category/entertainment/music/|title=Music|website=Globalgrind.com|access-date=December 24, 2021}}
Brown said in a 2014 interview that this choice came from the fact that he wanted to give "[his] own perspective of the music [he] wanted to make" and by his wanting to "verbalize whatever [he] was going through". Following the domestic violence scandal involving the singer and his then-girlfriend Rihanna on February 8, 2009, Brown decided to express his emotional state after the incident on a significant portion of the album.{{Cite web|url=https://singersroom.com/content/2009-06-11/chris-brown-reunites-with-run-it-producer-scott-storch/|title=Chris Brown Reunites With Run It Producer Scott Storch|website=Singersroom.com|date=June 11, 2009|access-date=December 24, 2021}}
Recording for the album primarily took place in Orlando and on September 5, 2009, via Twitter, Brown announced that he had completed the album, and also revealed that the album would be released outside of the US on December 7 and in the US on December 8.{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |url=http://www.mtv.ca/news/article.jhtml?id=20131 |title=Chris Brown Tweets About Completing Album | MTV.ca | News |website=MTV.ca |date=2009-09-08 |access-date=2009-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314013514/http://www.mtv.ca/news/article.jhtml?id=20131 |archive-date=2012-03-14 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2009/09/06/chris-brown-finishes-album-reveals-single/|title=Chris Brown Finishes Album, Reveals Single|website=Rap-Up.com|access-date=December 24, 2021}}{{cite web |url=http://lexib.net/2009/10/video-chris-brown-feat-lil-wayne-and-swizz-beatz-i-can-transform-ya-also-graffiti-release-date/ |title=Video: Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne and Swizz Beatz I Can Transform Ya, Also Graffiti Release Date |website=LexiB.net |access-date=2009-10-28 |date=2009-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227231206/http://lexib.net/2009/10/video-chris-brown-feat-lil-wayne-and-swizz-beatz-i-can-transform-ya-also-graffiti-release-date/ |archive-date=2010-12-27 |url-status=dead }} Speaking to MTV, producer Swizz Beatz revealed, "he's got something to prove," and that for the album Brown "has worked on 60–70 songs."{{cite web|url=http://www.theboombox.com/2009/09/29/chris-brown-announces-early-release-date-for-new-single/|title=Chris Brown Announces Early Release Date for New Single|website=Theboombox.com|date=September 29, 2009 |access-date=December 24, 2021}}
Composition
{{Listen
| pos = left
| filename = Sing Like Me.ogg
| title = "Sing Like Me"
| description = A sample of the slow-jam "Sing Like Me", featuring Brown's sexual lyrics over Asian-influenced strings and 808 drums.
}}
The album's musical style is made by mixtures of R&B, synth pop, rock and Euro-disco. Critics noted that with the album's sound Brown aimed to expand his music beyond the genres of his previous works.Kot, Greg. [http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2009/12/album-review-chris-brown-graffiti-.html Review: Graffiti]. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved on 2009-12-02. Greg Kot of Chicago Tribune said that Brown "borrows from the cross-genre experiments of Kanye West, Saul Williams, and Lil Wayne." According to Mikael Wood of Los Angeles Times, the album is made of an "upbeat" part, that "can be considered the sonic sequel to "Forever"", mixed with power ballads, observed to express his remorse and feelings following the Rihanna incident.Wood, Mikael. [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/12/album-review-chris-browns-graffiti.html Review: Graffiti]. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2009-12-15.
