Date posted: June 23, 2009
Categories: Muzik
Comments: 2 comments | Leave a comment |

Calling all hip hop practitioners, it’s that time again. I stand before you not as a fan of Chris Brown or Rihanna. This article is simply an assessment on information and techniques sufficient to substantiate my opinions alone. I shall remind you that I can only speak on what has been published thus far by the media pertaining to this matter. I present the following as an examination towards adequate support towards these conclusions. These are not definitive statements only a presentation on an individual’s current media status.

Yesterday the gavel finally swung. Chris Brown’s day of reckoning seeped into the pitfalls of justice. In a complete turn from his former plea, Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to one count of felony assault on R&B superstar Rihanna. Mr. “I’m Not a Monster” has portrayed is careless and often carefree attitude about this ugly event almost with glee. We’ve all seen his cavorting and gallivanting antics which some applauded while others loathed his character more. It is evident that Mr. Brown changed his plea to resuscitate what’s left of his career, also one might figure that the prosecution must have had one hell of a case built up against CB and let’s face it he didn’t want to do one day of jail time.

The R&B crooner dodged the bullet of jail time and instead was sentenced to 180 days of labor service in Virginia, five years of probation and was ordered to attend a domestic-abuse program for a year. “It sounds good on the surface – no jail time – but in many respects, it’s a pretty tough deal,” a legal expert told MTV News. “He has to do 180 days of labor service. In California, for instance, we’re used to seeing guys in jumpsuits picking up trash on the freeway or weeding. Labor service is not gonna be easy. You have to get up super early, you have to be there almost before the sun comes up and work until 2 or 3 [p.m.]. Then he has to do 52 weeks of sitting in a class for two hours every week. He almost gave up a year of his life. Yet how many of you out there still feel this was not harsh enough? How many feel that his sentence was lenient?

In addition to the deal that was reached, Court Judge Patricia Schnegg explained to Rihanna, who entered the courtroom after Brown left, that she had issued a stay-away order although RiRi had not been seeking a stay-away order. Brown isn’t allowed to have any contact with his former girlfriend during the duration of his probation period. The order requires that both stay at least 50 yards from each, except at industry events when the distance is reduced to 10 yards.

Looking back, these two were already mega counterparts, but once joined at the hip were now a global team of future trendsetters.  All were ready to behold and bow down to music’s new royalty couple. The ages of Chris and Rihanna make them adorable. Being only 20 and 21 makes them touchable, and relatable for the masses. The psychology of teenagers today easily identifies with Chris Brown and Rihanna because these are kids that could have went to your high school. This is the couple that was voted most likely to succeed, the cheerleader and captain of the football team, the prom king and queen, the girl that all the guys drooled over and the guy that all the girls daydreamed about. The age of Chris Brown and Rihanna gave them authenticity. People were able to not only believe in CB and Rih Rih but they also wanted to believe that this couple would be a fairytale and last forever.  Child stars have more longevity, in that they appeal to the younger market.

The public’s view of Mr. Brown before this incident was polished and gleaming bright. He was a young prince charming. He had the chiseled abs, Colgate smile, and an innocent glow. CB was the true epitome of a teenage heartthrob. There’s no doubt that he was an immediate bonafide star from the beginning. He collided with the best in the entertainment industry has a triple threat in being a singer, dancer and budding actor.

Mr. Brown was once described in the media as being “a lot like the 16-year-old boy living in the house next door to you: one minute he’s five-foot-seven, the next he’s 6′1. One minute he’s a cute little boy trying to dribble a basketball, the next a superstar point guard. One minute he’s ducking under the covers pleading for five more minutes of shut-eye, the next he’s racing through a day full of recording, performances and interviews. With his easy-going demeanor and schoolboy charm, Chris Brown could easily be somebody that you know. With his incredible voice and a debut CD laced with clever lyrics, hypnotic tracks and impeccable vocals, he’s someone that the world will soon know.” So what happened, what went wrong?

 Conduit is the distribution of an entertainment product in a high tech age. The delivery of the product can be through theaters, bandwidth, coaxial cable, satellite, television receive only dish, laser, wireless, ultra high frequency, very high frequency, digital transmission, location based retail, and beyond. Now what if all of these powerful delivery channels were carrying the same message, “Chris Brown Is A Woman BEATER.” Can you image the cause and effect of such circumstances? This is the present case.  We now live in a many-media world in which we have many unique media channels and formats we could not have imagined just a few years ago. YouTube, Facebook and Twitter are some of the latest. Today’s media publishing: podcasts, vidcasts, sms, blogs, social networks–in addition to print, web sites, email, etc; all the traditional forms of media. Including the old venues of print, television, and radio. With today’s technologies you can get up-to-the-minute celebrity news and photos on your cell phone, iPhone or Blackberry.

One must wonder whether a substantial lesson has truly been learned by all parties involved. More importantly what is the overall effect of this case on the younger clay minded next generation. What message will the fans take from these set of particulars? Will the public be able to forgive and forget? One thing about it the soft-spoken Brown has already began brushing his shoulders off as he preps his new album. Recently CB reached out to none other than Keri Hilson to pen a few selections for his next LP. Furthermore, the female R&B singer said that Brown’s altercation with R&B superstar Rihanna will not affect his music career since his loyal fans will stick with him. ”It is unfortunate what they are going through, but I always feel like if you’ve ever had a fan base, you’re really only one song away from appeasing that fan base. Whether that song is autobiographical or whether you want to talk about that or not, you’re just one hit song away. And that’s what I think of the industry in a nutshell.”Also Chris Brown is getting support from Orlando-based Hip-Hop production duo The Runners for his new album Graffiti and follows his 2007 blockbuster debut Exclusive.

Written By Sha'Linda Jeanine

Sha’Linda holds a M.S. and B.S. in Mass Communications and is still pursuing more. She is also a journalist/author. Her focal point is Hip-Hop the genre and lifestyle. This examination is her concern, responsibility, and cultural investigation.

1. Eric Chad Turner says:

   June 23, 2009 at 1:34 pm

   great insight and honesty.

   Reply
2. Edward V says:

   June 23, 2009 at 2:50 pm

   woman beater!

   Reply