Usher has long been heralded as one of music’s most celebrated artists. Ranked as the 2nd most successful act of the last decade on the Billboard charts, he managed to give R&B music a voice amidst the expanding sea of Hip-Hop and Pop artists who began to dominate radio stations in recent years.
Nonetheless, it seems that the tide of change has finally gotten too powerful for even Usher to resist as he prepares to reinvent his sound with the launch of a new genre he calls “Revolutionary Pop”. This decision has left many of his loyal fans baffled as they wonder if he is truly being innovative or simply joining the Pop music bandwagon in an effort to remain relevant.
Usher accomplished record-breaking success with his diamond-certified ‘Confessions’ album in 2004 which sold a colossal 20 million copies worldwide and spawned 4 #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. However, as sales throughout the industry continue to tumble, he has been unable to match his previous achievements, at least on the album charts.
Scoring worldwide hits with last year’s ‘OMG (Ft. Will.i.am)’ and ‘DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love (Ft. Pitbull)’, Usher has gotten a taste of the mainstream success that Pop music has to offer and it seems that he wants more. Indeed, it would be difficult for him to resist the temptation of experimenting further in that genre, especially since none of his recent R&B single managed to crack the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Now, after chanting “R&B for life” at the 2010 American Music Awards, Usher has seemingly abandoned his roots altogether by preparing to launch “Revolutionary Pop” on his next album. While some argue that he is doing what is necessary to remain commercially viable and that he is expanding his sound like his mentor Michael Jackson did before him, many claim that he is simply following a trend.
Nevertheless, both fans and critics eagerly await the release of Usher’s next album. Yet, many brace themselves for disappointment as the man who was once touted as next in line to replace R. Kelly as R&B’s King begins his transformation into the next Ke$ha.
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He has given R&B so much over the past years, if he wants to try something different i’ll be right behind him, cant wait for the album!!!!
He’s a little of both, I’m a HUGE fan, but it’s true.
Usher will NEVER replace R. Kelly.
Kells genius CANNOT be topped.
Btw, Usher is a follower. Definitely not an innovator.
@Trent: + 100! I hate this new U$ha style 🙁
I think Usher has given RandB so much for the past years. So it’s only normal and human if he wants to switch it up a bit. But as far as Trey,Chris, Jason, and etc are concerned he’s def. an innovator
Fist Brown is trying to hop on the pop music bandwagon in an effort to remain relevant, not Usher.
Nobody can question Usher because he has been consistent for damn near two decades. His status is solidified.
He is the King of Pop, R&B, Rock, Gospel, and all of the other genres. Fist is trying to follow in his footsteps and FAILING.
Give the man a chance to flop. Besides, he gota make those dollars and if that means jumpin onto the Pop bandwagon, so be it. RnB is cool but it aint raking in commercial gains like it used to. Go figure.
I meant to add…R. Kelly is DEFINITELY innovative., and no other R&B act was doing it like he was. He was the 90’s Marvin Gaye.
Marvin stopped right at the finish line, but R. Kelly made sure he won the race.
Two geniuses.
Nobody actually cares. Is it a slow news day? Trent & Sam , nobody cares about your opinions. Who the hell are you to say he’s a follower. Credible journalists don’t post bull s*** like this. Smh you r such a failure
AGREE W/ Nichole
The only Usher album i love is Here i Stand !
You made some valid points, Trent.
I’m not a big fan but some of his songs are super catchy and I can’t blame myself for loving them lol.
He has talent but any time I’m seeing a video or listening to some of his music I can’t help of thinking “Michael Jackson much?”
If he wants to try something different, good for him. But he should try to me more creative, indeed.
I think this is a relevant discussion because I am a fan of r&b music – born & raised on it as a matter of fact and am terrified that the genre is being so marginalized to the point that artists like Usher feel they have to switch up their whole style to fit in.
I hated OMG & DJ so did not even bother buying this Usher album – I’ve only bought the singles that I like.
Finally in comparison to Michael Jackson – I never felt that MJ was pandering to a pop audience. He simply made good music that crossed over in other words, he didn’t seem to be chasing pop hits (at least not to me) unlike Usher who clearly is BUT I do understand that times have changed and can understand the pressure these artists are under to hit it big on pop charts or face being dropped from their labels.
I am a true believer that we shouldn’t try to pigeonhold an artist when they want to experiment with different sounds especially if the reasoning of the experimentation is for the sake of organic artistic growth, not just to sell more albums.
Usher is a follower and has good, precise vision from his management. Without knowing what this “revolutionary pop” sounds like I can’t say if he is being innovative or just re-inventing the wheel and calling it another name. Usher is at a safe place no matter what because he is a very good act (sings, dances, good public image).
