Chris Brown is back with a new album, “X,” and a whole new outlook life – which includes a friendship with Rihanna and putting to rest his feud with Drake.
Access Hollywood’s Liz Hernandez sat down with the 25-year-old singer to talk about a slew of topics, including the state of his relationship with Rihanna, who he was arrested for assaulting in 2009.
“Me and her are friends,” he told Liz. “We have a great understanding. There’s no issues.”
PHOTOS: Rihanna & Chris Brown: A Look Back
Chris said he’s open to future music collaborations with his ex-girlfriend.
(Chris Brown and Rihanna attend the 55th Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center, Los Angeles, on February 10, 2013 – Getty)
“If she’s working on an album [and] she wants me on a record, she can call. I’ll get on the record,” he said. “If I need her on something, it’s vice versa. So, that friendship, I think speaks volumes without having to speak.
“We’ve been friends. We’ve known each other for almost 10 years, the same amount of time I’ve been doing music,” he continued. “I don’t think that’s ever gonna change… we’re friends.”
Chris also opened up about squashing his feud with Drake, which resulted in a nightclub fight in 2012.
WATCH: Chris Brown Talks Drake, Rihanna & Jail Time
“For me, it was more of a mature thing… what I portray in my music is all positivity, and who I am as an artist. I try to portray the most positive aspect of who I am and the world in general, because we deal with so much negative on a day to day basis,” he said when asked about Drake. “I never really lived my life having grudges or disliking somebody.”
Chris even sees a time when he will collaborate with the rapper.
“I think in the future we could,” he told Liz. “His music is amazing… so as far as like the collaboration, I think that’s something if the fans want, I think that’s something they should get.”
The singer also opened up about how he’s moving forward with his life in positive ways.
PHOTOS: Chris Brown Over The Years
“I talk to my therapist twice a week whether it’s good or bad… I think it’s good to have somebody that you can vent to. Somebody that understands situations and is not judgmental… as a young guy coming up in the industry at 15, you don’t really get that, you don’t get the crash course,” he told Liz. “You don’t get the course on how to grow up and how to learn from your mistakes and handle situations differently.”
Landing behind bars afforded Chris the time to stop and reflect on his life and where he wanted to go.
“It was just an opportunity with me being in jail and everything else that I had to kind of sit down and look at what I needed to change in my life and also knowing that I could have all the money in the world, I could be the biggest artist, but I’ll still be in that cell,” Chris said looking back on his recent jail time. “They’re bringing me little peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and stale bread, roaches crawling. So, it’s one of those things… it’s a life changing experience.”
Chris explained that during the last year, he feels that his personal ups and down have helped him mature.
“It was God’s way of definitely showing me what was necessary… you get kind of convoluted in your own self and you think you’re invincible,” he explained. “Just to be able to look at my life and see it instead of, instead of going haywire… I needed to be more of a role model an icon with what I do, with my talent. I want to be known for legendary music and being one of the best dancers and stuff like that. I don’t want to be known for the mishaps in my life.”
WATCH: Chris Brown Talks New Album ‘X’
Adding, “I’m striving to be the greatest… I think I can take those steps to try to be the greatest. And if I’m not the greatest at the end of the day, cool. I had fun doing it. But, I’m just trying to be the greatest.”
For more with our interview with Chris Brown tune into Access Hollywood tonight.
— Jesse Spero
Copyright © 2024 by NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be republished, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.