Chris Brown’s music is showing signs of life again, thanks to the chart activity of his single, “Deuces,” which just notched Greatest Gainer/Airplay honors for a second straight week, according to Billboard.
The singer, whose career stalled following his beating of Rihanna, is also close to scoring a top 10 hit on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with “Deuces.” The break-up song, which features Tyga and Kevin McCall, moves from 15 to 11 in its sixth week on the chart.
Released to iTunes June 29 along with another new Brown song, “No B.S.,” “Deuces” moves from 60 to 59 on the Digital Songs chart. Up 11 percent in digital sales, the song has sold 132,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
“Deuces” also climbed from 67 to 56 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the singer’s return to that tally.
Brown last appeared on the Hot 100 last February when “I Can Transform Ya,” featuring Lil Wayne and Swizz Beatz, ended its run, peaking at No. 20. “Transform” peaked at No. 11 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The track was the lead single from Brown’s third album, “Graffiti,” which has sold 316,000.
The “Deuces” momentum follows Brown’s emotional tribute to Michael Jackson during the BET Awards in June. The singer broke down while trying to perform “Man in the Mirror,” prompting criticism that the meltdown was staged. Without addressing the detractors, Brown has stayed busy recording and tweeting about new music. He recently polished off a remix of Nicki Minaj’s “Your Love” and is featured on a new Twista track, “Make a Movie.”
Among the top mainstream R&B radio stations spinning “Deuces” in heavy rotation are KBFB Dallas, WHTD Detroit, KKDA Dallas and WPEG Charlotte, N.C., whose OM/PD Terri Avery says positive audience reaction to Brown at the BET Awards has nothing to do with the song’s growing success. “The track, the lyrics … it’s just a good song.”
Brown will next appear in the film “Takers,” out Aug. 27. There’s no official word from Jive as to when his fourth album will be released. The singer has tweeted that his next CD may arrive in 2011 or sooner, possibly preceeded by another mixtape, “In My Zone 2.”