True musical innovators are your D’Angelos, Lauryn Hills, Andre 3000s; artists who will not always do music catering to their core audience and the music can either set their careers on fire or make it halt. They take the gamble because they are in love with the music first and not to just sustain the fame.
@Ariana Usher and MJ styles r so different!!! Usher is a very talented man that has been successful for over 2 decades, with a style of his own..So many artists try to bite his style, but seems to come up short! He is a legend, Icon!!
Stop puttting thses Artist in Boxes Usher is an ARTIST if he wants to sing POP Music so what. I don’t see people saying this about Michael Jackson because we all know he started off as an R&B singer but he’s named The King Of Pop people and their double standards it’s really crazy..
‘Revolutionary pop’ already has a pioneer – her name is MIA.
Usher is doing what he’s going to do to stay relevant. I’m not a big fan so I can be unbiased about it. He’s not the first to reinvent to stay relevant won’t be the last. Whether it works is another question.
Why is Chris Brown always brought up in others b*******? Chris was never straight R&B so get over it.
And damn there are two Tia’s here…smh at having to distinguish, yes, this one is a Chris Brown fan.
Usher is a follower, definitely. but he can do whatever the f*** he wants! he did pop and it’s a succes, most people love it, thats why he’s going to do an album with mostly pop on it, it’s not such a big surprise.
@ Wire, i don’t know why you bring up chris brown in this post..first of all, chris did pop in 2008 with foreverer, wich became a huge succes, he isn’t following anybody, he never told anyone what kind of an artist he is, he does almost every genre, as tweeted by himself. your a disrespectul worthless being
& some people need to get the f*** off this post. really, shut your filthy mouth, if you don’t like trend & sam why bother and read their blog? god y’all full of s***
At some point ever innovator becomes a follower. It’s just how life goes. Times change, people get adapted to something and for the time being go with the flow.
Usher is a follower.
Michael Jackson is a Inovador.
MJ forever.
Thank you @Ethan for your comments to @Wire….
The only artist that can successfully do R&B, Hip Hop-influenced, and Gospel songs with an equal level of greatness is R. Kelly. I have never heard Usher sing a gospel song. Usher is definitely a success and does warrant the current title of the King of R&B and Pop but that’s where it ends. He is a terrible actor.
“Finally in comparison to Michael Jackson – I never felt that MJ was pandering to a pop audience. He simply made good music that crossed over in other words, he didn’t seem to be chasing pop hits (at least not to me) unlike Usher who clearly is BUT I do understand that times have changed and can understand the pressure these artists are under to hit it big on pop charts or face being dropped from their labels.”
I agree.
This whole dance/pop thing has been around for months and now he thinks he can redefine it as “Revoloutionary Pop” and he’s a big force in music (with this “new” genre)? Come on now. These “R&B-Pop-Dance”-thing is getting slowly on my nerves. Everyone is doing this type of music right now. Hell, Usher has a DIAMOND-certified album and now he’s downgrading hiself to such generic music. Sad and very stupid in my opinion, because he was very successful in R&B. Sorry, but to me he’s a disgrace relating to R&B/Soul music.
Usher has fallen off terribly, pop music will die out with so many tired acts out there now.
Confessions was his best like Ne-yo pointed out and cannot replicate that same feel once again.
This latest album was pure boo-boo and his tour with Trey Songz was a bit of a panic attack from choosing such lame act.
The tour hit a bump in the road because why did Usher choose somebody without any platinum albums or stats. Chris brown should have been the artist on that tour but Usher didn’t want to be sent to his grave or overshadowed.
Usher turned his back on R Kelly and now he shall feel the sting of losing his fans of R&B.
Hasn’t had any really decent material since Confessions. He had some good songs on “Here I Stand” though.
I thought that Usher was innovative with his “Confessions” album, but it seemed as if he started making generic music after that, like “OMG” and that other DJ song (I forget the name). “There Goes My Baby” and “Here I Stand” (the song, that is) were good, but it seemed as if he just went along with the trend of dance & techno sounding music. Innovators don’t do that. Hopefully this “Revolutionary Pop” sound that he said he is coming out with for his next album sounds nothing like the trends of pop music today. Hopefully is actually sounds good.
Well I think as far as r&b he has already made his mark and I consider him innovative on that front. To me he is like a mix between Kells and MJ. RKelly is definitely and innovator, he defines r&b and like someone said before me is like this generations Marvin Gaye. Usher doesn’t write or produce like Kells, but he can sing a song and put the emotion into a record like Kells. I think as far as MJ, Usher’s stage presence, charisma and marketability are similar. I have always thought he was more of an r&b star than pop because the majority of the music he makes is r&b and that is how he became successful.
His more recent pop stuff, while successful, I don’t really consider innovative or groundbreaking and sound more like everything else that is being played on the radio. He wasn’t setting trends he was following them, IMO. They don’t have that ‘Usher feel’ they honestly sound like they could be sung by any other pop act out right now. Generic material.
