CHRIS BROWN ON ILLEGAL DOWNLOADING

R&B singer Chris Brown has landed his first major film role. The star will play the role of Duron in the new movie, Steppin’, which hits theaters early next year. The film’s cast also includes Ne-Yo, Courtney B. Vance, and Robin Thicke. Brown said in a released statement, “It’s sort of a dance movie. But I’ll have to say there’s a lot more acting and a lot more story line based around the dancing. So that’s what the intriguing part about it is. It’s actually a banging, incredible-like film.

In related news, Brown may be a teenager but unlike most of his peers, he’s against free music downloading. The singer explained,

“It depends. Like for underground artists, I feel, say for instance it’s a dude that wants his records to be heard on the internet. If he wants his records heard on the internet, he should do that. But at the same time if it’s being illegally downloading, that’s cutting into the profits of the record label that’s putting forth the budget for making videos or putting new artists out everyday. So that’s kind of killing the market.”

Brown is scheduled to go on a national tour next month with Ne-Yo, Dem Franchize Boyz, Juelz Santana, and Lil Wayne.