When American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actor, Chris Brown, hit the mainstream in 2005, he was only 16 years old. And, it was like we had another Michael Jackson on our hands. But, that’s an almost impossible mantle to live up to. The truth is that Chris Brown’s career has been a mix of amazing vocals, massive commercial hits, AND the Rhianna controversy.
We are just going to focus on his music today and leave the controversy to the media. The Top 10 Chris Brown songs show what an illustrious and industrious career he has had. His R&B vocals are exceptional to the point that nearly every rapper in the mid-2000s wanted him to sing the hook on their choruses.
Throughout his career, he’s sold over 197 million records and is one of the biggest-selling R&B artists of all time. So, let’s take a look at some of his best and most memorable tracks.
Contents
Top 10 Chris Brown Songs
#1
With You
“With You” is quite possibly Chris Brown’s best-ever song. It was the third single from his second studio album, Exclusive, in 2007. It’s in prime position on my list because it’s a great song, and it performed so well in the Pop charts.
Furthermore, it peaked at #2 on the Hot 100 Billboard Charts and hit the top spot on the US Pop Charts. It also did major numbers in other countries and was even certified 4x Platinum in Australia.
This R&B-inspired Pop ballad has an acoustic vibe and was a massive hit in urban and teen demographics. If Michael Jackson and Usher had a baby, this would be their lovechild. Many fans still think this is the top Chris Brown song, and I’m right there with you.
#2
Forever
The sound on “Forever” is a lot more Dance Music inspired than his earlier stuff. Originally, it was made for a Doublemint gum commercial but ended up as a single for his Exclusive album.
The single was released in April 2008 and went on to sell massive numbers. As well as being certified 6x Platinum in the USA. It also peaked at #2 on the Hot 100 Billboard Charts and did well in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and Denmark.
It’s a passionate love song that talks about falling out of love in a relationship. A sad but relatable theme. There is a load of unwanted effects on his vocals, and I suppose that was to fit in with the overall EDM vibe of the track.
#3
Don’t Wake Me Up
“Don’t Wake Me Up” was originally supposed to be a Madonna track from her MDNA album, but it never quite made it. Madge’s loss is Brown’s gain. She never ended up recording the song because of prior work commitments. So, it ended up on his fifth studio album, Fortune, in 2012. It was produced by EDM music maker William Orbit who had multiple hits with Madonna.
The song was released by Brown in May 2012, and it quickly became a favorite on the pop charts. It peaked at #10 on the Hot 100 Billboard Charts. And, it also made the Top 10 in charts across the UK, Ireland, Australia, Hungary, Austria, Japan, Norway, and Denmark.
It also charted in the top 20 of even more countries. “Don’t Wake Me Up” was a massive hit for Brown, but I always wonder what Madonna thought about that.
#4
Loyal (feat. Lil Wayne & Tyga)
If you love Chris Brown songs that mix Hip-Hop and Dance, you have come to the right place. “Loyal” features Lil Wayne and Tyga and is considered one of the best Chris Brown songs ever. It was released in December 2013 as the fourth single to his sixth studio album, X. Other versions doing the rounds feature cameos from French Montana and Too Short if you dig about in the crates.
Commercially, it did very well, peaking at #9 on the Hot 100 Billboard Charts and staying in the charts for 36 weeks. It did solid numbers across Europe as well. So, it was pretty much a global hit at the time. Having Lil Wayne on the cut helped because he was also a megastar.
#5
Kiss Kiss (feat. T-Pain)
“Kiss Kiss” featured the irrepressible T-Pain and might well be Chris Brown’s most successful song. It was released in September 2007 and was included in his Exclusive album. This track peaked at #1 on the Hot 100 Billboard Charts and ended up certified 4x Platinum in the USA. It also charted exceptionally high right across North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
It was both written and produced by T-Pain and was one of the biggest Pop/R&B crossover tracks of the year. The track was nominated for several awards, especially for the video that had a cameo of his then-girlfriend, Rihanna.