To me he will be remembered more for his r&b records such as ‘Nice & Slow’, ‘U Make Me Wanna’, U Got It Bad’ , ‘Yeah’ and ‘Confessions’ which were all big r&b records! He became a superstar off of those records and he owned the R&B lane for like the last decade and no one could touch him. I just heard ‘Nice and Slow’ on the radio yesturday and it brought back so many memories! It’s a classic that no matter how old it gets, you turn it up as soon as it comes on. I don’t really think that records like ‘OMG” and ‘DJ’ will have the same effect 5 to ten years from now. To me those records are just whats hot right now.
I will NEVER disrespect Usher or act as if he hasn’t made a huge impact in the industry. He is still one of the top successful male r&b acts in the game today after 15 years and that is quite an accomplishment. I don’t fault him for wanting to branch out and try new sounds. I am a fan and I respect and will support, to a certain extent, his musical decisions.
As far as the direction he is going with his new album and this so called ‘Revolutionary Pop’ sound, we will just have to wait and see. Honestly I can’t imagine what he is going to do that hasn’t already been done before, but I can’t judge anything until I hear it. All I can say is I hope that it doesn’t sound anything like ‘OMG’ and DJ” cause those certainly weren’t my favorites from him.
@VA Stand Up!! I agree with your whole post! 🙂
Damn! I was really hoping that that racist f*ck had been blocked but I guess not! Come on TGJ, everyone HATES that fool why not erase them permanently!
Besides, I thought this was about Usher and not Chris! Its always the haters to bring his name up first! I guess that proves that they are still PRESSED! Let’s see how many more times his name gets brought up by the haters! SMH!
Usher was the innovator of Crunk’N’B. This is one of the reason why “Confessions” went 10x Platinum.
He will never replace MJ though. As a matter of fact, until MJ’s death, It never came to my mind Usher was trying to do so , since he was strictly R’n’B at the beginning of his career.
In R’n’B , he will always be the dauphin, R. Kelly was, is and will always be DA KING no matter what.
I fell out of love of Usher when he “took his talents” to garbage pop. “OMG” is just an awwwwful song, I’m pretty sure he hates this song too. I understand he was feeling the pressure because first of Chris Brown, second of his personal issues. Now he’s just trying too hard to stay in the game and will try just about anything to do so.
Usher is not a follower though. But he’s a succumber, he falls for trends.
Mely B
January 21, 2011 at 6:01 pm
I think this is a relevant discussion because I am a fan of r&b music – born & raised on it as a matter of fact and am terrified that the genre is being so marginalized to the point that artists like Usher feel they have to switch up their whole style to fit in.
I hated OMG & DJ so did not even bother buying this Usher album – I’ve only bought the singles that I like.
Finally in comparison to Michael Jackson – I never felt that MJ was pandering to a pop audience. He simply made good music that crossed over in other words, he didn’t seem to be chasing pop hits (at least not to me) unlike Usher who clearly is BUT I do understand that times have changed and can understand the pressure these artists are under to hit it big on pop charts or face being dropped from their labels.
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I respect and agree with your opinion, but with the exception of ‘OMG’, ‘DJ’ and ‘More’, ‘Raymond v. Raymond’ is and r&b album. It is no ‘Confessions’ but it is a pretty good album. You should give it a listen you would probably like it!
Keesha
January 21, 2011 at 6:49 pm
@VA Stand Up!! I agree with your whole post!
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Thank You Dear! I had a lot to say didn’t I! Lol!
@Wire since when was this about CB this is about Usher stay on topic, i thoyght Trent ha run you off too! Geuss I was wrong! And Usher jas never been the King of anything most likey the Prince of RnB for a while, and MJ was always something anyone could listen to, he was his own genre! I wish Usher could stick to allota RnB and some Pop that is what his real fans love, some youngins ( and i mean 13-16 yr olda ) think Ushers first song was OMG!! Its crazy!! I wish him the best, but i just dont think i will be buying his Revoloutional Pop album after being disappointed with how much Techno music was on ‘Versus (Follow-up to Raymond v. Raymond)’ Cant yall remember ‘My Bad’ ‘You Remind Me’ ‘My Boo’ ‘Pop ya Collar’ ‘Nice & Slow’ etc. Etc. That was the Chile and Usher era!!!! And then the Confessions era which was amazing!! Then his wife Tameka blah blah blah!! But c’mon those sings are way better than most of the techno songs BY HIM being made now!!!well Dueces xx
The next Ke$ha???????? like really Trent, B**** please!!!!!!!! #sitchoassdown!!!!!!
All of the Artist egos are becoming TOO BIG. They are now coming out with new genres!!!!! We have BEYONCE do it, LADY CACA, and now USHER!!!!! Whose next, DRAGUILERA!!!
