Chris Brown's Star-Studded "Indigo" Is Well Worth The Wait

BY Erika Marie 17.3K Views
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Chris Brown
Thirty-two tracks packed with chart-topping, heavy-hitting artists.

One could say that with the release of Chris Brown's latest project Indigo the singer is "back," but if we're honest with ourselves, he never really left. The 30-year-old has evolved over the years from that adorable teenaged R&B singer to a dance phenomenon who just can't seem to make a bad record, even if he tried. Indigo, Brown's ninth studio album, was dropped off early Friday morning to hundreds of thousands of fans waiting impatiently around the world. During his listening party last week, the singer shared memories of being a high school kid with big dreams—a life that he now gets to live.

"If y’all don’t feel the sh*t I need to know," he said to the crowd of listeners. "I’m so thankful of the process to be here. I don’t even know so many years later." The 32-track release, which includes two discs and three bonus tracks, is the second instance of Brown dropping a double album (the first being Heartbreak on a Full Moon back in 2017). The project includes features by Nicki Minaj, H.E.R., Lil Jon, Juicy J, Juvenile, Tyga, G-Eazy, Lil Wayne, Joyner Lucas, Gunna, Drake, Ink, Justin Bieber, Tory Lanez, Trey Songz, and Tank. It's an eclectic mix of R&B, hip hop, and dance tracks that perfectly define who Brown is as an entertainer. 

There have been plenty of artists who have attempted to fuse genres on records and failed, but Brown seems to have perfected the art of transitioning from one musical style to the next quite fluidly. Indigo season is upon us whether you like it or not, and with 32 tracks, it isn't going to slow down anytime soon. 


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.