Chris Brown attacks retailers for 'blackballing' new album

[vivfox]

Dec. 12, 2009, 11:36 AM EST

Shamed R&B singer Chris Brown has lashed out at music retailers who are refusing to stock his latest album following his conviction for attacking ex-girlfriend Rihanna.

The "Kiss Kiss" hitmaker has kept a low profile since the assault in February, for which he was sentenced to six months hard labor and five years' probation in July.

But despite several public apologies over the incident, the controversy surrounding Brown refuses to go away -- he insists several major stores are "blackballing" his comeback record "Graffiti," which was released on Tuesday.

On his Twitter.com page, Brown rants, "I'm tired of this s**t. Major stores r (are) blackballing my cd. Not stocking the shelves and lying to costumers. What the f**k do I gotta do (sic)..."

He adds, "WTF (what the f**k)... yeah I said it and I ain't retracting s**t. I'm not biting my tongue about s**t else (sic)... the industry can kiss my a**."

It is not known which retailers are reportedly refusing to sell the album.

http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=446777&GT1=28102

[chelluversu]

like he didn't know that some retailer would refuse to stock his cd's he needs to grow up and get over it..his career wasnt gonna just pick up where it left off and hes a ****ing idiot if he thought it would.

[samthrax]

While I'm not a fan of his at all I don't really think it's the retailers place to judge. It also doesn't really make sense. Are they trying to make an example out of him? Unfortunate as it is, there are plenty of musicians who commit crimes and do things we find unacceptable. Why just pick on Chris?

Although, if it was WalMart he needs to just get over it.

[mylittledemon]

Someone oughta tell Chris Brown you reap what you sow, you f**kin assh*le.

[Dodfather]

Someone oughta tell Chris Brown you reap what you sow, you f**kin assh*le.

Absolutely.

[LikeAWillow]

Donate your percentage of the album's profits to a women's shelter, Chris. I'd stock your sorry record.

[mylittledemon]

Donate your percentage of the album's profits to a women's shelter, Chris. I'd stock your sorry record.

:laugh:

+1

[MacMan]

While I'm not a fan of his at all I don't really think it's the retailers place to judge. It also doesn't really make sense. Are they trying to make an example out of him? Unfortunate as it is, there are plenty of musicians who commit crimes and do things we find unacceptable. Why just pick on Chris?

Although, if it was WalMart he needs to just get over it.

I agree... So hypocritical on so many levels... Don't condone what he did, but yeah, why are retailers taking it upon themselves to decide what people should have for a selection? It's one thing not to stock it because they don't think it will sell anything and it's another to not stock it because of what happened.

[LikeAWillow]

Unfortunate as it is, there are plenty of musicians who commit crimes and do things we find unacceptable. Why just pick on Chris?
.

For the same reason the judge placed a sentence on him that exceeded that requested by Rihanna's lawyers. This was a man who was supposed to serve as a young, positive, role model for men. He was someone little boys could look to and see that if they worked hard and developed a talent, they could succeed. His lyrics weren't misogynistic or violent. He was fun.

And then he hit his girlfriend, and he sent the message to those same little boys that women were disposable, abusable, second class citizens.

[samthrax]

For the same reason the judge placed a sentence on him that exceeded that requested by Rihanna's lawyers. This was a man who was supposed to serve as a young, positive, role model for men. He was someone little boys could look to and see that if they worked hard and developed a talent, they could succeed. His lyrics weren't misogynistic or violent. He was fun.

And then he hit his girlfriend, and he sent the message to those same little boys that women were disposable, abusable, second class citizens.

By not stocking his album, though, you're sending the message that no matter what changes you put in place to become a better person it's never going to be enough. What he did was wrong and horrible and for that he should be punished. But after the punishment, then what? At the age of 20 is he forever condemned to being a horrible person who is given no room for rehabilitation?

Now, in Chris' specific case, I'm not sure there has been much growth. But I hope so.

I guess I just believe in second chances as well as letting people make up their own minds. If people don't want to buy his CD in protest, that's their prerogative. I just don't understand how a retailer, who is in the business of making money, is going to limit your choices.

With all this said, who even buys CDs anymore? Yep, I'm totally one of those people. ha.

Oh, and I think the judge gave him a harsher sentence than what was asked by Rihanna's lawyers because I think she really wanted all of this to be behind her and I think she still loves him. That seemed pretty evident in her Diana Sawyer interview. I'm not a Rihanna fan AT ALL but for her to put aside her feelings and to be strong enough to make the decision she knows is right for her well being is extremely admirable.

[Nico]

I understand what both sides are saying here, but my opinion is that it seems it was too soon for him to come out with a new album. He released the detailed apology thing not that long ago, and I think the general buying public may feel that there could be some insincerity in his statement, that it may have been something issued to help his own publicity for this record. I don't think it's right to judge a person so harshly when they are taking crucial steps to do the right thing, but I also feel that in this situation, he should have laid low for a longer time, done something public that would benefit other people and not his own image.

I'm just saying...

