X is Chris' sixth album and the long-awaited follow up to June 2012’s Fortune. The album’s release faced numerous setbacks, with an initial release date of July 6, 2013, and being released 14 months after its intended release. Chris' legal troubles and management issues were the root causes for the album’s delay. However, he released X Files EP in November 2013 to hold fans over. A full break-down of X’s delays can be viewed below in the Q&A section.
Speaking to Rolling Stone in March 2013, Chris revealed the meaning behind the album’s title:
It’s the Roman numeral for 10. 5/5/89 is my birthday: 5 plus 5 is 10, and this is my tenth year since I got into music. ‘X’ is the 24th letter in the alphabet, and I will turn 24 when this album comes out. ‘X’ is also a metaphor, as in ‘ex-girlfriend’: it implies you’re progressing and moving on in life, not holding on to the past and your old ways.
X was preceded by five singles: the smooth “Fine China,” the Aaliyah-assisted “Don’t Think They Know,” the Nicki Minaj-assited party track “Love More,” the smash hit “Loyal” and the laid back R&B track, “New Flame.”
X debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart,, selling 146,000 copies in its first week.
X is certified Platinum by the RIAA:
It’s also gold in the U.K. (100,000 units) and Australia (35,000 units).
Speaking to Rolling Stone in March 2013, Chris revealed:
We made it like the club in the studio! We’d have people come in, turn the lights off and play all the music. It was a good way to gauge people’s reactions.
Making X, I found out who I am. This album has a lot of substance, from the subject matter and the situations to how it deals with love. It’s really derived from personal experiences. Then again, I always like mixing reality with art.
Whether it’s personal or life experiences – my girl, my exes, love in general, or just reality – I’m putting all that into this album. That’s the basis of what X is, and who Chris Brown is. The stuff I wanted to talk about, I found clever ways to add myself into the metaphors.
Speaking to The Guardian in October 2013, Chris revealed:
This album, creative-wise, is just musically sound, diverse, a lot of different genres attached themselves to the song, like, different fans. It doesn’t have to be necessarily a song for one race, it’s mostly for everybody. Just when you take those journeys through the X album, I mean, you start looking at certain songs, you’d be like, “Oh, I get that, I can relate to this song” or, “Oh, I like this song. This sounds good.” With this album I think it can just identify with any age group, with any race, with any culture.
Yes; an August 2013 article by Stack quoted a now-deleted tweet from Chris, saying:
Don’t worry, mainstream America. After this X album, it’ll probably be my last album. Being famous is amazing when it’s for [your] music and talent. I’m tired of being famous for a mistake I made when I was 18. I’m cool [and] over it!
X received the following nominations:
Yes; Chris embarked on the Carpe Diem worldwide tour ahead of the album’s release; Carpe Diem being ts initial album title.
Chris took to Twitter in July 2013 to announce the guest features as:
New album features @NICKIMINAJ ,Kendrick , @rihanna, @KELLYROWLAND , @wizkhalifa ,@bobatl and more surprises to come. X
However, the Rihanna-assisted “Put It Up” and the unknown Kelly Rowland, Wiz Khalifa and B.o.B features did not make the cut.
Speaking to XXL in September 2014, Chris revealed his favorite tracks on the album:
It’s difficult. I would say “Time For Love” ‘cause it’s like an old-school, feel good record. I also love “Drunk Texting” as well as “Autumn Leaves.” But the whole body of work is like my baby, it’s my favorite. Those three, those are the ones that I listen to the most.
THANK YOU GOD, FAMILY, RCA & THE FANS!!!