Lead single and album's opener "I Can Transform Ya", lyrically is about introducing someone to a luxurious life, has a robotic synth rock groove, characterized by a heavy use of synthesizers and guitar riffs.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1622609/20090929/brown__chris__18_.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001172651/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1622609/20090929/brown__chris__18_.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 1, 2009|title=Chris Brown's 'I Can Transform Ya,' Featuring Lil Wayne, Hits Web|first=Jayson|last=Rodriguez|access-date=2010-06-08|work=MTV News|publisher=MTV Networks}} "Pass Out" featuring Eva Simons, a Eurodisco song, samples the "Call on me" on Steve Winwood's "Valerie", which was also used in Eric Prydz worldwide dance hit, "Call on Me". The song has been compared to Lady Gaga's works.Greenblatt, Leah. [https://ew.com/article/2009/12/08/graffiti/ Review: Graffiti] . Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2009-12-03.{{cite web|url=http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/091210/33/2223u.html|title=Chris Brown - Graffiti|date=2009-12-10|access-date=2010-06-27|first=Dan|last=Gennoe}} "Sing Like Me" and "Take My Time" recall Brown's earlier R&B works in a more sexually oriented way. "Fallin' Down is a goth rock and synthpop song, that features lyrics about Brown falling in depression. The uptempo electro-hop "Wait", with The Game and R&B singer Trey Songz, features "bouncy sirens", and according to Jon Caramanica of The New York Times is closest to capturing the "frenetic energy" of Brown's early singles.Caramanica, Jon. [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/arts/music/07choi.html?_r=1 Review: Graffiti]. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-12-08. The song has been described as a sexual braggadocio record. According to Dan Gennoe of Yahoo! Music UK, "I.Y.A" is a tribute to 80's music, and has been compared to Blake Lewis' "Heartbreak on Vinyl".
"So Cold" has been described as a "piano-laden apology" as "Famous Girl" has been called a "heavy hearted dance track." The previous track as well as "Crawl" feature an apologetic Brown, pining at points. The previous has been described to bear a sonic resemblance to Madonna's "Drowned World/Substitute for Love." The latter, "Famous Girl", features new wave influences and a bouncy, light melodic line. The song references songs such as Drake's "Best I Ever Had", Keri Hilson's "Knock You Down", Keyshia Cole's "Heaven Sent", Beyoncé's "Halo", and Jazmine Sullivan's "Bust Your Windows", as well as Rihanna's "Disturbia" and his "Forever", as Brown laments on writing the first song and tells Rihanna that he "should've known that you would break my heart / should've known that you would leave me lonely". "Take My Time" is an R&B slow jam that features American singer Tank, and has slow drums, and heavy female breathing, prompting innuendo. Jon Caramanica of The New York Times said that "Lucky Me", lyrically about downs of life in the limelight, has a melody reminiscent of Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror". The song is an acoustic R&B and pop record that features minor influences of African music. "Girlfriend" is a synth rock song featuring Lupe Fiasco. The album's standard edition ends with the track "I'll Go", a soft rock track where the singer "tells the story of a lost love" and his determination to do anything for his loved one, including leaving her if that could make her happier.
Release and promotion
=Walmart controversy=
The week of the album's release, Brown took to his Twitter page to express his extreme displeasure with stores not visibly stocking the album, including a Walmart in Wallingford, Connecticut, stating: "The[y] didnt even have my album in the back… not on shelves, saw for myself, im tired of this shit. major stores [are] blackballing my cd. [They are] not stockin the shelves and lying to costumers. what the fuck do i gotta do. im not biting my tongue about shit else… the industry can kiss my ass. WTF… yeah i said it and i aint retracting shit... we talked to the managers and the[y] didnt even know anything. wow!!! but they had Alicia Keys album ready for release for this tuesday comin … the manager told me that when there are new releases its mandatory to put em on the shelves.. BUT NO SIGN OF #GRAFFITI. BS. no disprespect to alicia at all, just givin an example to whos album is loaded and ready to go next week".{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/2009/12/14/chris-brown-twitter-rage-graffiti/|title=Chris Brown outraged that stores are not carrying his new album; unleashes Twitter tirade|author=Leah Greenblatt |website=Ew.com|access-date=December 24, 2021}}
