Rap-Up.com || Chris Brown Talks Ancient Aliens, Michael Jackson, & His Legacy

With two weeks to go before his album Fortune drops, Chris Brown granted a rare interview to Fuse. He discussed how “ancient aliens” inspired the cover artwork, some of his collaborators including Nas and Diplo, pioneering a new concept for iTunes, and dealing with the changing music industry, while throwing in some expletives to get his point across.

During the sit-down with Esteban, Breezy also reminisced about performing “Thriller” for his idol Michael Jackson and a collaboration that was in the works. Plus, find out what legacy he hopes to leave behind.

On his album artwork: “You can see on the album cover, it’s like a code. That’s an encryption for my fans. I wanted to do something different because I’m into ancient aliens. I like being stuff that’s other than what everybody expects. … When they look in the booklet, they’ll see the different code. Some of it says I love Team Breezy or it’ll say certain things directed to them and they’ll know it if they break the code.”

On what Fortune means: “I wanted Fortune to be the blessing of having it. It’s not money, wealth for me. It’s basically the blessing of being able to do it. I’m fortunate to do it. I want everything to be top notch.”

On his “rarities and B-sides” concept: “I have a gang of records, so what I do is I give ‘em to iTunes. Instead of releasing it free, for a lesser price you get it. It gives the artist a chance to get the exposure that they need. … Instead of going through the label riff-raff and all the bull, let’s split the royalty and do it like this so we both get paid. The industry is so broke that it’s starting to kill our creative side.”

On the shifts in the music industry: “I started when they had the $600,000, $800,000 video budgets. My ‘Run It!’ video was around that. Now you get it where people are like, ‘We got $50,000.’ It’s really killing us in a sense because nobody believes in the brand anymore. If we don’t do it, who gon’ do it? So I’m like f**k it, I’ma do it myself.”

On performing for and meeting Michael Jackson: “That was probably one of the greatest moments in my career ’cause I got a chance to perform for him. People loved the performance. I went backstage and met him. He said hi to my mom. He was respectful. It was just one of those great times in my life.”

On a collaboration with the King of Pop: “Me and him had talked countless times through our people. We were working on records and we were working on some stuff. But God has other plans.”

On following in MJ’s footsteps: “My legacy is not to be Michael Jackson, but to just be me. … I want to make him proud. I don’t want to make it an effort to copy because I hate clones, so I don’t want to be a clone.”

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32 Comments

Miles
June 18th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Fortune = Flop

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feathernow Reply:
June 18th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
@Miles, stop trolling you miserable cunt. Breezy winning all day !!

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ROMAN'SFULLYCHARGED Reply:
June 18th, 2012 at 3:19 pm
@feathernow, CO-SIGN

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ChiChi Reply:
June 18th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
@Miles, And it takes you to repeatedly come on a post about this guy, talk negative, to prove that? :). Watch how his album sells blow your mind. That’s it! God bless :).

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Miles Reply:
June 18th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
@ChiChi, Maybe because I find it extremely hilarious how mad people get when u make one little negative comment about him. PPL start going HAM on u

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:o Reply:
June 19th, 2012 at 1:26 am
@Miles, and your still here to reply. go get a life!

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Good Motherfuckin Music
June 18th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
love that nigga chris, hater above me has aids

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Jay85
June 18th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
It’s cool to see he watches the history just like us regular folks….that series is definitely intriguing….its a television series that discusses the possible influence of extraterrestrials on ancient civilizations…..good luck to him

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Jay85 Reply:
June 18th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
@Jay85, *history channel

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Slaying The Scene
June 18th, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Stay MOD.

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CBE
June 18th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
Chris is so smart, people underestimate him and his very creative too no wonder Itunes teamed up with him for this new concept…now watch the mainstream gimmicks copy or take advantage.

There was first Teambreezy(correct if Im wrong), now you hear about navys,beilebers, katy cats and monsters WTF!!!

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xO_Honey Reply:
June 18th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
@CBE, you are right, TeamBreezy was the first team to come around, and other fanbases copied the idea. just like TeamBreezy was the first fanbase to make their own mixtape dedicated to their fave, then TeamMinaj tried to copy that. Chris is very intelligent, but people dont take the time to see that because they would rather waste energy hating on him.

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Cadny Reply:
June 18th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
@CBE, I wish there was actually creativity with his music. It’s been repetitive for the past 6yrs. No hate just an observation.

