Unfortunately, in news to surprise absolutely nobody, Chris Brown is still collaborating with artists in the music industry. It’s 2019 – just ten years since he pleaded guilty to hitting his then-girlfriend Rihannaand was sentenced to five years of probation and six months of community service.
How easily this is forgotten when a new track is on the horizon. This week Brown announced his latest single is a collaboration with Marshmello and Tyga (who’s representatives previously denied he was sending inappropriate messages to a 14-year-old) called Light It Up. (I haven't listened to it; it's probably terrible.) The chorus apparently goes, 'If you a real bitch, light it up.' Chris raps, at some point, 'She heard about me and she know I'm a freak.'
Marshmello – even though he literally shouldn’t be trusted because wears a helmet, styled as a marshmallow with crosses for eyes, all day, every day – is an EDM DJ and producer. He is called Christopher Comstock (apparently.) He is inspired by other helmeted DJ, deadmau5. He produces songs for the most prominent names in the pop industry. (In fact, Zara Larrson’s latest single, WOW, released today, was produced by him.) His tracks include collaborations with Bastille, Selena Gomez, Anne-Marie and Khaled. His last track, Here With Me, was with Chvrches. It is, at the time of writing this, at No10 on the UK charts.
Chvrches - understandably - weren’t happy to hear about Marshmello's latest collaboration. The Scottish band posted a statement to their Twitter page reading, ‘We are really upset, confused and disappointed by Marshmello’s choice to work with Tyga and Chris Brown. We like and respect Mello as a person but working with people who are predators and abusers enables, excuses and ultimately tacitly endorses that behaviour. That is not something we can or will stand behind.’ It's a statement that says exactly the right thing. And considering Here With Me was only released six weeks ago - and is still in the charts - making that statement is a bold move, which should be comended. Bastille - who’s collab with Marshmallo Happier is still in the charts - are yet to make a similar statement.
After the statement had been posted to the band’s social media, lead singer Lauren Mayberry then posted some of the hideous messages from (mostly illiterate) men, who were telling her to die “in a whole [sic]”. She eloquently hit back, ‘Angry men on the internet can call me all the names they want. I still think domestic abuse is wrong.’ And, what that encapsulates perfectly, is that, still, some men are happy to ignore violence against women - especially if they like the music.
It goes some way to explaining why so many people are still enabling Chris Brown to have a presence in the music industry. The rapper is still played on the radio, still handed out collaborations left, right and centre, his albums still chart incredibly well. He's just released another track Wobble Up with G-Eazy and Nicki Minaj (who he is going on tour with.) It’s unbelievable that people don’t seem to mind having their name associated with his, which is quite frankly baffling. But, hey, maybe Marshmello doesn’t mind - constantly wearing a helmet, it's not as if he's going to be recognised and face the repercussions anyway.