=Packaging and cover art=
The album was released internationally on December 7, 2009, and in the US on December 8, 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.twitter.com/MechanicalDummy/status/5425568457 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140216154723/https://www.twitter.com/MechanicalDummy/status/5425568457 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-02-16 |title=Twitter / BREEZY: Good NEWS: my album date h |website=Twitter.com |access-date=2009-12-08}} It was released on all major formats and, in addition to the standard edition, an extended deluxe edition was also released, containing an additional six songs. The international edition differs slightly from the US edition, with one extra song ("Girlfriend") appearing on the standard edition and another ("Chase Our Love") appearing on the deluxe extended edition with the inclusion of track ("Movie") omitted.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002R55IE4 |title=Graffiti: Chris Brown: Music |website=Amazon |date=2009-09-09 |access-date=2009-12-08}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B002XBMSGS |title=Graffiti: Chris Brown: Amazon.fr: Téléchargements MP3 |website=Amazon.fr |access-date=2009-12-08}} The European deluxe edition was issued as a single-CD, while US and Japanese deluxe editions are two-disc sets. The album cover displays Brown with robotic hands, wearing black clothing and sunglasses, holding a guitar over his shoulder, and spray-painting the album title, which is written in a font similar to that of Purple Rain by Prince and the Revolution. To promote the album, Brown embarked on the "Fan Appreciation Tour" on October 27, 2009, in New Jersey. The tour took place in the US. The tour ended on December 15, 2009, in New York and a portion of the proceeds from the tour went to charity to help the victims of domestic violence as well as people with developmental disabilities.{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266455/chris-brown-will-graffiti-take-him-back-to-the-top |title=Chris Brown: Will 'Graffiti' Take Him Back to The Top? |last=Concepcion |first=Mariel |work=Billboard Magazine website|date=2009-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021011541/http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1069883/chris-brown-graffiti |archive-date=2015-10-21 |access-date=2016-01-23}}
Singles
"I Can Transform Ya" was released as the album's lead single on September 29, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1622506/20090928/brown__chris__18_.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001111407/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1622506/20090928/brown__chris__18_.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 1, 2009|title=Chris Brown's New Single Featuring Lil Wayne, 'Transformer,' Out Tuesday|date=2009-09-28|access-date=2010-06-08|first=Jayson|last=Rodriguez|work=MTV News|publisher=MTV Networks}} The song received mostly positive reviews, noting the song's club feel and catchiness.{{cite news|url=http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2009/12/album-review-chris-brown-graffiti-.html|title=Album review: Chris Brown, 'Graffiti'|date=2009-12-01|access-date=2010-06-08|first=Greg|last=Kot|work=Chicago Tribune}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/phj9|title=Chris Brown Graffiti Review|date=2009-12-15|access-date=2010-06-08|first=Jude|last=Rogers|work=BBC Music}} "I Can Transform Ya"'s reached the top ten of New Zealand, whilst achieving chart success in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. The song's dance-heavy accompanying music video features choreography with hooded ninjas, and makes puns on the Transformers series.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.bet.com/music/soundOff/video-chris-brown-ft-lil-wayne-swizz-beatz-i-can-transform-ya/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030030325/http://blogs.bet.com/music/soundOff/video-chris-brown-ft-lil-wayne-swizz-beatz-i-can-transform-ya/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 30, 2009|title=VIDEO: Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & Swizz Beatz- I Can Transform Ya|work=BET Sound Off Blog|date=2009-10-27|access-date=2010-06-09}} "Crawl" and "Sing Like Me" were released on iTunes on November 24, 2009, the first as the album's second single, and the latter as a promotional single.