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The debate over Chris Brown and Michael Jackson's greatness intensified after the beloved artist released the cover art for his upcoming album.
On Wednesday, April 29, the "Residuals" singer shared the album cover for his 12th studio album, BROWN. Breezy lies on his side while wearing in a deep-tan suit with a matching fedora. The image instantly generated comparisons to the cover of Michael Jackson's 1982 album Thriller, in which the "P.Y.T." crooner lies in a similar position while wearing a white suit. Fans also saw Breezy's position as an indicator that his album will be a classic.
"Oh he laying down??? Classic incoming!!!" one fan wrote in the comment section.
"Oh I see you with the thriller vibes @chrisbrownofficial 🔥🔥🔥" another person wrote.
Chris Brown appears to be paying homage not only to MJ but to all R&B artists who have used the recognizable pose in their album covers, including Teddy Pendergrass, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, and Lionel Ritchie. Nonetheless, fans were quick to liken Brown to Jackson, amid the ongoing debate over their respective legacies.
Over the past few years, some fans have argued that Brown has taken Jackson's place as the greatest male singer and dancer in the music industry. R&B legends like Tank recently took the debate further after he claimed Brown is better than Jackson. Following all the viral debates, Brown weighed in for the first time in 2022 during his interview with Big Boy.
“My personal take on it is I wouldn’t even be breathing or even be able to sing a song if that man didn’t exist,” Brown said. “I don’t know if they look at it as a Jordan-Kobe thing, but I can't even look at it. He’s lightyears ahead. There is no competing with him.”
Chris Brown is set to drop his new album BROWN on May 8. The album will arrive ahead of his upcoming joint tour with Usher. The "New Flame" duo will hit the stage at stadiums around the U.S. Tickets are available now.