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Graffiti

EMAILPRINTby Chris Brown

Chris Brown reviews
39
5.3 User Score:

Generally unfavorable reviews

Based on 12 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 77 votes
Read user comments
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Album Info

Label: Jive

Release Date: 08 December 2009

Discs: 1 disc

Genre(s): R&B

Summary

The third album for the R&B singer features Game, Lil Wayne, Lupe Fiasco, Plies, Swizz Beatz, Trey Songz, Eva Simons, and Tank as his guest singers.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

80

Billboard.com

While listeners can't help but be reminded of his fall from grace, Brown also shows us on Graffiti that he's still a formidable talent.-

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70

Spin

The album's most striking moment is "Fallin' Down." Over a ominous guitar riff, the 20-year-old sings, "It's getting heavy / I think I'm getting ready to break down." It's the most honest moment of his short career. The kid sure needs a vacation.

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70

Dot Music

Despite being five tracks too long--specifically the five tracks which have him falling back to his syrupy ways of old Graffiti is hands down the highest point of Chris Brown's career.

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67

Entertainment Weekly

With his actions this year, Chris Brown strapped cement boots on the zero-gravity pleasures pop music is meant to provide. Graffiti won't magically fix that, but at its best moments, it still floats.

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50

Rolling Stone

Chris Brown has made a bland, occasionally obnoxious, pro forma R&B album.

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50

The New York Times

A curiously faceless album that largely thumbs its nose at close reading.

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37

Los Angeles Times

A handful of lovingly arranged power ballads were evidently designed to illuminate the singer's remorse over the Rihanna incident. Yet Brown doesn't seem up to the task of contrition.

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30

Slant Magazine

Sadly, the only compelling thing about the incoherent Graffiti is the material (both external and internal) that makes it even less palatable than a simply below-average collection of paint-by-numbers R&B beats.

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25

Chicago Tribune

'Famous Girl' throws the album off balance, and makes every note feel exploitive and self-serving. In trying to restore his reputation, Brown ends up damaging it even more.

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20

All Music Guide

Brown clumsily emphasizes womanizing and hedonism and balances it out with a couple clean and empty ballads. Out of this portion of the album, only a couple songs leave a lasting impression, and when they do, the silly things that come out of Brown’s mouth tend to be the reason.

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20

Hot Press

Try-hard, but ultimately mediocre R’n’B comeback from disgraced singer.

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0

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Musically, Graffiti is a fairly ingratiating affair: The production is clean and often lively, and Brown sings well enough. The problem is what he’s singing.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 5.3 (out of 10) based on 77 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Renee L. gave it an8:
All the music mags ought to be ashamed of themselves by trying to collectively destroy this young man's life. YES!!, he made a bad choice, he has repented, so LET HIM MOVE ON, GIVE CREDIT WHERE IT'S DUE!!! The songs are creative, and some full of energy, which is signature for his dance(feel good) tracks, and the "I Can Transform Ya" video is sick!!!! I am a woman, so I will NEVER condone his actions, but to deny his talent it an outright LIE!!!!!

Chris B. gave it a0:
OK guys. I admit my album is pretty bad but since I was mean to Rihanna and I was in legal troubles I didn't have time to make much music. Sorry.

Kenneth P. gave it a3:
It's not that strong... He's comeback is kinda boring... The beat makes us scream... STOP IT!

Jj Kk gave it a10:
Extremely underrated. If this album were the only one released in the course of the upcoming decade, you'd be looking at album of the decade. My only dissapointment is that he didn't use any interesting, cogent, intelligent, listenable,.....or remotely defensible elements in producing this magnum opus. Album of the century!

Shane W. gave it a0:
A totally stupid cd - your IQ may be at risk if you listen to this more than once.

Rob W. gave it a9:
It's a variety of genres and its pretty amazing. I am here to comment on the music only, not stupid incidents. Plus it's a new year!

John E gave it a1:
Horrible, horrible album! I used to be a fan, but this nonsense won't do. What happened to the old Chris Brown?

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