[LikeAWillow]

By not stocking his album, though, you're sending the message that no matter what changes you put in place to become a better person it's never going to be enough. What he did was wrong and horrible and for that he should be punished. But after the punishment, then what? At the age of 20 is he forever condemned to being a horrible person who is given no room for rehabilitation?

But have we seen any evidence to say that he was rehabilitated? I was serious when I said that he should donate his profits to a women's shelter. He needs to man up and really show that he doesn't condone a culture that institutionalizes violence against women and that he laments having participated in it himself. Can you imagine what a strong statement that would be coming from a rapper? The only vocalized statement I can think of in a popular rap song that even comes close to showing regret for what these men talk about is Eminem's "When I'm Gone": (rapping about his daughter Hayley) Then turn right around in that song and tell her you love her/and put hands on her mother...whose the spitting image of her/ that's slim shady, baby, slim shady's crazy/ shady made me."



I guess I just believe in second chances as well as letting people make up their own minds. If people don't want to buy his CD in protest, that's their prerogative. I just don't understand how a retailer, who is in the business of making money, is going to limit your choices.

You seem to be making an argument about consumer's rights, but there's an equally powerful argument of seller's rights. If I owned a retail store, I wouldn't stock an album by a man known to have done what Chris did. That's my prerogative. Brown is more than able to sell his album off of his own website, and if the fan base is there, the album will sell. If consumers choose to frequent my store less because of the stocking decisions I've made, that's the risk I run as a private owner.

EDIT:

I just want to add that when I mention misogynistic rap lyrics, I'm not in any way advocating for their censorship. I can respect songs like "Kim" as artistic expression. It's certainly passionate, and you get the feeling from it that it's a cathartic experience for the artist and some of the audience. I just wish we didn't live in a society that produced men who needed to let out their desire to murder their wives.

Feminism is the radical idea that women are people, and all :)

[samthrax]

But have we seen any evidence to say that he was rehabilitated? I was serious when I said that he should donate his profits to a women's shelter. He needs to man up and really show that he doesn't condone a culture that institutionalizes violence against women and that he laments having participated in it himself. Can you imagine what a strong statement that would be coming from a rapper? The only vocalized statement I can think of in a popular rap song that even comes close to showing regret for what these men talk about is Eminem's "When I'm Gone": (rapping about his daughter Hayley) Then turn right around in that song and tell her you love her/and put hands on her mother...whose the spitting image of her/ that's slim shady, baby, slim shady's crazy/ shady made me."



You seem to be making an argument about consumer's rights, but there's an equally powerful argument of seller's rights. If I owned a retail store, I wouldn't stock an album by a man known to have done what Chris did. That's my prerogative. Brown is more than able to sell his album off of his own website, and if the fan base is there, the album will sell. If consumers choose to frequent my store less because of the stocking decisions I've made, that's the risk I run as a private owner.

EDIT:

I just want to add that when I mention misogynistic rap lyrics, I'm not in any way advocating for their censorship. I can respect songs like "Kim" as artistic expression. It's certainly passionate, and you can the feeling from it that it's a cathartic experience for the artist and some of the audience. I just wish we didn't live in a society that produced men who needed to let out their desire to murder their wives.

Feminism is the radical idea that women are people, and all :)

Kind of completely off topic but what does it say that there is TONS of positive hip hop out there and the derogatory music is what's popular? I'm a fan of "underground" hip hop and top 40 music constantly blows my mind. "Birthday Sex"? Really? Rolling my eyes.

I'm not really disagreeing with anything you're saying I'm just bringing up other (what I deem) valid points. I'm glad you brought up the other side of the argument by bringing up seller's rights cause I was thinking it when I wrote up my previous post. heh. I said before, I don't think he's grown or learned a whole lot from this experience. I understand your point in saying that if he had displayed any kind of growth from the situation it would be worth giving him a second chance.

Could he have done more to convince the public he's matured from the situation? Yes. Is it really our place to judge and prohibit him from making a living? No. I guess I never realized the big boxes (Target, WalMart, Best Buy) had developed enough of a conscious to decide not to carry his album. That's what I'm kind of taken back by.

Now, I'm not saying those are the stores that refused to carry his album. I'm just using them as an example. But besides local stores, who else sells music nowadays?

[LikeAWillow]

Kind of completely off topic but what does it say that there is TONS of positive hip hop out there and the derogatory music is what's popular? I'm a fan of "underground" hip hop and top 40 music constantly blows my mind. "Birthday Sex"? Really? Rolling my eyes. I totally agree with you. There are some really talented artists out there, and hip hop is such an interesting genre, but Clear Channel's version of it is ****.

I'm not really disagreeing with anything you're saying I'm just bringing up other (what I deem) valid points. And I love this. I have some pretty strong stances, especially when it comes to anything that gives me my chance to have my five minute podium to talk about feminism, but it's no fun to talk without anyone to talk with.

[GypsyBlueEyes]

My only response to this little tantrum is 'cry me an effing river." :rolleyes:

[mylittledemon]

If people really wanna buy his record, they'll go out and buy it regardless of who's selling it. Sales suck because people don't want to buy his music, end of story.