Chris Brown marks July 16 for 'X,' issues new song

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Chris Brown’s name evokes controversy these days, so it’s easy to forget that he once had a role model image. From high school crooner to R&B star both idolized and vilified, here’s a brief look at Chris Brown’s life and career. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

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Chris Brown released his self-titled first album in 2005 after signing with Jive the year before at 15. His first single, “Run It,” debuted at No. 1, making it the highest-charting debut single for a male solo artist in Billboard history. (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

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After rounding out 2006 with a few more hits -- “Yo (Excuse Me Miss)” and “Gimme That” with Lil Wayne -- and a couple of tours (both with Ne-Yo and Beyonce), Brown released his second album, “Exclusive,” in November 2007. (Paul Hawthorne / Getty Images)

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Following in the tradition of Michael Jackson, Usher and Justin Timberlake, Brown’s dance floor prowess played into his pop persona as much as his high notes. His breakout performance at the 2007 MTV Video Awards included a stunt-heavy dance medley and a “Billie Jean” tribute. (Christina House / For the Times)

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When it came to tween heartthrob status, Brown was second to only the Jonas Brothers in Bop and Tiger Beat covers. He was nominated for Teen Choice Awards and had his own “My Super Sweet 18” birthday special on MTV. (Richard Drew / Associated Press)

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Brown worked with everyone from the vocoder-happy T-Pain to his kiddie contemporary Bow Wow. In 2008, Chris sang on Lil Mama’s “Shawty Get Loose” and had a hit with “No Air,” a duet with “American Idol” alum Jordin Sparks that appeared on her debut album. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

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In the days after his arrest, Brown’s music was dropped from some radio stations, Wrigley’s and Got Milk? discontinued using his advertisements in their campaigns, and “Sesame Street” stopped airing the episode in which he guest-starred. (Marcel Antonisse / EPA)

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R&B singer Brown pleaded guilty in June 2009 to assaulting his former girlfriend, pop star Rihanna, in February of that year. Brown’s lawyers secured a last-minute deal that allowed him to avoid jail time and another public airing of the domestic-violence allegations. (Lori Shepler / Associated Press)

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Three years after he was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend Rihanna after a pre-Grammys party, Chris Brown received his first Grammy award when his album “F.A.M.E.” won best R&B album. Brown said nothing about his past deeds as he accepted the award on the telecast. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Hip-hop stars Chris Brown and Drake were reportedly in a nightclub brawl in New York in June 2012 that left four people injured.Speculation quickly arose that the blow-up may have involved Brown’s former girlfriend Rihanna, with whom Drake had been seen recently. ( Robert Gauthier and Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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On Jan. 27, 2013, Chris Brown got into an altercation with fellow Grammy nominee (and later winner) Frank Ocean. An incident report disclosed that the fight began when Ocean approached Brown in the studio’s lobby, saying Brown had parked in Ocean’s assigned parking spot. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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The tumultuous couple officially got back together after months of openly flirting on Twitter, collaborating on the sex-themed song “Birthday Cake” and nonchalant “Nobody’s Business” and Rihanna professing her love to Chris Brown on “Oprah’s Next Chapter.” (Christopher Polk / Getty Images)

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At a probation hearing in November 2013 related to his 2009 conviction of assaulting Rihanna, Chris Brown was ordered by a judge to rehab for 90 days at an inpatient facility approved by officials. (David McNew / Getty Images)

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Forced to wear an orange jumpsuit to court, Chris Brown was ordered by a Los Angeles County judge to stay in jail without bail until April 23, pending a hearing to determine whether he violated terms of his probation. (Pool / Reuters)

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Chris Brown admitted violating his probation by committing a crime in the Washington, D.C., area and was promptly sentenced to a year in county jail by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge. (Pool / Getty Images)

By Gerrick D. Kennedy

April 30, 2013 11:05 AM PT

Chris Brown will issue his sixth album, “X,” on July 16.

Brown announced the release -- originally set for later this summer -- on Twitter late Monday, and paired the announcement with a new track, “I Can’t Win.”

The new track, which he said won’t be included on “X,” shows the singer pining over a fading relationship (cue Internet-fueled Rihanna breakup speculation in 3, 2, 1...).

“Tell me what did I do to make you hate me so much / Why are you angry all the time / Why don’t you want to ride for me / We used to make love/ When you called I would follow / Now the only thing you love is a bottle / The only thing you got left is a shadow,” he sings.

Brown previewed the album for The Times last month. “X” has several meanings, according to the controversial R&B singer. It’s the numbers in his birth date, added together and converted to a Roman numeral. It’s also the 24th letter in the alphabet, corresponding to the age he’ll be when the album is released. But there’s more to it for Brown, who says “X” will show him at his most vulnerable.

“‘X’ is almost .... the reject,” he says. “X defines who I am -- whether it means X being forbidden or blunt. It’s who I am now, transitioning as a man and not trying to focus on the past stuff and trials and tribulations. It’s the unspoken voice from me.”

Brown recruited emerging producers and returning hit makers Polow Da Don, Timbaland, Pharrell, Drumma Boy and Danja for the album.

Listen to “I Can’t Win” here -- be warned, there’s a few four-letter words.