STAY PRESSED TRENTINA
USHER IS HERE TO STAY
SHITTIN ON FIST BROWN ALL DAY
have you already heard this meaningless “Revolutionary Crap”?
this entire usher discussion makes no sense too.
the title question is inappropriate.
@Ethan: Co-sign! Especially your comments towards that p****!
@Annie: Co-Sign!
AlmostPia: Agreed & LMAO @ ‘He is a terrible actor’! He is! Lol!
Alexander: I agree to a certain extent.
@Mishka: I agree…to a certain extent.
Trent girl, sit your raggedy ass down. Would you have dared write this post about Chris Brown? Wasn’t his entire last album filled with euro pop and autotune? And even the songs that he comes out with now from his next album are all the same pop sound which doesn’t seem to work for him as far as the Billboard is concerned since he consistently fails to chart within the top 10. It’s not Usher’s fault that he was embraced when he experimented with a pop sound and produced a series of mega hit songs. And the nerve of these Chris Brown stans trying to come for Usher. If he is a follower then what is Chris Brown? Chile, this post is just ridiculous. Clearly Usher influenced a generation of other R&B artists. He can’t stay in a box forever. MJ’s sound was always one thing. The Ke$ha comparison was completely stupid. Mad because even with autotune and Ke$ha vocals Mooriah still couldn’t get a top 5 hit with Obsessed?
“The only artist that can successfully do R&B, Hip Hop-influenced, and Gospel songs with an equal level of greatness is R. Kelly. I have never heard Usher sing a gospel song. Usher is definitely a success and does warrant the current title of the King of R&B and Pop but that’s where it ends. He is a terrible actor.”
True and *DEAD* @ “He is a terrible actor.” I disagree with that, but it’s still funny.
I’m trying to figure out why Chris Brown is being mentioned on this post? But I guess his biggest undercover fans couldn’t go without mentioning him. It’s all good. 😉
He is indeed FOLLOWING the trend, but depending on the sound of this ‘revolutionary pop’ he could become a trend setter…
Usher is an R&B singer, flat out. The crash and burn of his HERE I STAND LP (His best to date IMO) is what sent him in a tail spin of trying to find his musical self. He abandoned the project without really putting the music that was great on their out to the world to hear. The weak comparison to MJ is just that weak. Michael Jackson was an R&B singer who’s music was considered ‘POP’ because it crossed over and expanded world wide. If you listen to the core of any MJ album R&B stands at the forefront. The diffrence here is that MJ is from the ol’ skool of R&B where if u added a guitar it didnt change your genre, it just gave it that extra kick. My best advice to Usher is stay true to himself and make the music he’s gonna wanna sing at 60.
I dont’ think Usher has ever been an “innovative” artist, did he create something that I was unaware of? Most mainstream artists are not going to truly be innovative, they all borrow ideas from the innovative unknown artists and bring it to the masses then it becomes commercialized.
I am a bit confused about the “RnB for life ” comment followd by the release of “More ” to the radio and the declaration of a new genre “Revolutionary pop”. Of course he wants to remain relevant and is going where people are having success. His last album attempted to cover all bases to get more radio airlplay ( urban, pop, dance,etc), that was purposely done.
Producer/Artist like Timbaland, Pharell and a slew of well known and not so well known PRODUCERS are innovative because they did introduce a new sound to the masses, most artists are just tagging along and act as the vehicle to get the new sound out, so I will save the innovation title for people like them. Maybe someone like Alicia Keyes can be considered innovative too but loads of other artists shouldn’t be.
Follower.
IDK, as of late, yes he is definitely a follower, but I wouldn’t base his entire career off of his past few records. Although these few records are pop/dance oriented, his album was actually R&B oriented. He had some really amazing R&B records on the album, but of course releasing them as singles wouldn’t be smart as far as a business standpoint. Confessions wasn’t innovative but it wasn’t following either. And the same goes for “My Way” and “8701,” they were just REALLY great R&B albums. And I think “Here I Stand” is underrated, it’s a great album, IMO.
Usher’s kinda stuck in the middle, though. He isn’t the King of Pop (MJ) nor is he the King of R&B (R.Kelly), but he is right in the middle. He has enough hits and album sales for the Pop side, but enough quality R&B music for the R&B side.
