Chris Brown would have reached Michael Jackson’s level of stardom if not for his attack on Rihanna, Fat Joe says

Chris Brown’s attack on his then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009 cost him a level of fame and stardom that Michael Jackson enjoyed at the height of his career, according to fellow musician Fat Joe.

Fat Joe, 53, gave his thoughts on how Brown’s violent attack has overshadowed his talents in the 15-plus years since the With You singer, 35, attacked Rihanna, 36, in a vehicle in Los Angeles’ Hancock Park neighborhood after an accident. -Grammy’s party on February 8, 2009.

“If Chris Brown never got involved in the controversy with Rihanna, we would now be calling him Michael Jackson,” Fat Joe said on the social media platform Instagram Live last weekend. “Not like Michael Jackson – Michael Jackson.”

The New York City native made clear his high opinion of Brown’s abilities as an entertainer, calling the Forever artist “the most talented singer, recording artist, performer and hitmaker of our time.”

Fat Joe urged the public to forgive Brown – who has lashed out in the past over the incident which has resurfaced in recent years – for his past transgressions.

Fat Joe said Brown’s collective talents would have put him on a plane with the late King of Pop, pictured in 1983, had he not had a history of domestic violence.

“There’s no one around Chris Brown, and it’s time we move past that,” Fat Joe said. ‘As far as I know it has been 20 years, there have been no more incidents. Are we going to let this life pass without telling the truth?’

Fat Joe said that today’s norms in the entertainment industry have discouraged people from taking a controversial stand for fear it would affect their careers.

“What happens is when the truth is an unpopular decision, everyone becomes afraid to say it,” Fat Joe said. “They get canceled, especially famous people. But you know, the streets know what it is. Streets always know, they tell you the truth.’

Fat Joe pointed to the music of convicted sex offender R. Kelly, which he said remains popular despite the artist’s demise.

“The streets are still running against R. Kelly,” he said. “He’s in jail, he’s done terrible things.”

Fat Joe said he believes the time has come to recognize Brown’s talents, regardless of his past transgressions.

“What I’m trying to say is that it’s a shame that we’re lying,” he said, “and that we didn’t leave it up to the king of R&B.

“We think he could fight Michael Jackson, that’s all I’m trying to say – I’m not lying – if you really look at his body of work and look at all his hits, you’ll see what he does,” he said. .

Fat Joe, pictured in New York last week, said today’s norms in the entertainment industry have discouraged people from taking any controversial stance for fear it would affect their careers.

Fat Joe said he in no way accepts what Brown did in 2009, but noted that Brown was a “little kid” at age 19 when the violent incident occurred.

Fat Joe said he in no way accepts what Brown did in 2009, but noted that Brown was a “little kid” at age 19 when the violent incident occurred.

On Instagram Live last April, Fat Joe compared Brown to the late Tupac Shakur, another enigmatic artist whose seemingly limitless career potential was derailed by legal troubles prior to his murder in September 1996.

“Of course the 2Pac of 2024 has to be Chris Brown,” Fat Joe said HipHopDX. “Chris Brown is considered an alien. If you play basketball, he will beat you up. If you sing to him, he sings better, he dances better. When he has to rap, he raps.”