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002WZGHD0|title=Amazon.com:Crawl:Chris Brown|website=Amazon|access-date=2010-04-08}} The previous received positive to mixed reviews, reaching the top twenty in Japan and New Zealand.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=chris brown|chart=Japan Hot 100}}|title=Chris Brown Album & Song Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2010-04-09}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/arts/music/07choi.html?_r=1|title=Critics' Choice - New CDs from Chris Brown, Allison Iraheta, and Clipse|first=Jon|last=Caramanica|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2009-12-06|access-date=2010-04-08}}{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/song/52268|title=Chris Brown - Crawl|website=Acharts.us|access-date=2010-04-08}} Its accompanying music video features Brown and American R&B singer Cassie as his love interest, as he yearns for their relationship on a winter night in a city and in a desert scene.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1625308/20091102/brown__chris__18_.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106085351/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1625308/20091102/brown__chris__18_.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 6, 2009|title=Chris Brown Pictures Shed Light On Personal 'Crawl' Video|work=MTV News|first=Eric|last=Ditzian|date=2009-11-02|access-date=2010-04-08}} The song "Pass Out" was planned to be the third single for the album, but was not released.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbf0dc|title=MTVEP: CB - video Dailymotion|date=December 8, 2009|website=Dailymotion.com|access-date=December 24, 2021}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev2 = Billboard
| rev2Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/chris-brown-graffiti-1069883/|title=Chris Brown, "Graffiti"|magazine=Billboard|date=January 19, 2010|access-date=December 24, 2021}}
| rev3 = The A.V. Club
| rev3Score = FMatos, Michelangelo. [https://www.avclub.com/chris-brown-graffiti-1798207597 Review: Graffiti] . The A.V. Club. Retrieved on 2009-12-15.
| rev4 = Chicago Tribune
| rev4Score = {{rating|2|4|full=Gold medal icon blank.svg|empty=Silver medal icon blank.svg|rating=medal}}
| rev5 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev6 = Los Angeles Times
| rev6Score = {{Rating|1.5|4}}
| rev7 = The New York Times
| rev8 = Rolling Stone
| rev9 = HipHopDX
| rev9Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.1331/title.chris-brown-graffiti
| rev10 = Slant Magazine
| rev10Score = {{Rating|1.5|5}}Henderson, Eric. [http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1946 Review: Graffiti] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213114834/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1946 |date=2009-12-13 }}. Slant Magazine. Retrieved on 2009-12-06.
| rev11 = Spin
| rev11Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}
| rev12 = The Times
}}
Graffiti received negative reviews from most music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 39, based on 12 reviews, which indicates "generally unfavorable reviews".[http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/brownchris/graffiti Graffiti (2009): Reviews] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209070608/http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/brownchris/graffiti |date=February 9, 2010 }}. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2010-04-16. It is the lowest-rated album of 2009 on Metacritic.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/browse/albums/score/metascore/year/filtered?year_selected=2009&distribution=&sort=desc&view=detailed&page=7 |title=Best Music and Albums for 2009 |website=Metacritic |accessdate=October 21, 2022 }}
