He’s a lot like the 16-year-old boy living in the house susunod door to you: one minuto he’s five-foot-seven, the susunod he’s 6’1. One minuto he’s a cute little boy trying to dribble a basketball, the susunod a superstar point guard. One minuto he’s ducking under the covers pleading for five madami minutos of shut-eye, the susunod he’s racing through a araw full of recording, performances and interviews.

With his easy-going demeanor and schoolboy charm, Chris Brown could easily be somebody that you know. With his incredible voice and a debut cd laced with clever lyrics, hypnotic tracks and...