X (Chris Brown album)

X
X
	Standard edition cover. Deluxe edition features a golden X.
Studio album by Chris Brown
Released	September 16, 2014
Recorded	2012–2014
Studio	Glenwood Place (Burbank, California); Allure (Hollywood, California); Record Plant (Los Angeles, California); Chalice (Hollywood, California);
Genre	R&B
Length	60:16
Label	RCA; CBE;
Producer	Ambiance; Anonymous; B.A.M.; Babydaddy; Count Justice; Daniel Coriglie; Danja; Dennis-Manuel Peters; Diplo; Free School; Freshm3n III; Glass John; Hey DJ; Mario Bakovic; Mel & Mus; Nic Nac; PK; R. Kelly; Razihel; RoccStar; Soundz; Steven Franks; TBHits; Tra Beats;
Chris Brown chronology
Singles from X
	"Fine China"; Released: March 29, 2013; "Don't Think They Know"; Released: June 17, 2013; "Love More"; Released: July 16, 2013; "Loyal"; Released: December 19, 2013; "New Flame"; Released: June 30, 2014;

X is the sixth studio album by American singer Chris Brown. It was released on September 16, 2014, by CBE Entertainment and RCA Records. The album serves as the follow-up to his fifth album Fortune (2012).^[1]^[2] Brown for the album worked with several producers, including RoccStar, Danja, Nic Nac, Diplo and others. The album also features guest appearances by various urban artists, including Kendrick Lamar, R. Kelly, Akon, Nicki Minaj, Usher, Trey Songz, Tyga, Rick Ross, Brandy, Lil Wayne, Jhené Aiko and Aaliyah.

The release date of the album was delayed several times due to RCA's choices and the singer's legal problems throughout the last months of 2013 and the first half of 2014. Initially, the album release was set for July 16, 2013, then for August 20, 2013, then for May 5, 2014, and finally released on September 16, 2014. X was preceded by five singles: "Fine China", "Don't Think They Know", "Love More", "Loyal" and "New Flame". The album's fourth single "Loyal" became its most successful, by peaking at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number 10 in the United Kingdom. Pushing the promotion for the album further, Brown performed and appeared at several televised music events and music festivals across the United States.

The working of the album started in 2012 and ended in August 2014. The album's aesthetics feature a black and white imagery, handled by Brown himself along with art director Courtney Walter. X is an R&B album, also containing songs influenced by disco, soul and hip-hop. Its lyrical content focuses on falling in love, internal conflict and sexual desire. The album divided reviewers: while most praised Brown's performances and the album’s sound, others criticized the songwriting and album's length. At the 2015 Grammy Awards, the album was nominated for the Best Urban Contemporary Album, while "New Flame" was nominated for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song.

Commercially, the album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 selling 146,000 copies in its first week, becoming his first album to miss the summit of the chart since Graffiti (2009) and his third album to go to number two on the chart overall following Exclusive (2007). It also became his sixth consecutive top ten debut in the United States. By the end of 2015, the album had sold 404,000 copies in the United States. It has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

^ Kellmam, Andy. "X – Chris Brown". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 18, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
^ Wood, Mikael (September 17, 2014). "Review: Chris Brown plays it both ways on long-delayed 'X'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved September 17, 2014.

[allmusic-1] Kellmam, Andy. "X – Chris Brown". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 18, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2013.

[Mikael-2] Wood, Mikael (September 17, 2014). "Review: Chris Brown plays it both ways on long-delayed 'X'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved September 17, 2014.

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