Steve Jones of USA Today gave the album two-and-a-half out of four stars and commented that Brown "succeeds in expanding his sonic horizons with rock and Euro-dance influenced rhythms that are sure to ignite dance floors and innervate his electrifying performances".Jones, Steve. [https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2009-12-08-listen08_ST1_N.htm Review: Graffiti]. USA Today. Retrieved on 2009-12-15. Billboard{{'}}s Gail Mitchell complimented its music as "a forward-moving fusion of R&B, pop, rock and Euro-dance".{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1069883/chris-brown-graffiti|title=Chris Brown, "Graffiti"|date=2010-01-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021011541/http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1069883/chris-brown-graffiti|archive-date=2015-10-21|access-date=2015-01-23|first=Gail|last=Mitchell|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.}} Thomas Golianpoulous of Spin said Brown sounded "remorseful", ending the review by saying "The album's most striking moment is 'Fallin' Down.' Over an ominous guitar riff, the 20-year-old sings, 'It's getting heavy / I think I'm getting ready to break down.' It's the most honest moment of his short career. The kid sure needs a vacation."{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2009/11/chris-brown-graffiti-jivezomba/|title=Chris Brown, 'Graffiti' (Jive/Zomba)|date=November 25, 2009|website=Spin.com|access-date=December 24, 2021}} Despite writing that it has filler tracks, Dan Gennoe of Yahoo! Music gave the album a seven out of 10 rating and called it the "highest point of his career". Chicago Tribune writer Greg Kot noted an "inconsistent and sometimes contradictory tone" in Brown's lyrics, but commented that the album has "several top-notch pieces of innocuous dance music". Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly complimented its "zero-gravity pleasures", writing that "at its best moments, it still floats". Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe commended the music and production, but criticized Brown's songwriting.{{Cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2009/12/06/its_chris_browns_turn_but_who_wants_to_hear_what_he_has_to_say_on_new_cd/|title=It's Chris Brown's turn, but who wants to listen?|first=Sarah|last=Rodman|date=December 6, 2009|access-date=December 24, 2021|newspaper=The Boston Globe}} Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle said the album might have worked, but much of it "never takes flight, instead recycling the usual slick touches and arrangements."{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/life/article/CD-review-Chris-Brown-can-t-get-past-it-on-1615157.php|title=CD review: Chris Brown can't get past it on Graffiti|first=Joey|last=Guerra|date=December 6, 2009|website=Chron.com|access-date=December 24, 2021}} BBC Online's Jude Rogers noted "slinky RnB body-poppers and cheesy, breathy ballads" and commented that "plodding melodies draw attention to Brown's unpleasantly macho style". HipHopDX wrote: "It is clear that he is evolving as an artist and hopefully a man, and Graffiti may be the bridge between where he was and where he is going".
Rolling Stone writer Jody Rosen expressed a mixed response towards its "punchy dance-pop songs full of club-ready beats and Casanova gestures", calling it "a bland, occasionally obnoxious, pro forma R&B album". Slant Magazine{{'}}s Eric Henderson commented that "the only compelling thing about the incoherent Graffiti is the material (both external and internal) that makes it even less palatable than a simply below-average collection of paint-by-numbers R&B beats." Michaelangelo Matos of The A.V. Club gave the album an F rating and stated "The production is clean and often lively, and Brown sings well enough. The problem is what he's singing". AllMusic editor Andy Kellman also dismissed the album's songwriting and called Brown "exceptionally insufferable" on most of the songs.Kellman, Andy. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1692048|pure_url=yes}} Review: Graffiti]. AllMusic. Retrieved on 2009-12-06. Chicago Sun-Times writer Jim DeRogatis gave the album one out of four stars and described it as "thoroughly mediocre".DeRogatis, Jim. [http://blogs.suntimes.com/derogatis/2009/12/chris_brown_graffiti_jive_1_st.html Review: Graffiti] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091205032513/http://blogs.suntimes.com/derogatis/2009/12/chris_brown_graffiti_jive_1_st.html |date=2009-12-05 }}. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved on 2011-03-14. Pete Paphides of The Times panned its ballads, called them a "slopfest of mawkish penitence".Paphides, Pete. [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article6942844.ece Review: Graffiti]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. The Times. Retrieved on 2009-12-03. Jon Caramanica of The New York Times questioned the lyrics' substance and called Graffiti "a curiously faceless album that largely thumbs its nose at close reading".
