It’s been only a few months since Chris Brown made his debut, and the teen has achieved success that would make showbiz veterans envious. Besides his smash No. 1 hit ‘‘Run It,’’ the quick-footed R&B singer has posted two other hits on the charts.
His self-titled album went platinum and he’s one of the most squeal-inducing performers on tour this year. And Brown just turned 17 this spring.
Despite his quick rise, Brown didn’t seem overwhelmed when he talked about life on the road.
Q: What’s the biggest key to staying fresh on tour?
A: Just have a lot of energy and showmanship, to know that you will have a great show and kill it every night.
Q: What do you do to keep yourself energized for a show?
A: I just look at the crowd. I see other acts that go on before me, and I just see their energy. That’s what I feed off.
Q: What if the act before you hasn’t gotten the crowd hyped — does it intimidate you to go on right afterward?
A: No, because that means I’ll get ’em hyped.
Q: What do you do in your spare time on tour?
A: I play basketball. I have a basketball court on the bus. I put it in a trailer, and it’s a portable one, so we just hook it up whenever we want to play.
Q: You’ve been touring with several different acts. What are some of the challenges of being on tour with a big bill?
A: The challenges are people showing up late, people throwing water on stage. The act that went before you might throw water on stage . . . but they don’t realize that 85 percent of the show is dancing, and we’ll slip on our tail if the floor’s not dry.
Chris Brown
With: Dem Franchize Boyz, Juelz Santana, Lil’ Wayne, Ne-Yo
When: 8 p.m. today
Where: Cricket Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix
Cost: $26-$56
Information: (602) 254-7200