#6
No Air by Jordin Sparks (feat. Chris Brown)
“No Air” by Jordin Sparks features Brown and is one of the Top 10 Chris Brown songs ever. I love this one and wanted to place it higher on the list. But, just outside the Top 5 is okay because it’s a Jordin Sparks song and not an official Chris Brown track. This powerful love ballad perfectly merges Pop and R&B to great effect and was from Jordin Sparks’ self-titled album.
Originally, it came out in February 2008 and went on to become a very successful track for the duo. When it was released, it peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 Billboard Chart and is certified Platinum in the US.
#7
Turn Up The Music
When Chris Brown released his fifth studio album in 2012, Fortune, it immediately became a classic. The lead single from this album was “Turn Up The Music.” At the time, it reached #10 on the Hot 100 Billboard Charts, which was a bit low for some of his previous tracks but still a very good account.
The irony of this track is that Rihanna appeared on the remix. This was just after Brown had been convicted of domestic violence charges. It was very controversial at the time but was also known as a dance club banger that complimented a night out on the town.
#8
Look At Me Now (feat. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne)
“Look At Me Now” featured two legendary rappers – Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes. The track came out in February 2011 and was the second single from Brown’s fourth studio album, F.A.M.E., and it is regarded as an absolute banger. Sure, Chris embarrasses himself a little by rapping very clumsily on the track, but that’s why he has Busta there to show him how it’s done.
It’s known as one of the biggest rap music hits in 2011 and gained several Grammy nominations that year. Commercial success was normal for Brown at this time, and this track performed well in the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.
#9
Yeah X3
Talking about the F.A.M.E. album, “Yeah X3” was the lead single for that album in 2011. It’s one of his more EDM-inspired tracks that was becoming all the rage in the Pop music world at that time. This Pop-Dance outing was something a bit different for Brown, and his fans loved the change in direction.
When the single came out in October 2021, it peaked at #15 on the Hot 100 Billboard Charts, so it wasn’t his biggest commercial hit. However, in terms of sales, it did really well and ended up certified 3x Platinum in the US. And, when considering the name of the track, that’s some spooky stuff right there.
#10
She Ain’t You
When Chris Brown used a Michael Jackson sample from “Human Nature” on his “She Ain’t You” track in 2011, it immediately struck a chord with fans. Some good and some bad. Personally, I loved how they used that sample as the base for the entire song. The retro-Soul flavor had me from the start. And, even though he’s had bigger hits, this is one of my all-time faves.
It was, however, listed as one of the biggest R&B tracks of that year, even if it didn’t sell as much as some of his previous songs. I had to place this one on my list.
Want More Incredible Pop, R&B, and Rap Songs?
Well, check out our thoughts on the Best Pop Songs of the 2000s, the Best 2000s R&B Songs, the Best 2000s Dance Songs, the Best 2000s Rap Songs, the Top 10 Michael Jackson Songs, the Best Lil Wayne Songs of All Time, and the Best Mary J. Blige Songs of All-Time for more amazing song selections.
Plus, you need to listen to them. So, take a look at our comprehensive reviews of the Best Headphones for Hip-Hop, the Best Sound Quality Earbuds, the Best Bass Earbuds, the Best iPhone Earbuds, the Best Headphones for Music, or the Best Headphones Under $200 you can buy in 2023.
Top 10 Chris Brown Songs – Final Thoughts
This list of Chris Brown’s top songs was difficult to collate because he had so many bangers. And, although controversy has followed him around at every juncture, so did multi-platinum-selling hits and albums. Considering he’s been doing this since 2002, when he was a teenager, it could’ve been much worse.
Over the years, he’s released ten massively successful studio albums. His last outing was his 2022 album, Breezy, and he currently shows no signs of slowing down. We can expect more Chris Brown albums in the coming years, as he’s still only 33 years old. Oddly, it feels like he’s been around for eternity.
Until next time, happy listening.