=Awards and nominations=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="border:none; margin:0;"
|+Awards and nominations for Graffiti |
| scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Ceremony ! scope="col"| Category ! scope="col"| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| scope="row" rowspan="1"| 2011
| {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"|https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/grammys-2011-winners-list-473096/ |
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200, selling 102,000 copies in its first week. Graffiti was the week's second highest debut, only behind Glee: The Music, Volume 2.http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266379/no-stopping-susan-boyles-dream-on-billboard-200 To date, the album has sold 341,000 copies in the United States. The sales fell short compared to his previous two albums, but it was still certified Gold by the RIAA nearly ten years later, on August 23, 2019.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Standard edition
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = I Can Transform Ya
| note1 = featuring Lil Wayne and Swizz Beatz
| writer1 = {{hlist|Christopher Brown|Jason Boyd|Kasseem Dean|Dwayne Carter}}
| extra1 = Swizz Beatz
| length1 = 3:48
| title2 = Sing Like Me
| writer2 = Brown
| extra2 = {{hlist|Bigg Makk|Thomas|Lennon}}
| length2 = 4:15
| title3 = Crawl
| writer3 = {{hlist|Brown|Nasri Atweh}}
| extra3 = The Messengers
| length3 = 3:56
| title4 = So Cold
| writer4 = {{hlist|Brown|Ester Dean|Teyana Taylor}}
| extra4 = {{hlist|Polow da Don}}
| length4 = 3:38
| title5 = What I Do
| note5 = featuring Plies
| writer5 = {{hlist|Brown|Kevin Cossom|Algernod Washington}}
| extra5 = The Runners
| length5 = 4:00
| title6 = Famous Girl
| writer6 = Brown
| extra6 = Leslie
| length6 = 3:39
| title7 = Take My Time
| note7 = featuring Tank
| writer7 = {{hlist|Brown|James Fauntleroy}}
| extra7 = Tha Bizness
| length7 = 4:38
| title8 = I.Y.A
| writer8 = {{hlist|Brown|Ryan Buendia}}
| extra8 = Nick Marsh
| length8 = 3:08
| title9 = Pass Out
| note9 = featuring Eva Simons
| writer9 = {{hlist|Brown|Andre Merritt}}
| extra9 = {{hlist|Brian Kennedy}}
| length9 = 3:53
| title10 = Wait
| note10 = featuring Trey Songz and The Game
| writer10 = {{hlist|Brown|Tremaine Neverson|Jayceon Taylor}}
| extra10 = {{hlist|Polow da Don}}
| length10 = 4:30
| title11 = Lucky Me
| writer11 = {{hlist|Brown|Theron Thomas|Timothy Thomas|Richard Butler Jr.}}
| extra11 = The Co-Captains
| length11 = 5:10
| title12 = Fallin Down
| writer12 = Brown
| extra12 = Bereal
| length12 = 4:12
| title13 = I'll Go
| writer13 = {{hlist|Brian Kennedy|Fauntleroy}}
| extra13 = {{hlist|Kennedy|Fauntleroy}}
| length13 = 3:05}}
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| headline = Deluxe edition bonus tracks
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title14 = Gotta Be Ur Man
| writer14 = {{hlist|Brown|Dawson|Dean|Jay Stevenson}}
| extra14 = Polow da Don
| length14 = 3:17
| title15 = Movie
| writer15 = {{hlist|Brown|Hill|Timothy Thomas|Theron Thomas}}
| extra15 = {{hlist|Polow da Don|The Co-Captains}}
| length15 = 4:04
| title16 = For Ur Love
| writer16 = {{hlist|Brown|Buendia}}
| extra16 = {{hlist|Nick Marsh}}
| length16 = 3:45
| title17 = I Need This
