Is Chris Brown Really Being Blackballed? VIBE Investigates

It's hard out there for a Chris Brown. Last month, the R&B heartthrob put out a distress call, begging his fans to help him get radio airplay. “Nothing else will do that except for the fans,” he said, sounding near tears. “There's nothing else that I can do. I'm doing everything that I need to do. I'm doing me as a person and I'm a better guy. But it's on y'all.” 

Prior to that, rumors swirled of the singer being denied access to events and opportunities to perform because of his physical altercation with Rihanna in 2009.

Is Chris a classic case of an artist being blacklisted? VIBE caught up with respected industry A&Rs to get their perspective on the secret cancer that seems to have kicked Brown and many other former hot stars off the throne. --Linda Hobbs

ROUNDTABLE MEMBERS 

Shawn "Tubby" Holiday
Executive Vice-President of A&R, Interscope Geffen A&M

DJ Sickamore
Founder of artist development firm, I Can Make You Famous

JoJo Brim
Head of A&R for Kevin Liles’ newest venture, KWL Enterprises

Henry "Hollywood" Cedeño
A&R & Product Manager, Slip-N-Slide Records