Issac Ryan Brown is making a deliberate pivot from child star to full-scale pop contender. The 20-year-old Detroit native, who first gained recognition through roles on Raven’s Home and Black-ish, is now leaning fully into music with the release of his latest single, “Lipstick,” arriving alongside a new visual and a clear sense of direction.
Following the momentum of “End of the Season,” Brown’s newest track sharpens his identity. “Lipstick” blends glossy pop instincts with retro-leaning R&B, pairing funk-driven guitar lines with polished, radio-ready production. The result lands somewhere between throwback and modern, a space Brown is clearly aiming to claim as his own.
Lyrically, the track keeps things light but intentional. Built around flirtation and visibility, Brown frames the song as a bold, playful request to be chosen and seen. That tone carries into the visual, which leans into performance and personality over heavy narrative.
Behind the scenes, the record is backed by a seasoned songwriting team. Brown co-wrote the track with Arno Spires, Chris Ballard, and Wayne Hector, whose catalog includes dozens of global hits across pop and R&B. Production comes from KYYNGS, giving the track a clean, contemporary finish without losing its groove-heavy core.
Brown’s musical instincts trace back early. He was performing in church as a toddler and covering Jackson 5 songs before most artists his age were thinking about careers. That foundation shows up in his vocal approach, which prioritizes control and tone over excess, and in his clear reverence for legacy acts like Michael Jackson and Usher.
Now signed to SSK Records, Brown has spent the last few years quietly developing his sound, splitting time between the U.S. and London to refine his songwriting and performance style. The shift is intentional. Where his earlier work introduced him, this new phase is positioning him.
“Lipstick” doesn’t try to do everything at once. Instead, it focuses on clarity. A clean hook, confident delivery, and a sound that feels both familiar and forward-facing. For an artist aiming at the next tier of pop and R&B, that restraint might be the most strategic move he’s made yet.
Featured image credit: Issac Ryan Brown
