Everyone has to do their part,’ singer said before show, which will provide aid to Haiti and to needy in Virginia.
RICHMOND, Virginia — Chris Brown headlined the “Virginia Stand Up! A Call to Action” benefit concert on Saturday night, and the superstar singer couldn’t have been more giving, doing his best to please the packed house.
“Can I slow it down for the ladies?” Brown asked the shrieking audience, comprised mostly of females and local supporters. “I mean really slow it down.”
With that, the energetic crooner jumped off the stage and walked through the crowd singing “Say Goodbye” to his fans, shaking as many adoring hands as he could along the way.
“There’s never a right time to say goodbye,” he sang. “But we know that we got to go our separate ways.”
Things at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center were just getting started, though.
Brown ran through selections from all three of his albums, including early hits from his 2005 self-titled debut such as the chipper “Yo (Excuse Me Miss)” and “Gimme That.”
T-Pain, who performed earlier in the night (as did Trey Songz, Keri Hilson, Mario, Tank and Ryan Leslie) joined Brown for his guest spot on the booming “Kiss Kiss.”
Brown, who celebrated his 21st birthday earlier this month, exercised his status as a more mature artist by bringing a young woman onstage with him.
The fan, decked out in a snug dress, ditched her high heels and sat in a reclining chair on the stage as Brown serenaded her.
The hometown Brown quickly transitioned into the steamy “Take You Down,” off Exclusive, removing his jean jacket (he was shirtless underneath) and straddling his guest for some enthusiastic dance moves that would have made Bobby Brown blush.
The event was part of a charitable mission organized by Brown to help with continued relief efforts in Haiti following the devastating January earthquake.
The singer partnered with the Greater Richmond Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Central Virginia Food Bank and recruited a slew of hip-hop and R&B stars to help out.
Lil Wayne protégé Tyga was also on-hand; he and Brown performed a collaboration from their forthcoming mixtape Fan of a Fan.
Tank, Leslie and Hilson all gushed about Brown backstage, telling MTV News it was an easy choice to join the singer for such a good cause.
Brown was born in nearby Tappahannock and made the decision to hold a benefit near his hometown to jointly provide aid to Haiti and his home state, which has seen its fortunes shrink as a result of the economic downturn.
“The images I see on television, both in my community and in Haiti, remind me that everyone has to do their part,” Brown said before the show, in a statement.
The concert does not count towards Brown’s probation, which he was placed on last August following his pre-Grammy encounter with Rihanna in February 2009. Brown is currently in good standing with the judge overseeing his progress.
Brown closed things out with a spirited rendition of his biggest hit, “Forever,” thanking the crowd for their support of both him and the event.
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