Pitchfork’s decision last Wednesday to hand Chris Brown’s new album  feels less like serious music criticism and more like a calculated attempt to generate outrage and viral engagement. Reviewer Alphonse Pierre dismissed the album in one sentence as “soulless” and “hit-chasing,” while the outlet doubled down on social media, calling it “a real piece of shit.” That kind of language crosses the line from criticism into open antagonism. Honest journalism should dissect production choices, songwriting, vocal performances, and artistic direction, not reduce a 27-track album (which the reviewer clearly couldn't have bothered to listen to) to a snarky punchline clearly designed for reposts on X. Whether one likes Chris Brown or not, there is a growing sense that modern music journalism increasingly values viral takedowns over balanced analysis. What makes Pitchfork’s behavior look even more egregious is the timing. BROWN reportedly moved 67,000 first-week units and debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, while Brown continues to sell out stadiums and dominate touring alongside Usher. The upcoming co-headlining stadium run between Brown and Usher has generated enormous buzz nationwide, proving that Brown remains commercially dominant regardless of what critics say. That reality raises an uncomfortable question for outlets like Pitchfork: has Chris Brown effectively become “critic-proof”? At some point, audiences begin to notice when critical consensus wildly diverges from consumer behavior. If millions are streaming the music, buying tickets, and supporting the artist, then a review that reads more like a moral condemnation than an objective critique risks losing credibility with readers. The inconsistency in Pitchfork’s standards only fuels accusations of bias. Many fans pointed out that the outlet gave recent projects from artists like Ice Spice far more favorable scores despite what critics themselves often describe as simplistic or repetitive music. Meanwhile, BROWN is notably the only Chris Brown solo album Pitchfork has reviewed in roughly a decade. That selective attention makes the review feel less organic and more agenda-driven. Brown certainly did himself no favors with his emotional Instagram response telling critics to “go listen to Zara Larsson,” but his frustration is understandable. Music journalism works best when it informs audiences, not when it behaves like a Twitter mob chasing engagement. The danger for publications like Pitchfork is that audiences eventually stop taking them seriously altogether. Critics are supposed to challenge artists, but they are also supposed to maintain professionalism and intellectual honesty. When reviews become indistinguishable from personal vendettas or viral bait, they stop being criticism and start becoming performance art for social media outrage.

This Throwback Thursday shines a spotlight on Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock and their timeless 1988 anthem “It Takes Two,” a song widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop singles ever recorded. Released through Profile Records, the track became a top-40 hit and earned platinum certification from the RIAA, helping push hip-hop further into mainstream radio, dance clubs, and pop culture. Built around the legendary “Think” break from Lyn Collins’ 1972 classic “Think (About It),” the song’s explosive energy and unforgettable hook (sung by in-house Profile Records singer Rhonda Parris) made it an instant party staple that continues to resonate across generations. Music critics and fans alike have long celebrated the record’s influence and staying power. AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine famously noted that many consider “It Takes Two” the greatest hip-hop single ever made, while Spin ranked it No. 1 on its 1989 list of the “100 Greatest Singles of All Time.” Decades later, Rolling Stone placed the song at No. 116 on its “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list in 2021. The track’s influence has stretched far beyond hip-hop, inspiring samples and interpolations from artists like Black Eyed Peas and the dance-pop trio Seduction. The celebration of the classic hit comes with sadness this year following the death of Rob Base, who died Friday, May 22, after a private battle with cancer. He was 59. Alongside DJ E-Z Rock, Base helped create one of the most recognizable and influential songs in hip-hop history, a record whose booming beats, infectious chants, and undeniable groove still ignite dance floors nearly four decades later. Though DJ E-Z Rock passed away in 2014, the duo’s legacy lives on every time “It Takes Two” blasts through speakers and reminds listeners why the golden era of hip-hop remains unmatched.