I totally get what you’re saying and I hope the route is really to expand his sound rather than abandon his roots buuuuut I don’t know if it’s fair to allude to him being the next “Kesha”…but hey…to each their own I guess….
definitely a follower! and in regards to MJ, his music was still influenced by black/soul/funk music it was just ‘popular’ music rather than just being a ‘pop’ sound, if you can understand the distinction
A clear sell out in my book!! How the the f*** you want to promote an white artist from Canada, when there is lil black kids with 99 times more talent than that Biber kids! Ugh just f****** horrible! Then he wants to do pop?? F*** pop music, str8 up!! He is a sellout sorry!! If he would stop trying to emulate MJ’s career and do his own s***, he would be better off!! I wish these mofo’s would stop trying to fit in, an do them! He been in the game almost 20 years, so I feel that he can do what he wants as long as it is original !! Damn what a shame f****** sellout!! Not saying he can’t change, but f*** that I will continue to listen to old school, cuz none of this s*** he does will live up to his confessions album!! Which was the s*** in 04″! Usher grow up please!!
R.kelly
Please I’m sorry usher snatched that crown a long time ago!
Usher is the king of rnb when you got white,latino and black listening to your music then you have that power
people on this post are overatting r.kelly Can yall please tell me the last time he had a Major hit owrld wide usher has been in the industry for 10+ now and for him to still be here and still slaying the charts shows you something.
Th echris brown fans are Pressed ass hell I see yall all in here calling him a follower when your fav is making euro trash songs which are failing in the charts as we speak! Anyways Usher has done ALOT for the RNB And I think it is his time to experiment with other generes and he might aswell do it now as POP music is in HIGH DEMAND! Everyone is turning pop because rnb just aint selling lik eit used to.
Poeple here all mad about singer’s not making rnb music no more but when they do NONE of yall buy it so they all FLOP plus balck people don’t buy s*** so =/
let usher experiment he can do no wrong he has already made a name for himself he is an iconic figure.
I won’t judge Usher because he can do whatever he wants. I will still support him. Because he is the best in whatever he does.
As for all those talking about rnb this and that, well if you loved it so damn much you would have bought “here I stand” because it was a great album, but no y’all prefered to download illegally. Well now he has to cater to the white folks who actually buy cd’s, for christ sakes he has 2 son’s to feed and his ex wife to pay monthly, this is not the time to play “santa claus”
He is a follower but whatever he can do him.
TRENT TRENT TRENT! I knew it was you before i read your tag! LOL DEAD at the next K$sha!
HIS URBAN FANS WONT BUY HIS MUSIC SO HES CATERING TO AN AUDIENCE THAT WILL!
@ Yellow Gorillah. Go have a seat!
Usher will NEVER have R. Kelly’s title as the King Of R&B. I don’t give a flying fig how many hits Usher’s sellout ass has.
Unlike Usher, at least R.Kelly never jumped on bandwagons, and always stayed true to his R&B/Urban following. He doesn’t have to hop on the Pop/Euro bandwagon just because he desperately needs a hit, and is trying to make a little change.
R. Kelly is the King Of R&B because he was cramping out those high quality classic records, with an innovative touch that NOT a single black artists in this day and age can touch. Yet you have wannabes like Usher, Ne-Yo and Trey Songz trying to do it like Kells but they fail miserably each time.
Classic songs like “Your Bodies Callin,” Bump N Grind & its remix,” When A Woman’s Fed Up,” “You Remind Me,” “It Seems Like Your Ready,” “S** Me,” I Believe I Can Fly,” etc owns everything damn thing in Usher’s weak catalog.
Before you try coming after the King, get your s*** straight first. POOF. Usher could NEVER.
Kells aka Pied Piper of R&B>>>>>>>>>>> Ursher aka sellout
“JASONVORHEES
January 21, 2011 at 5:36 pm
He has given R&B so much over the past years, if he wants to try something different i’ll be right behind him, cant wait for the album!!!!”
The end… & low & damn behold, the minute he does release a r&b song & it flops y’all will be on him saying it flopped. Just like y’all getting on the fact that his R&B singles didn’t top the top 20 of Billboard Hot 100. Umm… has anyone’s R&B single topped Hot 100 anytime recently? No… not even Alicia Key’s “Unbreakable” which was #1 on Billboard Hip Hop/R&B Chart. Times have changed. It has nothing to necessarily do with the artist or material, it’s more so the people & consumers. If they don’t buy it like that, there’s nothing you can really do. Y’all failed to mention his R&B singled did do great respectively on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop chart where they belong. R&B singles not chart high respectively on the dedicated billboard chart for them. For instance Monica’s “Everything to Me” #1 on Billboard Hip Hop/R&B, “Love All Over Me” #1, Ciara’s “Ride” #2. Stop acting like it’s 1990’s again.
I meant Alicia Keys “Unthinkable.” Typing fast, thinking about too much at once.
So if you wanna rate his success of his R&B songs as him not being great, or innovative anymore. He isn’t a follower because those songs are no longer in this time frame gonna manage to meet the same success. & Like I said y’all know if he released all great quality R&B songs & he flopped he’d be called a flop. So he had to have some pop songs, even though a majority of his album is R&B to make some sort of Mark. I don’t see him too much as a follower if he is merely trying.
