Exclusive (CD - 2007)

Personnel: Bryan-Michael Cox, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermanson, Rob Knox, State of Emergency, The Underdogs (various instruments); Ced "Keyz" Williams, Espen Lind (guitar); James Burt (piano, organ); Loren Dawson (keyboards); Chuck Prada (conga drum); DJ Premier (scratches); James Fauntleroy, Steve Russell, Luke Boyd (background vocals).

Additional personnel: Kanye West, Lil Wayne, The Game, will.i.am, Big Boi, T-Pain.

With its muscle-flexing attitude, thumping beats, and guest spot from T Pain, "Kiss Kiss," the club single on Chris Brown's EXCLUSIVE, announces that the teenaged singer is growing up fast. He's graduating from the province of cutesy `tween pop to big league urban contemporary, joining the ranks of Usher and R. Kelley with his sexy, slinky jams.

Part of EXCLUSIVE's grown-up sound comes from top-shelf production, courtesy of Scott Storch, the Underdogs, and Will i. Am, and its roster of guests, which includes Game, Big Boi, and Kanye West. But it's Brown's command of breezy, mid-tempo ballads ("With You"), head-nodding, slow-rolling grooves ("Down"), and hands-in-the-air bangers ("Wall to Wall") that makes EXCLUSIVE a first-rate R&B ride. minimize