Usher
Jun 4, 2012
Usher has been in the music industry for a long time and in that time, he has released 8 albums. In early 2010, Usher released his landmark seventh album, Raymond V. Raymond. The high-powered collection explored his newfound status as a single man and father, sold more than 7 million tracks and ringtones combined, held the No. 1 spot on Billboard's R&B chart for seven weeks and spawned a string of international hits, including "OMG" featuring will.i.am. Only a few months removed from the release of Raymond V. Raymond, Usher returns with Versus, a masterful conceptual sequel to its predecessor. Featuring eight new songs as well as Raymond V. Raymond standout and current smash single "There Goes My Baby," Versus finds Usher connecting with his female fans in new and exciting ways. Usher trumpets his ability to interact with as many women as he chooses on the celebratory "Love 'Em All," delivers an up-tempo homage to his underwear fetish on "Lingerie," implores the object of his affection to believe in his love on "Stranger" and cuts to the chase on the sexually blunt "Get In My Car," which features an ultra-clever guest rap from Bun B. Given the wide range of songs he creates, Usher must draw from different sources when writing.
Fortunately for Usher's fans, the Tennessee native has been delivering genre-defining music in a number of styles for the last 15-plus years. Discovered on "Star Search" and based in Atlanta, a teenaged Usher arrived on the national scene in 1994 with his eponymous debut album. His second album, 1997's My Way, established him as a superstar with limitless potential. The collection sold more than 7 million copies and included the ubiquitous singles "Nice & Slow" and "You Make Me Wanna". After releasing Usher Live in 1999, Usher cemented himself as a musical force with the release of 8701. Featuring the No. 1 hit "U Got It Bad" and Grammy-winning singles "U Remind Me" and "U Don't Have to Call," the collection sold more than four million copies and set the stage for the biggest success of Usher's musical career. Usher's Confessions album captivated the music world in 2004, selling more than 1 million copies its first week in stores. It eventually sold more than 20 million copies worldwide thanks to a steady succession of chart-topping singles, "Yeah!," "Burn" and "Confessions Part II." The success of Confessions' singles helped Usher earn a remarkable distinction: he enjoyed 13 consecutive Top 20 singles (seven of which were No. 1). Indeed, his award totals are staggering. He's won 17 Billboard Music Awards, nine ASCAP awards, eight Soul Train Music Awards and five Grammy Awards, among many others.
Usher's 2010 MTV Award Nominations for Best Male Video, Best Choreography, Best Dance Video for "OMG" and his 2010 BET Award Nominee in the Best Male R&B Artist category are just the latest in a long line of accomplishments for a man who should definitely be considered his generation's greatest entertainer. And with his latest release, Versus, Usher adds another rock-solid entry to a musical catalog that grows more impressive with each release.