| writer17 = {{hlist|Jessica Cornish|Allen}}
| extra17 = Oak
| length17 = 4:21
| title18 = I Love U
| note18 = featuring Ester Dean
| writer18 = {{hlist|Brown|Dean|Perry}}
| extra18 = Polow da Don
| length18 = 3:02
| title19 = Brown Skin Girl
| note19 = featuring Sean Paul and Rock City
| writer19 = {{hlist|Brown|Timothy Thomas|Theron Thomas}}
| extra19 = Scott Storch
| length19 = 4:13
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = International standard edition bonus track
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title14 = Girlfriend
| note14 = featuring Lupe Fiasco
| writer14 = {{hlist|Brown|Buendia|Wasalu Muhammad Jaco}}
| extra14 = Free School
| length14 = 4:08
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = International deluxe edition bonus tracks
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title15 = Gotta Be Ur Man
| writer15 = {{hlist|Brown|Dawson|Dean|Stevenson}}
| extra15 = Polow da Don
| length15 = 3:17
| title16 = For Ur Love
| writer16 = {{hlist|Brown|Buendia}}
| extra16 = {{hlist|Nick Marsh}}
| length16 = 3:45
| title17 = I Need This
| writer17 = {{hlist|Cornish|Allen}}
| extra17 = Oak
| length17 = 4:21
| title18 = I Love U
| note18 = featuring Ester Dean
| writer18 = {{hlist|Brown|Dean|Perry}}
| extra18 = Polow da Don
| length18 = 3:02
| title19 = Brown Skin Girl
| note19 = featuring Sean Paul and Rock City
| writer19 = {{hlist|Brown|Timothy Thomas|Theron Thomas}}
| extra19 = Storch
| length19 = 4:13
| title20 = Chase Our Love
| writer20 = {{hlist|Brown|Buendia}}
| extra20 = Nick Marsh
| length20 = 3:21
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = iTunes pre-order and streaming version bonus track
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title21 = Graffiti
| writer21 = {{hlist|Brown|Carlos Battey|Steven Battey}}
| extra21 = Cool & Dre
| length21 = 5:12
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Japan deluxe edition bonus disc
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title14 = Gotta Be Ur Man
| writer14 = {{hlist|Brown|Dawson|Dean|Stevenson}}
| extra14 = Polow da Don
| length14 = 3:17
| title15 = Movie
| writer15 = {{hlist|Brown|Hill|Timothy Thomas|Theron Thomas}}
| extra15 = {{hlist|Polow da Don|The Co-Captains}}
| length15 = 4:04
| title16 = For Ur Love
| writer16 = {{hlist|Brown|Buendia}}
| extra16 = {{hlist|Nick Marsh}}
| length16 = 3:45
| title17 = I Need This
| writer17 = {{hlist|Cornish|Allen}}
| extra17 = Oak
| length17 = 4:21
| title18 = I Love U
| note18 = featuring Ester Dean
| writer18 = {{hlist|Brown|Dean|Perry}}
| extra18 = Polow da Don
| length18 = 3:02
| title19 = Brown Skin Girl
| note19 = featuring Sean Paul and Rock City
| writer19 = {{hlist|Brown|Timothy Thomas|Theron Thomas}}
| extra19 = Storch
| length19 = 4:13
| title20 = Girlfriend
| note20 = featuring Lupe Fiasco
| writer20 = {{hlist|Brown|Buendia|Wasalu Muhammad Jaco}}
| extra20 = Free School
| length20 = 4:08
| title21 = Go Away
| writer21 = {{hlist|Brown|Boyd|Buendia}}
| extra21 = Free School
| length21 = 3:48
| title22 = They Say
| writer22 = Brown
| extra22 = {{flatlist|Free School}}
| length22 = 4:40
}}
Notes
- "What I Do" features uncredited vocals by DJ Khaled.https://genius.com/Chris-brown-what-i-do-lyrics
Sample credits
- "Pass Out" contains a sample of "Call on Me" performed by Eric Prydz.
