Chris Brown set to take the stage at the Grammys

By: Times-Dispatch Staff | From Staff and Wire Reports
Published: February 12, 2012

Tappahannock native Chris Brown is known as a pop singer, a slick bedroom crooner and at other times, a Euro-flavored dance singer. But it's his rapping that has taken his career to new heights.

With his hit single "Look at Me Now," Brown has dominated more than just the R&B territory: The boastful track, which features Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes, was Billboard's No. 1 rap song of 2011 and it's nominated for best rap song and best rap performance at tonight's Grammy Awards, where Brown's competition includes Jay-Z, Kanye West, Dr. Dre and Eminem.

Brown, 22, has been nominated for Grammys in five of the past six years, though he has never picked up the top prize in music. He will be performing at this year's Grammys, the event where his career almost ended three years ago.

Brown admitted assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna at a pre-Grammy party in 2009. He is serving five years of probation for the felony attack. He completed 32 days of community labor in Richmond.

After the attack, Brown's reputation plummeted, but he has since bounced back, releasing multiple mixtapes and the multihit album, "F.A.M.E. (Forgiving All My Enemies)." He was nominated for three Grammys last year and is nominated for three again this year, including best R&B album.

Rihanna will also perform at the show. She's nominated for four awards, including the top prize, album of the year, for her platinum effort "Loud."

A judge eased a restraining order against Brown last February after an attorney for Rihanna said she didn't object to removing the stay-away provisions.

Rihanna is the owner of four Grammys, three with Jay-Z. In addition to album of the year, her fifth CD, "Loud," is up for best pop vocal album. Rihanna also is nominated twice for best rap/sung collaboration for another No.1 jam — the Drake-assisted "What's My Name?" — and for her guest appearance on Kanye West's "All of the Lights."