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maya Reply:
June 18th, 2012 at 9:37 pm
@CBE, you not even lying, everybody got a name for their fans now & it’s corny af

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Ray Reply:
June 20th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
@maya, Is it a crime that other fanbases doing the same though?

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Mulan
June 18th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
I love Both Chris Brown and Michael Jackson(love MJ)
and i believed Michael would be Proud of him

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tay
June 18th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
I love when chris gets to do interviews where he can be himself

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Aldo
June 18th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Don’t you all see?.. He’s speaking in riddles regarding the so called industry these days (just like Michael & DMX once did).
Due to “supposedly” selling their souls to the “Devil” for sex, fame & fortune.
Their now literally being held as puppets in their own lives/careers due to their illuminati beliefs regarding life.
Quite sad actually.
Soooooo! Glade I’m a Christian……….. PEACE

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WonderLand19
June 18th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
JEW LIE 3RD JEW LIE 3RD! lol

So excited, 2 weeks people!!!! Can’t wait to play this freakin album on blast.

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sam
June 18th, 2012 at 5:31 pm
“Me and him had talked countless times through our people. We were working on records and we were working on some stuff”.

PURE BS. IF Michael Jackson wanted to collaborate with him he would haven’t done it or spoke with him “through his people”! Chris Brown has nothing to do with Michael Jackson. In all senses. Odd he claims he does not want to copy him since he tries to copy Michael Jackson all the time trying to be like him. Of course he has not his magic, his geniality, his art and will NEVER have.
NO ONE will ever be like Michael Jackson!

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Frankie Reply:
June 18th, 2012 at 10:22 pm
@sam, Yeah, you’re definitely right..no one will ever come close to the King. And yes, Akon and will.i.am. worked with Mike–this we know for sure–and we’re not just now hearing about it either.

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Neickha Reply:
June 19th, 2012 at 5:49 am
@sam, you know Michael called him (Chris) and Jamie Foxx on June 25th 2009 to the theatre they showed up that day but had to be stopped because Michael Jackson didn’t show up yet…

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sam Reply:
June 19th, 2012 at 5:20 pm
@Neickha, It’s a PURE BS news. That day, Michael Jackson would have had to complete Dirty Diana. Never heard before about a meeting with him (or Jamie Foxx). Akon and Will.i.am. worked with Michael Jackson as Frankie remembered, never heard about Chris Brown and Jamie Foxx.

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Chris Brown Talks Aliens, Michael Jackson | K97.5
June 18th, 2012 at 6:24 pm
[...] Via Rap-Up: On performing for and meeting Michael Jackson: “That was probably one of the greatest moments in my career ’cause I got a chance to perform for him. People loved the performance. I went backstage and met him. He said hi to my mom. He was respectful. It was just one of those great times in my life.” [...]
Sanai
June 18th, 2012 at 6:27 pm
OMG, Chris and Aliens… lol.
Every once in awhile Chris tweets something about aliens or UFOs.

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TheDreamer
June 18th, 2012 at 6:54 pm
I see he’s starting to do more interviews. But a Michael Jackson collab? I wonder how that would’ve turned out.

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Anthony
June 18th, 2012 at 9:10 pm
On what legacy he hopes to leave behind. A controversial one.

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maya
June 18th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
This is the Chris I adore. When he’s calm, cool, & collective and just expressing his love for what he does. LOVE HIM!

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Lioness
June 19th, 2012 at 6:52 am
i really enjoyed this interview.

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itsMarcial
June 22nd, 2012 at 3:34 am
..and that’s the way it is. that’s good,just focus, continue being creative and make your own thing and most specially make MJ proud not to copy is what i love that he said. this young man seems doing good, and working hard and has talent, unlike others.. uhmmm, *cough* jb *cough*.
keep up the good works. yeah his tribute to MJ 2006 WMA was great, lucky him he got a chance to perform for MJ himself, cannot forget,i still got goosebumps whenever i watch that video

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Danielle
June 22nd, 2012 at 1:02 pm
And NO WAY Michael Jackson could be ‘proud’ of a such a guy, violent, vulgar, gross, UNtalented! There is a Michael Jackson impersonator (Joby Rogers) who actually got a signed letter from him as the best impersonator! Chris Brown is not an impersonator, he just want to copy him because he, like many others, would want to have his fame LOL… IMPOSSIBLE NOW AND FOREVER

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banners broker
July 8th, 2012 at 9:05 am
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