“Unlike Usher, at least R.Kelly never jumped on bandwagons, and always stayed true to his R&B/Urban following. He doesn’t have to hop on the Pop/Euro bandwagon just because he desperately needs a hit, and is trying to make a little change.”
EXACTLY! I like Usher, but this is the TRUTH!
WTF?! r kelly never jumping on a bandwagon?!
Did everyone forgot his untitled album…full of autotune s***!!!!
How the hell is Usher a follower?
The man’s one of the biggest artists of ALL TIME, who does he need to follow?
Stay relevant? He’s responsible for Justin Bieber so he won’t be fading away anytime soon. It’s not following a trend, it’s doing what’s needed. No one was requesting his R&B songs but you’re mad at him once he makes a change? I’m SURE he’s not abandoning R&B..he’s just being more experimental, i can almost guarantee you he’ll have some soulful tracks on his album. Why would he completely abandon his fans?
Or better yet why are his fans ready to abandon him?
He literally said TWO WORDS: ‘Revolutionary Pop’ and now everyone’s ready to jump ship.
Usher’s always incorporated Pop with Soul, let him experiment more.
Who says he’ll never do a R&B song again?
Dramatic ass people..
Keesha
January 21, 2011 at 7:33 pm
“The only artist that can successfully do R&B, Hip Hop-influenced, and Gospel songs with an equal level of greatness is R. Kelly. I have never heard Usher sing a gospel song. Usher is definitely a success and does warrant the current title of the King of R&B and Pop but that’s where it ends. He is a terrible actor.”
True and *DEAD* @ “He is a terrible actor.” I disagree with that, but it’s still funny.
I’m trying to figure out why Chris Brown is being mentioned on this post? But I guess his biggest undercover fans couldn’t go without mentioning him. It’s all good.
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You last sentence said it all! Look who showed up and just had to bring up CB’s name! So predicatable! I see they are STILL PRESSED! No one else brought up CB including Trent, NO WHERE in the article! But his name is ALWAYS on their minds!
Who is ‘coming’ for Usher?? Damn! It’s lack they seriously lack reading comprehension. Where did any CB fans disrespect Usher?? It’s like they only see what they want to see instead of what was said! Anytime they see Usher’s name it’s like an opportunity to throw shade at CB! THey live for the opportunity to use other artist to shade CB, even when his name wasn’t mentioned to begin to begin with! Truly pathetic! But then again pathetic defines the majority of the you know who stans!
I would challenge any of the you know who stans to point out where any CB stan ‘came’ for Usher! I’ll wait……
@NICHOLE
How is he a sellout? Because he made on comment that he was going to try pop?
Did usher say “I’m done with R&B, you guys won’t buy it so i’m doing pop from now on so i can hit the bank”? NO. Usher doesn’t need to sellout, he’s one of the only artists whose DIAMOND certified. How are you gonna call Usher a sellout for experimenting when you’re a NICKI fan? I stan for Nicki to, so i can speak the truth. Nicki experiments just as much as Usher, if not more & she’s not a sellout. Why is Usher a sellout? If anyone’s in the wrong it’s the urban fans, we don’t ever buy no damn albums,singles or request on radio. WE’RE letting our artists die, it’s not the radio, it’s not the industry, it’s not them. It’s US.
How are we supposed to expect R&B to stay in the forefront if we don’t even support it when it’s right there in our faces?? Usher’s been catering to R&B for years now
But i guess that’s why they say “You don’t realize what you have until it’s gone”.
@DAVE
100% CO-SIGN
*Monica’s ““Love All Over Me” #2. I swear I put a 2 there. But, yes @Kavion. I agree with you too. People kill me. He said “REVOLUTIONARY” that’s not following a trend. Wouldn’t if anthing between following(er), innovative(er), wouldn’t revolutionary fall under INNOVATIVE/INNOVATOR? Hello… Just because pop was next to it doesn’t mean a trend. & Pop is not a certain sound. Pop is short for popular. Usher was already POPULAR with R&B. So ummm…. how does REVOLUTIONARY POP(ULAR) [Music which he was already popular musically) make him a follower? Doesn’t that mean he’s revolutionizing his own type of pop(ular) music? For all you all know it could be a popular mix of Heavy R&B & other sounds. But, you all go assuming because it says pop, or he had a FEW new pop songs.
Trent girl, sit your raggedy ass down. Would you have dared write this post about Chris Brown? Wasn’t his entire last album filled with euro pop and autotune? And even the songs that he comes out with now from his next album are all the same pop sound which doesn’t seem to work for him as far as the Billboard is concerned since he consistently fails to chart within the top 10. It’s not Usher’s fault that he was embraced when he experimented with a pop sound and produced a series of mega hit songs. And the nerve of these Chris Brown stans trying to come for Usher. If he is a follower then what is Chris Brown? Chile, this post is just ridiculous. Clearly Usher influenced a generation of other R&B artists. He can’t stay in a box forever. MJ’s sound was always one thing. The Ke$ha comparison was completely stupid. Mad because even with autotune and Ke$ha vocals Mooriah still couldn’t get a top 5 hit with Obsessed?
