Chris Brown Returning to R&B Roots for New Album, ‘X,’ Enlists Diplo & Danja

Last year, shortly after the release of his fifth studio album, Fortune , rumors began to swirl around that Chris Brown was already in the studio working on his next project, Carpe Diem (also the title of his 2012 headlining concert tour).

Well, while the title of the album was false, the news of him currently working on a new one was indeed true.

Set to return to his “R&B roots” with a taste of pop and hip-hop, Chris has revealed that the official title of his album is X .

He recently spoke with MTV News , where he explained why he’s through trying to explain himself via social media and is ready to let his music do all the talking. Take a look at what he had to say below:

“I think it’s smarter as an entertainer and as a leader. I have to think logically. When I’m too attainable, it makes me too down. Now I express it through my music and through my paintings as well. What I want to talk about comes out, and the beat fills in the rest. All of it coexists with my reality now. I’m an open book. I think the way my life is, people want to know all the time, so I have to let them know through my music. I’m saying, ‘You can start a fight, but why? I came to party. Why trip off the bullsh– when I’m on the good sh–?’”

The album, which will be released July 16th, features production by Diplo and Danja .

While the album currently has little details as far as other collaborators go, Chris spoke about the title and meaning, as well as what fans can expect from the record. Take a look at what he had to say below:

On the album’s title:

“The song and the album title ‘X’ has a couple different meanings. It can refer to an ex-girlfriend, in terms of you always look forward to moving forward from. It’s also about being a reject in a sense. In me being myself, being able to grow up, me not always hanging around the right crowd or doing the right thing all the time — it’s me saying, ‘I’m over it. I’m past the bullsh– now.’”

On the album’s first single and what we can expect:

“For the first single, I wanted to go more nostalgic, bring Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Sam Cooke to it, but also bring a new sound to what my audience and fans are listening to. For this album, I wanted to have the same mentality as I did with the first album — me being green, me not thinking I know what’s hot and what’s next, me just being Chris Brown. I think this will show my vocal ability a lot more. I’ve developed a falsetto, I can sing at a higher register, and I can elaborate more on my skill.”

In addition to “Fine China,” the album will include three other tracks :

1. A  laid-back potential second single titled “Autumn Leaves” produced by BAM and co-written by Chris and Roccstar . The reflective track will feature rapper Kendrick Lamar .
2. “Lady in Glass Dress,” produced by Camper and written by Chris and Sam Hook.
3. And an uptempo track titled “Add Me In,” produced by Danja and written by Chris, Roccstar, and Bellinger .

[image via melty ]