With the intense Cash Money drama brewing between Tyga and the label, him and Chris Breezy are closer than ever. The duo recently released the official follow-up to their 2010 mixtape Fan of a Fan. Fan of a Fan: The Album features guest appearances from Ty Dolla $ign, 50 Cent, Pusha T, Fat Trel, Boosie Badazz, J. 305, T.I. and Wale. The beats are electric and ideal for a strip club saga and not much else. Although Tyga sounds stronger than usual and isn’t being completely carried by Chris as on the original mixtape, the project consists of primarily pop 40 rap and lacks any risk-taking or innovation. The content follows in similar, uncreative suit and exhibits Chris Brown’s favorite pastimes: threesomes, making money and misogyny.
“Westside” begins with a mellowed Tyga spitting in cool and collected confidence. The duo celebrates their west coast living with a chill vibe that showcases some versatility. The track stands as one of the better cuts from the album. Although it doesn’t take long for Tyga and Chris to fall right back into their upbeat, turn up comfort zone, proclaiming how rich they are and treating women as complete objects.
The lead single “Ayo,” is certainly the thematic sound throughout and shows up multiple times and in a varied of titles. “D.G.I.F.U.” is easily the most interesting record on Fan of a Fan, featuring a stellar Pusha T and referencing the iconic “Forgot About Dre” and “Break Ya Neck.” For the first time, the two ditch their elementary rhymes for hardcore bars and King Push completely elevates the record to a superior level of dopeness. Although the title seems like a direct bite on Big Sean’s massive hit “IDFWU”, producer DA handles the beat making. Its gritty feel evokes entrancing head nodding at its finest and allows space for all artists involved to play with emphasis and speed of flow.
“Bitches N Marijuana” is another bouncy, crossover mess demonstrating a disastrous verse from Chris Brown where he literally says he keeps his bitches on a leash. Please, someone tell this dude to stop rapping yesterday. Even lyricist Schoolboy Q can’t save the record and although his groovy flow is the best of the song, that’s not saying much. The “Nic Nac” beat is basic and monotone and sounds like a DJ Mustard castaway.
More than just falling short of making good music, Fan of a Fan The Album signals a real decline in Chris Brown’s artistry (as nobody expects much from Tyga.) Any glimpse of old Breezy, circa “Poppin’,” “Your Man Ain’t Me” and through the originality of F.A.M.E., is completely lost on this album. It’s disheartening and it makes you wonder, when did Brown come to hate women so much? All of his recent material is intensely degrading and overtly spiteful of the female population. Any type of love music fails to make an appearance and Tyga and Brown only engage the under twenty-five crowd who enjoy turning up to records like “Ayo” and “Loyal.”
Catchy maybe, ruling radio play, true. But without the production, none of these records have any replay value. More importantly and devastatingly, the state of our R&B king is looking bleak if Fan of a Fan The Album is at all telling of the direction he’s interested in pursuing.