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Where is Chris Brown’s name in this article??
Where did a CB fan ‘come’ for Usher??
Who did a did CB fan say Usher didn’t have an influence on r&b artist today??
Why is Chris Brown on your mind so heavy??
Seriously….do you just sit at you computer all day and wait for TGJ to post anything on an artist similar to Chris so you can rush in a throw shade at Chris?? Is that what you live for?? Why are you so pathetic?? Is your faves site down or something??
It’s funny how the haters always want to say that CB is not in the same league as a Usher or MJ, but whenever there is a post about Usher or MJ, the HATERS are ALWAYS the FIRST to bring up CB”s name! Apparently when you see Usher and MJ, you think of Chris! Therefore you must see the simliarities that CB has to Usher and MJ, but you just refuse to acknowledge it!
FYI: Chris Brown did pop back in 2008 with his huge hit ‘Forever’, two years before this current trend! By his second album he was experimenting with pop, his first album was his ONLY album that was all r&b. ‘With You’ was a pop ballad as was ‘No Air’. Also, all of his pop hits such as ‘Forever’, Yeah 3x’ and songs such as ‘Disturbia’ he wrote/co-wrote which makes him not only a successful singer but also a successful writer. He can go into the studio wand produce a hit himself, he doesn’t have to rely on a bunch of songwriters to make hits for him.
Not only does Usher not write, he has NEVER done this kind of pop until just last year! He has always been strictly r&b! As a veteran in the game, if you do a sound that’s popular right now, you are gonna be seen as a follower.
Chris is a younger artist and is apart of the newer generation, this generation is heavily pop influenced. While Usher is a veteran who is far older than pop acts out today, he should be setting trends not following them.
Usher was an innovator in r&b field, but with the lil bit of pop that he has done recently, he is simply following a trend cause it doesn’t sound like anything we haven’t heard before!
@DAVE
Exactly.
People are way too quick to draw conclusions and judgements.
We haven’t even heard ONE snippet, let alone a whole song.
People just see the word Pop and are quick to call someone a sellout..and don’t you have to not be popular to be a sellout? You can’t sell out when you’ve already won tons of grammys and have become DIAMOND certified. Trent just wanted a war. I mean after all he did already report this WEEKS ago? I’ll be checking it out no matter what, and if it’s as good as Confessions/Here I Stand/R VS R, I’ll definantly be buying a copy
@VA STAND UP!!
Girl stop. Are you seriously going to sit here and argue that Chris Brown didn’t jump on any bandwagons with his current sound? I know he did pop boo, but the euro-techno pop is a trend that he clearly jumped on with his new music. Usher is an innovator as a musician in general, and he clearly inspired Chris Brown as well. Don’t sit here and call Usher a follower and then in the next sentence have the audacity to claim Chris Brown isn’t. The only difference is that Usher’s new sound was SUCCESSFUL and Chris’ new sound was not well received and yet he keeps trying to do it.
A good musician is someone who can pull off more than one genre of music. Look at Michael Jackson. If Usher wants to take his career to the next level, clearly going outside of the box was a smart choice that got him to #1.
And R. Kelly stans please sit on down. He was trying to jump on the trends plenty of times, just like everyone else and it didn’t work for him so he went back to the drawing board. Girl…..stop being so delusional.
Usher sold 20 million with one album so until your fave can do that he will always be the king. Stay pressed.
@Gucci:
Futhermore, the ONLY pop song CB has released recently is ‘Yeah 3x’, which is doing quite well (though you won’t admit it) and is currently at No. 15 on Hot 100, No. 10 on Top Radio songs, and No. 10 Top Pop songs and has reached No.1 in New Zealand and is Top Ten in several other countries such as Australia and Germany. But according to the ‘you know who stans’ if it is not Top Ten Hot 100 in the US then, (when it’s only 5 spots away ) it’s not a hit! Ya’ll are so full of sh*t!
All the other pop songs we have heard have been leaks and/or haven’t been released as singles yet! The only songs that he has confirmed as singles from his album have ‘Yeah 3x’ and ‘Look At Me Now’. All of his recent singles have been successful including ‘Yeah 3’!
So what other Pop has he not been successful with?? ‘Deuces’ sure as hell doesn’t count as pop, but according to you and the other R****** stans that wasn’t a hit either cause it didn’t reach top ten on Hot 100 even though it was No. 1 on the r&b charts for ten weeks and earned a Grammy nomination. What counts as a hit to you haters??
