Chris Brown has conceded that he will always be defined by his brutal 2009 assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna.
Speaking
in his first interview since being released from jail for a probation
violation, the 25-year-old pop star admitted he is unable to escape his
past.
He told Billboard magazine:
'As long as you're doing something good, people will always bring up
old stuff or negative stuff because they don't want you to surpass a
certain level or elevate.
True confessions: Chris Brown opens up about
Rihanna and life behind bars in his first formal interview since getting
out of jail on June 2
But he added: 'As long as you have your head on straight, it shouldn’t matter what people want to say.'
Chris touched on how the incident has affected his reputation.
'Not
everyone in the world is going to particularly love me,' he said. 'But
I'm cool with that. As long as I love myself and my music, I'm fine.
Haunted: The 25-year-old pop star says the day
his former relationship isn't brought up anymore will be 'when we're not
relevant anymore'
'…I
don't look over my shoulder or wish I could turn back the hands of
time. Life is a learning experience, so I'm learning as I go. I’m not
walking around angry about anything.'
Chris was released from jail on June 2.
The
Forever hitmaker spent had 108 days in a Los Angeles county jail for
violating his five-year probation - which stemmed from the Rihanna assault.
The violation came after he was charged with assault for punching a man who tried to take a picture with
him outside a Washington D.C. hotel last October.
On Tuesday, he appeared in court and plead guilty to the misdemeanor assault, telling the judge: 'I'm sorry, I am very sorry.'
Moving on: The Loyal hitmaker went shopping with girlfriend Karrueche Tran in Los Angeles on Thursday
For the
assault Chris was sentenced to time served - the one day he spent in
jail after his arrest - and no probation, along with a $150 fine.
According to CNN, his five-year probation for the 2009 attack on Rihanna will end on January 23, 2015 - if
he maintains good behaviour and fulfills another 600 hours of community
service.
The singer conducted his interview with Billboard on August 13; hours before, he appeared
in a courtroom to receive a probation progress report, which was
positive.
Taking responsibility: On Tuesday, Chris
appeared in court, accompanied by his girlfriend, and plead guilty to
misdemeanor assault in Washington D.C., telling the judge, 'I'm sorry, I
am very sorry'
As
for what he learned from his experience behind bars: 'My maturity level
has risen as far as my realizing what’s important. Realizing that I'm
human like everyone else.
'At
the end of the day, it's just a humbling experience. You're more
appreciative of everything else that's on the outside. A burger tastes
1,000 times better when you’re out (Laughs.)'
Chris has thrown himself back into music after putting it on hold while in jail.
Former flame: Chris has been haunted by his 2009
assault on ex-girlfriend Rihanna - pictured together at the Grammys in
February 2013
'Jail
is more of a regimen and a structure. I'm more of a free spirit when it
comes to creating music, painting and art,' he said.
'So
when I got out, I was very excited to get into the studio. I didn’t
have any ideas or concepts; they usually come as I go [in to record].'
Chris'
sixth studio album, X, will drop September 16 – preceded by his most
recent hit single, Loyal, which peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot
100.
