concert

Hip-hop heavy hitter Chris Brown dances into town

By Sean Daly, Times Pop Music Critic
Published January 10, 2008

Talk about pressure: Chris Brown was being called "the next Michael Jackson" before he even blew out the candles on his 16th birthday cake. The pride of Tappahannock, Va., Brown, now 18, has quickly become a hip-hop heavy hitter, a multitool entertainer who can sing, dance, write, make the girls cry, you name it. His two albums, 2005's Chris Brown and '07's Exclusive, have both gone No. 1. And he's usually the most mesmerizing performer on any awards show, a clean-cut cutie whose best dance moves make him look downright jointless. But the next MJ (the good MJ, the Thriller MJ)? Wow, that's a tall order.

Of course, Brown, and touring partner Bow Wow, will by far be the most experienced talents at this Monday night extravaganza, which also features such one-hit wonders as Shop Boyz (Party Like a Rockstar), Lil Mama (Lip Gloss) and Soulja Boy (Crank That (Soulja Boy)).

Chris Brown, with Bow Wow, Soulja Boy, Shop Boyz and Lil Mama, 8 p.m. Monday, St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. $39.75-$69.75. (813) 301-2500.

[Last modified January 9, 2008, 12:11:51]