Are you really that pathtetic and bitter that all you can do to dismiss facts and LIE to downplay his success! I swear you are the most bitter hypocritical person on this damn site!
i love usher r&b music but what the point of doing something that aint going to sell you pepole always complain complain and complain about him doing pop but who to blame for everyone doing dance/electro/techno its u why didn’t you buy r&b music and i feel with females bey is the only artist that can get an r&b hit this days (talking about mainstream chart here) but they don’t get the right release she only release them to urban radio ie.(Diva,ego) stop complaing and buy r&b it may return if u do so btw i know the loyal fans buy the music but half of them switch up to dance and yet they are bitchin
usher is a Follower duh so half the industry
@ va stand up.. I have to stop you there.. who told you that Usher doesn’t write his songs. Please If you don’t know anything about him, don’t say, Get your facts right first. And as for Chris Brown, he wasn’t the only one that wrote Disturbia.
Chris stans always have to bring Rihanna into this, this makes you guyz look insecure and pathetic..
Woooahh!!
I really hate passing any judgement on Usher, because I’ve liked his music since 8701. I have admire his style and seen him as the ultimate performer at one time. Some could say that he’s given so much to R&B and now it’s simply time for change. I’m one that embrace a notion like that , so I don’t feel good about not encouraging or ridiculing anyone that’s abandoning limits that are set for them. I think for me, I don’t think this authentic. I think Usher is no longer trying to innovate, he’s at a point where he’s making attempts to remain relevant. I could be wrong, but I’m honest and I don’t overlook things just because I think highly of a person. Usher has left a big impression on today’s talent, however artist like Chris Brown have experimented in the early stages of his career with different sounds. Perhaps, if Usher did something of this sort at the height of his fame I could see it as something more genuwine. I think Usher is just jumping on the dance bandwagon. Now, I’m not blaming him. His core R&B following didn’t support Here I stand and raymond vs Raymond first batch of r&B singles. I didn’t support it, but I like pop Usher most (I hated Confessions). My taste was U remind me, U don’t have to call and My Boo – when it came down to him. So if he has more dance/techno supporters than what do we want for him to do?! Most of us complaining who just move it right along to whatever’s selling at the moment. So, he’s now playing the game! He may not have a choice. All I can say is that R.Kelly do get props for staying true to himself and his original sound. He’s not moving big numbers doing R&B at the moment, but he can hold on to his pride. He’s showing me that he’s at a stage where he’s an “artist” first and mere singer 2nd. I think this project will tell us if Usher has completely sold out. If it’s not honest, trust me… it won’t work. People can tell the difference. Right now, it does look like Usher’s a bit more concerned with numbers than anything else.
*The Page with RoyalKev / February 7th, 2011(Where there’s a place for everything and everything has its place)
@TGJ,
“………the man who was once touted as next in line to replace R. Kelly as R&B’s King begins his transformation into the next Ke$ha.”
ROLF….OMG even I’m mad at you for that one….LOL! 🙂
You had it right the first time! He is simply joining the Pop music bandwagon in an effort to remain relevant. I have never been a big Usher fan but I have enjoyed a few of his songs. I was flabbergasted at the “DJ got us dancing” in the club song. It was more t***-Pop then OMG. It was a song I would expect from 16-yr-old Justin Bieber not a seasoned vet. Usher should stay in his lane and he will have the longevity he so desperately seeks! He is a media darlin’ and the great Illuminati puppet Joe Camel Toe has already declared him the next Michael Jackson. What more could he want?……LOL
So MJ didn’t try to sound pop??? The whole point of thriller was to add pop elements to his music so he would be a bigger star, and after that album how much R&B and soul elements did you see in his music??
@Royalkev
Very well said!
Be sure to provide the link to your new blog site when it’s up and running!
as of late, a follower. his main prominence has sprouted from OMG, More, DJ Got Us Falling in Love.
lets see if his next album mixes the best of both worlds…Yeah was R&B, but sensibly catchy and universal, and that is what makes Usher SHINE
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THIS NEW GENRE, TOO ME IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT GENRE IT IS… WE ALL KNOW USHER CAN SING ANY TYPE SO IM LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!
@ I’m a Billy goat, 🙂 Thanks! Will do.
*The Page with RoyalKev / February 7th, 2011(Where there’s a place for everything and everything has its place)
@TGJ why did you guys delete my comment?
Lmao yall madd i beat yall to the point
@ Gucci. Give it a rest. In terms of music, R. Kelly has always stayed true to his R&B roots and never has he jumped on the Pop/Euro bandwagon just because R&B music has taken a dig and he needs a hit. Take a look at his latest album, “Love Letter.”
Do you all think Usher would be doing that type of music, if R&B was as big as it was circa 2000-2005-06 when R&B music was really big last decade? Highly unlikely.
What is in now? What is big now? Dance/Pop/Euro music.
if I recall, