Chris Brown

Musically gifted and undeniably motivated, singer-dancer Chris Brown seemed destined from a very early age to join the pantheon of his R&B idols Michael Jackson and Usher. Having topped the Billboard charts with his self-titled debut album at age 16, he followed with a second hit album, while simultaneously beginning an acting career in television and film. By the end of 2008 Brown was on top of the world, only to become a pariah overnight in the aftermath of his felony assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, on Feb. 7, 2009. Sentenced to five years probation and six months of community service, Brown saw several endorsement deals vanish and his third album Graffiti (2009) flop upon release. Despite his attempts at damage control by apologizing profusely on shows like "Larry King Live" (CNN, 1985-2010), many assumed that no amount of PR, no matter how sincere, could placate disappointed fans. However, by the second half of 2010, the 21-year-old was back on the charts and appearing in the major motion picture "Takers" (2011), reshaping the question as to whether Brown could rehabilitate his damaged career from a foregone conclusion, to an open-ended question.