Editing Bobby Brown (section)

== Music career ==
=== New Edition ===
{{Main|New Edition}}
New Edition was founded in 1978 under the name "The Bricks" by 9-year-old Brown and childhood friends [[Michael Bivins]] and [[Ricky Bell (singer)|Ricky Bell]].<ref name="Jet">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YMQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58|magazine=Jet|title=Bobby Brown tells why he waited five years to make new album|issn=0021-5996|date=December 8, 1997|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|access-date=December 1, 2019}}</ref> [[Ralph Tresvant]] joined the group at the suggestion of Bell who sang with Tresvant as a duo. Brown was also familiar with Tresvant since they were children. In 1982, they became a quintet when their manager Brooke Payne insisted on bringing in his nephew [[Ronnie DeVoe]], to complete the group. After performing in several talent shows in the Boston area, they signed a deal with fellow Bostonian [[Arthur Baker (musician)|Arthur Baker]]'s Streetwise Records, who released their debut album ''[[Candy Girl (album)|Candy Girl]]''. The title track, on which Brown sang co-lead alongside Bell and Tresvant, was the group's first number-one hit on Billboard's R&B Singles Chart in 1983 and also became an international hit reaching number one in the UK and New Zealand. Brown's first full lead vocal performance was on the New Edition ballad "Jealous Girl", which was a minor hit when it also charted in 1983. The group became crossover pop sensations with their [[New Edition (album)|self-titled second release]] in 1984. The album included the pop hits "[[Cool It Now]]" and "[[Mr. Telephone Man]]", the latter in which Brown also co-led, often singing the now-memorable chorus.

Despite the group's success, however, Brown felt the group was never rightfully paid the money they felt they had earned, later saying, "The most I saw from all the tours and all of the records we sold was $500 and a VCR." Brown also allegedly grew jealous of the attention given to fellow New Edition member Ralph Tresvant, and during some of their tour performances would often step out of his position and perform out of turn, singing and performing seductively, which caused concern within the group's management team. Brown was featured on two more New Edition albums before leaving the group in early 1986.<ref>{{cite news|title= How Cruel Can Fame Be, Bobby Brown? |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=September 27, 1992|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-09-27-ca-63-story.html|access-date=January 4, 2023|first=Robert|last=Hilburn}}</ref> Brown later said he felt that the group's management treated them "like little slaves by people who were only interested in money and power, and not in the welfare of New Edition". Some controversy arose over the way Brown was removed from the group. Some say Brown asked to be let out of New Edition, but a [[VH-1]] ''[[Behind the Music]]'' documentary on the group claimed Brown was voted out by the group via their management team, with the members—most prominently Tresvant—against the decision.

=== Solo career ===
Following his exit from New Edition, Brown signed a contract with his former group's label, [[MCA Records|MCA]] (which had earlier promised Brown a solo deal if he had decided to leave New Edition), and also signed with manager Steven Machat, who had also worked with New Edition. The label released his debut album ''[[King of Stage]]'' in 1986. Brown had a number-one R&B hit with the ballad "[[Girlfriend (Bobby Brown song)|Girlfriend]]", but the album otherwise failed to perform well.

Brown laid low for more than a year while working on his follow-up album. With the help of Machat and MCA representative Louil Silas, Brown began working with some of the top R&B producers and songwriters of the time, including [[Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds|Babyface]], [[Antonio "L.A." Reid]] and [[Teddy Riley]]. The producers helped to compose what became Brown's most successful solo album of his career, ''[[Don't Be Cruel (album)|Don't Be Cruel]]''. Released in 1988, the album became Brown's first number-one album on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] on January 21, 1989, replacing fellow [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] singer [[Anita Baker]]'s ''[[Giving You the Best That I Got (album)|Giving You the Best That I Got]]'' at the top spot.<ref name="BB200Jan89">{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1989-01-21/ |title=Billboard 200 - Week of January 21, 1989 |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=January 21, 1989 |accessdate=April 2, 2025}}</ref> 19 years old at the time of this accomplishment, Brown became the youngest male artist to top the ''Billboard'' 200 since [[Stevie Wonder]]'s 1963 live album, ''[[Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius]]'', which reached the top spot when Wonder was thirteen. At the time, Brown became the youngest male artist in history to top the album charts with a [[studio album]]. Singer [[Justin Bieber]] later broke that record in 2010. 

The album launched five top-ten hits on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]],<ref name=":9" /><ref name="topten">{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/photos/albums-five-top-10-hot-100-hits-6738611/ |title=The Albums With the Most Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 Hits |date=December 19, 2024 |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |accessdate=April 2, 2025}}</ref> including the number-one single, the self-penned "[[My Prerogative]]",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25034/bobby-brown/|title=Bobby Brown &#124; full Official Chart History|website=Official Charts| access-date=25 January 2022}}</ref> which became, along with "[[Every Little Step]]" and the title track, signature hits for the performer. Album sales would eventually reach twelve million copies worldwide, including 7 million alone in the US, making it the [[List of best-selling albums by year in the United States|best-selling album of 1989]]. In February 1990, he won the [[Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance]] for the album's fourth single "Every Little Step".<ref name=":6">{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/bobby-brown|title=Bobby Brown|website=Recording Academy Grammy Awards|date=November 23, 2020}}</ref> ''Don't Be Cruel'' also garnered Brown two [[American Music Award]]s, a [[Soul Train Music Awards|Soul Train Music Award]] and a [[People's Choice Award]].

