Chris Brown

(image via chrisbrownworld.com)

Listening to Chris Brown talk about b-ball, girls and his hometown, the up-and-coming R&B star is like any other 18-year-old. But watch him sing and dance and it's clear why Time magazine has already likened him to Michael Jackson.

Brown, a native of smalltown Tappahannock, Virginia, took up singing shortly before high school. A few years later, the lanky teen – a point guard on the Essex County High School basketball team – was in talks with Def Jam Records. At only 15, Brown signed with another label, Jive Records, home of Justin Timberlake and Usher, among others. His debut single, Run It!, a "crunk & b" track featuring Juelz Santana, became a runaway smash. The fresh-faced double threat followed with two more hits, the puppy love anthem Yo (Excuse Me Miss) and another club single Gimme That, helping his self-titled debut go double platinum.

A charismatic, approachable celebrity, Brown has also ventured into acting, with appearances on shows like "The O.C.," "One on One," and the movie Stomp The Yard. He's also one of the faces of Rocawear's I Will Not Lose campaign, along with Ciara, Rich Boy and Three 6 Mafia.

This year, the Grammy-nominated Brown will release his sophomore album, Exclusive. An apparent good guy who is unlikely to finish last, Brown's most recent singles, Wall to Wall and Kiss Kiss, have already attracted a combined seven million plus views on YouTube. Of course the girls love him.