My boy Malik used to always joke on my dude Kenny Ken, saying “Man, why you always singing the bitch part of songs?”

Ladies & gents, I’m singing the bitch part. Fuck it. Read the rest of this entry »

The artistic zenith that Usher Raymond reached his last go around was one that combined an impeccable blend of hits, emotion, and truth be told: magic. Confessions was the equivalent of capturing lightning in a bottle with no clue on where it was going to hit. The right record at the right time, subsequently elevating Usher’s star from “super” to “mega” and bringing in accolades by the boatload.

But the last four years has seen significant changes in the R&B poster child’s life that’s sure to affect the scope of his music. Recently married with his first child, it’s inevitable for the subject matter to take on a more focused stance in relation to his current lifestyle. As expected, his fifth album Here I Stand includes all sentiments of a fresh romance while still revolving around Usher’s strengths of an artist. It’s factors like this that allow the album to succeed without harboring any explosive or breakthrough material. Read the rest of this entry »

Fresh off the Dancing With The Stars performance, Lil Ursher Raymond with the video for “Moving Mountains.” Fortunately for me, this track has been on the iPod playlist for a minute & perhaps if the tempo were just a hair more upbeat, it could see this fully owning radio (like it won’t anyway though).

Splash has this up as the tentative tracklisting for Usher’s new album.

1. Intro
2. Love In This Club featuring Young Jeezy
3. This Ain’t Sex
4. Trading Places
5. Moving Mountains
6. What’s Your Name featuring Will.i.am
7. Prayer For You Interlude
8. Something Special
9. Love You Gently
10. Best Thing featuring Jay Z
11. Before I Met You
12. His Mistakes
13. Appetite
14. What’s A Man To Do
15. Lifetime
16. Love In This Club Part II featuring Beyoncé & Lil Wayne
17. Here I Stand

Last week, I told LC and a few others, I am currently hooked on “Moving Mountains” and find myself semi-anticipating this album. Read the rest of this entry »