- "Movie" contains replayed elements of "Can You Stand the Rain" performed by New Edition.https://www.whosampled.com/sample/277675/Chris-Brown-Movie-New-Edition-Can-You-Stand-the-Rain/
- "Brown Skin Girl" contains replayed elements from "You're the Inspiration" by Chicago.https://www.whosampled.com/sample/16267/Chris-Brown-Sean-Paul-R.-City-Brown-Skin-Girl-Chicago-You%27re-the-Inspiration/
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for Graffiti ! scope="col"| Chart (2009) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|Australia|40|artist=Chris Brown|album=Graffiti|rowheader=true|access-date=April 11, 2023}} |
| scope="row"| Australian Urban Albums (ARIA){{cite journal|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue1038.pdf|title=ARIA Urban Album Chart – Week Commencing 18th January 2010|journal=The ARIA Report|issue=1038|page=23|date=January 18, 2010|access-date=September 21, 2023|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20100215224557/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20100205-0000/issue1038.pdf|url-status=live|archive-date=February 16, 2010|via=National Library of Australia}} {{cbignore}}
|align="center"|3 |
|---|
| {{album chart|Flanders|99|artist=Chris Brown|album=Graffiti|rowheader=true|access-date=April 11, 2023}} |
| scope="row"| Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan){{cite web|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/ALBUMS.html|title=Albums : Top 100|website=Jam!|date=December 11, 2009|access-date=April 11, 2023 |url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20091223125250/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/ALBUMS.html|archive-date=December 23, 2009}}
|align="center"|84 |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|83|artist=Chris Brown|rowheader=true|album=Graffiti|access-date=April 11, 2023}} |
| {{album chart|France|134|artist=Chris Brown|rowheader=true|album=Graffiti|access-date=April 11, 2023}} |
| {{album chart|Ireland2|47|artist=Chris Brown|rowheader=true|access-date=April 11, 2023}} |
| scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/376617/products/853154/1/|title=グラフィティ(初回生産限定盤)|language=ja|publisher=Oricon|access-date=April 16, 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416080932/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/376617/products/853154/1/|archive-date=April 16, 2023 }}
|align="center"|47 |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|40|artist=Chris Brown|rowheader=true|album=Graffiti|access-date=April 11, 2023}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|70|date=20091213|rowheader=true|access-date=April 11, 2023}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|55|date=20091213|rowheader=true|access-date=April 11, 2023}} |
| {{album chart|UKR&B|11|date=20091213|rowheader=true|access-date=April 11, 2023}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|7|artist=Chris Brown|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 11, 2023}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|1|artist=Chris Brown|rowheader=true|access-date=April 11, 2023}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 2009 year-end chart performance for Graffiti !Chart (2009) !Position |
| scope="row"|Australian Urban Albums (ARIA)http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-urban-albums-2009.htm
| stylealign="text-align:center;"|39 |
|---|
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 2010 year-end chart performance for Graffiti !Chart (2010) !Position |
| scope="row"|Australian Urban Albums (ARIA)http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-urban-albums-2010.htm
| stylealign="text-align:center;"|33 |
|---|
| scope="row"|US Billboard 200http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/the-billboard-200
| stylealign="text-align:center;"|113 |
| scope="row"|US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums/
| stylealign="text-align:center;"|28 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Graffiti}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=New Zealand|artist=Chris Brown|title=Graffiti|award=Gold|relyear=2009|access-date=December 25, 2024|certyear=2018|source=radioscope}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|title=Graffiti|artist=Chris Brown|award=Silver|relyear=2009|id=11658-3598-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|title=Graffiti|artist=Chris Brown|award=Gold|relyear=2009}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true|streaming=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Release dates for Graffiti |
| scope="col"| Country
! scope="col"| Date |
|---|
| scope="row"| Germany
|December 7, 2009https://www.amazon.de/dp/B002WBTAB0 |
| scope="row"| United Kingdom
|December 7, 2009https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002WBTAB0 |
| scope="row"| United States
|December 8, 2009https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002R55IE4|title=Graffiti |
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.discogs.com/Chris-Brown-Graffiti/release/2039385 Graffiti] at Discogs
- [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/brownchris/graffiti Graffiti] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209070608/http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/brownchris/graffiti |date=February 9, 2010 }} at Metacritic
{{Chris Brown}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by Brian Kennedy (record producer)
Category:Albums produced by Free School
Category:Albums produced by Polow da Don
Category:Albums produced by Ryan Leslie
Category:Albums produced by the Messengers (producers)
Category:Albums produced by the Runners
Category:Albums produced by Scott Storch
Category:Albums produced by Swizz Beatz