Chris Brown is set to release his 12th studio album. brownSet to be released today by RCA Records and Chris Brown Entertainment, the film has sparked controversy online, centering not only on its feature list but also on its use of artificial intelligence to fuel a project pitched as a return to classic soul.
Brown revealed the album’s collaborators in an AI-generated black-and-white video posted to Instagram, set in a blues nightclub with the words “House of Brown, a night of soul R&B and timeless classics.” Features include Leon Thomas, Tank, Vybz Kartel, Bryson Tiller, NBA YoungBoy, GloRilla, Fridayy, Sexyy Red, and Lucky Daye.
Fans objected to the lineup, questioning why an album marketed as a throwback needed a feature, and noting the lack of female R&B artists. Some accused Brown of using AI to not only create the video, but also the actual track.
Observers have pointed to the irony of promoting “Night of Souls” with AI-generated visuals, arguing that it contradicts the authenticity the campaign was intended to evoke and reflects broader industry concerns about AI encroaching on human creativity and employment.
On X, user @johnjokiernan wrote, “It’s a night in soul, but the album doesn’t have soul because it uses AI (lol).” User @NaptownFresh added, “The fact that he’s acting like he’s trying to go back to old school tells me this album sucks.”
Release continues 11:11 (Deluxe)won Best R&B Album at the 67th Grammy Awards in 2025 – Brown’s second Grammy win. Brown also arrives ahead of his co-headlining stadium tour with Usher, The R&B Tour, scheduled to begin in June 2026. Longtime fans are still excited, but questions remain about whether Brown plans to rely on AI for more work in the future.