In 1989, Brown contributed two songs to the soundtrack of ''[[Ghostbusters II]]'', and he also had a cameo role in the film. The first track on that album, "[[On Our Own (Bobby Brown song)|On Our Own]]"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billboardtop100of.com/1989-2/|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1989|website=Billboardtop100of.com| access-date=25 January 2022}}</ref> became another top-ten single for the singer, peaking at number two. The same year, a remix compilation, ''[[Dance!...Ya Know It!]]'', was released, and found fans in the United Kingdom. Brown embarked on a 120-day world tour to promote ''Don't Be Cruel'' in 1988, with Al B. Sure! opening for him, and New Edition also opening for him on some dates. The tour lasted into the spring of 1991, but not without Brown gaining notoriety for simulating sexual acts onstage, which got him into trouble with local law enforcement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/bobby-browns-cruel-beguiles-fans-but-not-the-cop-who-nabbed-him-for-dirty-dancing-vol-31-no-14/|title=Bobby Brown's Cruel Beguiles Fans—but Not the Cop Who Nabbed Him for Dirty Dancing|last1=Dougherty|first1=Steve|last2=Holmstrom|first2=Rick|date=April 10, 1989|website=People}}</ref> In 1990, Brown performed "Tap into My Heart" at the 1990 [[MTV Awards]], and was set to release the album ''Mystical Magic'', but it was eventually shelved for reasons unknown. In 1990, Brown was featured on the number-one hit "[[She Ain't Worth It]]" by [[Glenn Medeiros]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billboardtop100of.com/1990-2/|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1990|website=Billboardtop100of.com| access-date=24 January 2022}}</ref> making it his second number-one hit on the pop chart, and also collaborated with Babyface for the remix of the latter's single "Tender Lover" that same year. In 1991, Brown collaborated with New Edition member [[Ralph Tresvant]] on the latter's single "[[Stone Cold Gentleman]]", which was a top-five R&B hit.

Brown's next album ''[[Bobby (Bobby Brown album)|Bobby]]'' was released in 1992. Despite its release during the final days of the [[new jack swing]] era it was a success, selling more than 3 million copies, and spawning several hit singles including "[[Humpin' Around]]",<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1992/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1992|magazine=Billboard|date=January 2, 2013| access-date=21 January 2022}}</ref> "[[Get Away (Bobby Brown song)|Get Away]]", and "[[Good Enough (Bobby Brown song)|Good Enough]]". He received his second [[Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance]] nomination for "Humpin' Around".<ref name=":6" /> He received his third [[American Music Award]] in January 1993. However, sales of ''Bobby'' did not match its predecessor. The song, "[[Something in Common]]", a duet between Brown and then-newlywed wife [[Whitney Houston]], in which they shared songwriting credit while Houston was credited with vocal arrangement, became a hit in the UK, peaking at No. 16. Despite the fact that the song did not receive a commercial single in the United States, the song became a hit on the ''Billboard'' pop and R&B radio airplay charts.

In 1994, dance producers K-Klass remixed "[[Two Can Play That Game (song)|Two Can Play That Game]]" from the ''Bobby'' album; it would become Brown's biggest single in the UK, peaking at No. 3 in 1995.

Four years later, he would release his fourth solo album ''[[Forever (Bobby Brown album)|Forever]]'', in 1997.  The album's only single, "Feeling Inside", was not successful. Brown would contribute to wife Whitney Houston's 2002 album, ''[[Just Whitney]]'', co-producing the moderately successful hit, "[[Whatchulookinat]]", while contributing vocals to their duet, "My Love", off the same album. The latter duet reached the top 40 of the ''Billboard'' [[Adult R&B Songs]] chart. ''Just Whitney'' was a hit, going platinum in the United States and selling over 2.5 million units worldwide.

Prior to the release of ''Forever'', Brown had been in negotiations with rapper [[Tupac Shakur]] to sign with Shakur's new label Makaveli Records, or with the proposed label [[Death Row East]]. However, Shakur [[Murder of Tupac Shakur|died]] before that could take place. Leaving MCA following ''Forever'', Brown laid low for several years, appearing as a featured artist in 2001 on two tracks from ''[[The Benzino Project]]'', and in 2002 he was featured in a duet with rapper [[Ja Rule]] on the song "[[Thug Lovin']]". Brown was signed to [[Murder Inc. Records]], but that label had already begun to dissolve, so Brown's tenure with them was brief. In 2006, Brown added vocals to [[Damian Marley]]'s song "Beautiful" on Marley's album, ''[[Welcome to Jamrock]]''.

