Bobby Brown becomes R&B's first superstar

Brown's second solo album, Don't Be Cruel, not only served as a springboard to mainstream success, it also cemented his standing as the R&B superstar of his day. My Prerogative was the standout track, a global top 10 hit and US No 1, thanks to its unmistakable new jack swing drum beat. From this point, Brown's personal life began to overshadow his career, and so began his evolution into his most famous role: the incorrigible ex-husband of Whitney Houston.