Chris Brown x Tyga – Fan Of A Fan | Mixtape Review

Chris Brown‘s road to redemption was always going to be a trying one. Post Rihanna-gate, Chris Breezy has found himself blacklisted from various radio playlists, his Graffiti album receiving mixed reviews and his impending tour to Europe being cancelled due to being denied access to the country. But with undoubted talent and a resistance towards going into early retirement, Chris Brown goes to the underground to try and gain some momentum, teaming up with Young Money affiliate Tyga on the mixtape Fan of A Fan.

We’ve seen R&B and Hip Hop collaborations before (R.Kelly/Jay-Z, Cam’ron/Jaheim et al) and they’ve all seemed short of the mark. But for a collaboration consisting of a singer whose popularity is in decline and a YM artist who isn’t Drake, this mixtape throws many surprises this way . Its switch between mellow, stirring slow jams and club braggadocio creates a lively, head nodding mixtape which sees off most competition.

Chris Brown belts out brilliantly honed melodies; on “Drop Top Girl” his vocals perfectly match the trademark summer bounce from the Neptunes’ production. With one of the key tracks “Deuces” (a track which suspiciously sounds like Rihanna’s “Te Amo”) Brown’s wailings and moans add much soul to the haunting score. Not forgetting Tyga, whilst lyrically there is little dissection needed, his contribution as the supporting rapper works mysteriously well as his laid back, unpolished drawl compliments CB’s vocals, most notably on the opener “What They Want”.

It’s only when Chris Brown himself starts rapping do we need to pause and ask ourselves just what are we listening to. But when addressing the Rhi-Rhi situation unsubtly on “Ain’t Thinkin Bout You,” we are left with a track of some quality which requires multiple listens. This review isn’t based on what Chris Brown can do with his fists nor based on how he treats women. Strictly on the musical merits, Fan of a Fan is an impressive outing which highlights C.Breezy’s talents at crafting resounding RnB records.

Whilst all attempts to rap should be left at this compilation alone, vocally wise CB remains impressive whilst Tyga has definitely emerged as a future “featuring” rapper for many Slow Jam supremos. Striding confidently on uptempo tracks and reflective on the reserved productions, those who choose to listen to Chris Brown should be left more than satisfied with his latest attempt at winning back his lost following.

–Henry Yanney