In 2008, Brown planned to release a book titled ''Bobby Brown: The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing But'', written by author Derrick Handspike.<ref name=":7">{{cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/news/author-reveals-why-bobby-brown-backed-ou/|title=Author Reveals Why Bobby Brown Backed Out of Tell-All Book Deal|date=December 16, 2009|website=Essence}}</ref> When controversial comments that Brown made about his ex-wife, Whitney Houston, were leaked to the media, he backed out of the project.<ref name=":8">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1584747/bobby-browns-autobiography-claims-whitney-houston-introduced-him-to-hard-drugs/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629055622/http://www.mtv.com/news/1584747/bobby-browns-autobiography-claims-whitney-houston-introduced-him-to-hard-drugs/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 29, 2014|title=Bobby Brown's Autobiography Claims Whitney Houston Introduced Him To Hard Drugs|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=April 3, 2008|website=MTV|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> Handspike released the book after Houston's death in 2012.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Bobby Brown: The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But|last=Handspike|first=Derrick|publisher=Over The Edge Books|year=2012|isbn=978-1-4675-1944-1}}</ref>

In 2010, Brown was featured in a duet with singer [[Macy Gray]] on the song "Real Love" on Gray's album ''[[The Sellout (album)|The Sellout]]''. About this project, Gray explained to ''[[Essence (magazine)|Essence]]'',<ref>[[Essence (magazine)|''Essence'' magazine]]</ref> "Actually, he came to the studio, since he doesn't live far, and knocked out his recording in two hours. We're friends, and his one-year-old son is my godson. His [[fiancée]] is one of my best friends in the whole world. I met Bobby a long time ago, but we really got to know each other through her."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.essence.com/entertainment/music/macy_gray_talks_new_album.php#ixzz0sGFCSUeH|title=Macy Gray on 'The Sellout' and Finding Bobby Brown|author=Hillary Crosley|access-date=September 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625041320/http://www.essence.com/entertainment/music/macy_gray_talks_new_album.php#ixzz0sGFCSUeH|archive-date=June 25, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On June 5, 2012, Brown released his fifth album, ''[[The Masterpiece (album)|The Masterpiece]]'', which debuted at number 41 on the ''Billboard'' R&B album chart.<ref name=":9" />

On February 14, 2017, Brown performed at the Valentine's Day Music Festival with [[Keith Sweat]], [[Avant (singer)|Avant]] and [[El DeBarge]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Penrose|first1=Nerisha|title=Where are the Six Members of New Edition Now?|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/new-edition-members-where-are-they-now-7669914/|magazine=Billboard|date=January 30, 2017|access-date=January 4, 2022}}</ref>

=== New Edition reunions ===
Brown made his first reunited appearance with [[New Edition]] at the [[1990 MTV Video Music Awards]]. Their performance later sparked the recording of [[Bell Biv DeVoe]]'s "[[Word to the Mutha!]]" in 1991 (on which Brown, [[Ralph Tresvant]] and later NE member [[Johnny Gill]] were included). A fully-fledged reunion occurred with the 1996 release of the album, ''[[Home Again (New Edition album)|Home Again]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/update-bobby-brown-arrested-in-atlanta-73551/|title=Update: Bobby Brown Arrested In Atlanta|date=November 7, 2002|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 4, 2023}}</ref> Brown contributed lead vocals on two hit singles, "[[Hit Me Off]]" and "[[You Don't Have to Worry (New Edition song)|You Don't Have to Worry]]". However, a subsequent 1997 tour to support the album led to problems between Brown and the other New Edition members. Brown later admitted that he was struggling with drug [[addiction]] and [[alcoholism]] during the tour.

In 2005, at the [[BET]] 25th Anniversary Special, Brown again reunited with New Edition. In 2008, Brown, Ralph Tresvant, and Johnny Gill then formed a splinter group, Heads of State, to compete with [[Bell Biv DeVoe]]. At the 2009 BET Awards, following the [[Death of Michael Jackson|death of the group's idol Michael Jackson]], all six of the New Edition members again reunited to perform a medley of [[Jackson 5]] hits in honor of Jackson. This sparked rumors of another full-fledged New Edition reunion, which was confirmed the following year.

Brown and New Edition continue to perform together, including The Culture Tour, which began in early 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211213005800/en/New-Edition-Announces-The-Culture-Tour-Beginning-February-2022-With-Charlie-Wilson-and-Special-Guest-Jodeci |title=New Edition Announces The Culture Tour Beginning February 2022 With Charlie Wilson and Special Guest Jodeci |publisher=Business Wire |date=2021-12-13 |accessdate=2022-06-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Darlene Aderoju |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/new-edition-the-culture-tour-dates-2022-1235012433/#! |title=New Edition 2022 Tour Dates With Charlie Wilson and Jodeci |publisher=Billboard |date=December 17, 2021|accessdate=January 4, 2023}}</ref> A year later, the sextet appeared at the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] performing a medley of hits by that year's inductees, [[soul music|soul]] group [[The Spinners (American group)|The Spinners]].

Brown's work with New Edition has since been honored, with the group receiving the BET Lifetime Achievement Award at the [[2017 BET Awards|2017 ceremony]]. In 2022, the group was inducted into the [[Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame]]. In 2023, they were inducted into the [[National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame]] and in 2024, they were inducted into the [[NAACP Image Awards|NAACP Hall of Fame]].