“I think, therefore I am.”
If an artist thinks they want to quit music, then eventually they may actually walk away from it all. And Chris Brown is the latest artist to express this feeling. This week, the R&B singer took to Twitter, where he let it be known that he’s “tired of being famous” for a mistake he made when he was 18.
Being famous is amazing when it’s for ur music and talent. I’m tired of being famous for a mistake I made when i was 18. I’m cool & over it!
— Chris Brown (@chrisbrown) August 6, 2013
Don’t worry mainstream America.After this X album, it’ll probably be my last album.
— Chris Brown (@chrisbrown) August 6, 2013
And if you don’t remember what happened a few years ago, Chris pled guilty to a felony assault against his then-girlfriend Rihanna after a domestic violence altercation. What transpired thereafter was a nasty hit to his squeaky-clean image and professional career as well.
But even though Chris Brown’s “mistake” may be what’s primarily the deciding factor for him wanting to retire after his sixth studio album X, many other artists have wanted to take a permanent hiatus from music for whatever reason. That is why we at GlobalGrind decided to compile a list of other artists who have also felt a desire to walk away from the music industry.
Check out the list below, and let us know how you feel about Chris’ forthcoming album being his last.
1.
On Jimmy Kimmel Live, Lil Wayne talked about a few things, which included his plans to retire after his forthcoming Carter V album releases. He wants to spend more quality time with his family.
2.
Drake wants to stop doing music when he hits his 30s. In an interview with i-D magazine, he said:
“I personally think that when I find that person and when it is established that we’re gonna enter a serious relationship-I mean I don’t even know if I’ll still be making Rap music. I don’t know how long I necessarily want to make Rap music for. You know, there are artists who are thirty-five and up that still make Rap and that still works for them,” continued Drake. “I don’t know if I want to be that guy. A lot of my music is about being young and figuring it all out. I don’t know if I can still make my brand of music when I’m up there. Maybe I’ll be just acting or whatever it is…I plan to make as much music as I can until a story from Drake just doesn’t impact you the way it used to. I guess I’ll find my way somewhere else.”
3.
During an interview with Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club, T.I. talked about wanting to leave the rap game because it contradicts what he’s about.
4.
Beyonce has hinted at retiring from the music industry in Vogue magazine, even addressing how she wants to have more mother-daughter time with Blue Ivy:
“At some point it’s very important to me that my daughter is able to experience life and run through the sprinklers and have slumber parties and trust and live and do all the things that any child should be able to do,” she said…I feel free. I feel like I’m an adult. I’m grown. I can do what I want. I can say what I want. I can retire if I want. That’s why I’ve worked hard.”
5.
Even though Selena Gomez recently released her new solo album Stars Dance, the 21-year-old singer revealed how she wants to focus solely on acting:
“I think I’ll probably stick to one thing. Probably acting,” Selena told E! News. “I think music is going to be in my life for sure, whether it’s me in my house singing or in the car, but I just feel like that’s where I belong.”
But she also has said On Air With Ryan Seacrest:
“Honestly, I’m a girl so I change my mind all the time anyway but I was in the studio last week and I was like, ‘What am I doing here?’ There’s no way I’m going to give it up. But I do want to get into acting a little bit more and experiment with that so we’ll see!”
6.
Lupe Fiasco tweeted Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1. would perhaps be his last album, which may have been simply an impulsive reaction to his feelings towards the violence in hip-hop:
7.
In an interview with Ptwschool.com, Tyler, The Creator divulged that rap isn’t much of a catalyst for his creativity:
“Rap isn’t even my fuckin—I mean, I love it, but like that’s not what I really draw a lot of inspiration from at all…I’m just trying to invest in shit, so I don’t have to make music three years from now and I could be rich off of that. I am not kidding,” said the Odd Future emcee.”
8.
Jay Z has talked about hanging up the mic on several different occasions and he has, but somehow he keeps finding himself back in the world of rap. In a recent Twitter Q&A, a fan asked if Magna Carta Holy Grail would be his last album, and Jay responded: “I tried that before, I wasn’t so good at it. #mylaugh.”
9.
Lana Del Rey expressed that her debut album Born To Die may actually end up being her last album. In an interview with Vogue UK, Lana Del Rey said:
“I don’t think I’ll write another record. What would I say? I feel like everything I wanted to say, I’ve said already. “Even though I can’t be with that person any more, I still want to honor those memories. I felt like falling in love changed me, neurologically, and the record is about being faithful in my mind to the memory of a particular person.”
