‘New’ Chris Brown Songs Are Actually Old Demos, Label Says

Songs, including ‘Not My Fault’ and ‘Smash,’ ‘are being falsely promoted as new material from Chris,’ rep says.
By Shaheem Reid

Chris Brown

Photo: Chris Graythen/ Getty Images

Late last month, Chris Brown posted a video online in which he said he’s working on a new album called Graffiti and planned to release a new single this summer — however, music is popping up sooner than he intended. Over the past few weeks, several Brown songs have been circulating on the Internet and late Tuesday night, his record company released a statement saying that the songs are not legitimate releases.

“Countering misleading reports of ‘new’ Chris Brown music: there are no ‘new’ songs from Chris Brown currently being promoted by Chris or his record label,” a representative for Jive Records said in a statement. “There are several old demos circulating that are being falsely promoted as new material from Chris.”

Two of the songs in question — “Not My Fault” and “Smash” — have been tagged with unfortunate titles, given Brown’s recent legal issues stemming from his alleged altercation with Rihanna. On Monday, Brown was sentenced to 180 days of community service and five years’ probation.

“Not My Fault” is an uptempo number that sounds like it could have been produced by the Neptunes — it even sounds like Pharrell Williams doing some ad-libs as the song ends. The record is about a young lady who falls to pieces after Brown shuns her. The woman in the song is so hurt that Brown sings about her mother calling him and saying her daughter won’t eat or sleep.

“Shorty is caught up, from a long night,” Brown sings. “She’s ready to fall, but see, it’s all right … That’s not my fault, right?”

On “Smash,” Brown is in full robotics mode and utilizes Auto-Tune, which Jay-Z slammed in his new track, “D.O.A.” “Guess who stepped in the room?” Brown sings on “Smash.” “It’s your Breezy, hit her with the Auto-Tune … I’m the kinda guy who don’t wanna follow rules, so come on baby girl, let’s break a few.” He also asks the girl he’s singing to if she wants to play with fire before telling her he knows her agenda. She doesn’t want his number, picture or autograph — she wants to “smash.” The song is obviously unfinished, as there’s no second verse.

“Uh Oh” is more of a dance record and finds Brown crooning, “There goes another one, shorty wanna rock with me … Shorty dip it low for me/ Let’s take it to the floor, show me what you got for me.”

And finally, a song called “Stronger” is a Mary J. Blige ballad that features Brown singing backing vocals. On it, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul sings, “I will survive as long as it’s you by my side/ I’m stronger.” A rep for Blige said the song was recorded before Brown’s incident with Rihanna in February; the rep said she was uncertain when and where the song would be released.

At press time, Brown’s next LP had no official release date.

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