R&B artist Tank stirred up controversy this week by reigniting an old debate: Is Chris Brown better than Michael Jackson? In a recent appearance on The Stephen A. Smith Show, the Grammy-nominated singer passionately defended his stance that Chris Brown has surpassed the King of Pop in terms of talent and versatility.
“Chris Brown is, in fact, better than Michael Jackson,” Tank boldly claimed, much to the disbelief of sports commentator Stephen A. Smith. The discussion quickly turned into a friendly yet heated debate, with Smith expressing his admiration for Jackson and his skepticism toward Tank’s opinion.
“Tank! Do you understand what you’re saying, my man?” Smith questioned. “I mean, you’re admired, you’re revered, you’re associated with music, my brother. Everybody loves and respects you.”
Tank, however, stood firm in his belief, using a sports analogy to explain his point of view. He likened Chris Brown to LeBron James, describing him as the evolution of Michael Jackson, Usher, and other greats. “If there was Magic Johnson, now there is LeBron James,” Tank explained. “We talk about Chris Brown, we’re talking about the evolution of Michael Jackson. The evolution of Usher. The evolution of me. The evolution of Ginuwine. That is what this kid is.”
Tank’s Stance on the Debate Continues
This isn’t the first time Tank has voiced this opinion. In June 2022, he sparked a similar debate on social media, agreeing with former NFL star Ryan Clark, who also claimed that Brown has more gifts than Jackson. At the time, Tank clarified that he wasn’t questioning Jackson’s greatness but rather highlighting the range of talents Brown possesses.
“MJ is the greatest, but CB has more gifts is all we’re saying,” Tank wrote on Instagram. “People don’t read to comprehend; they only read to respond. We’re not arguing greatness; we’re simply counting gifts.”
While Tank’s remarks have ignited passionate responses from both Chris Brown and Michael Jackson fans, the R&B singer remains steadfast in his belief.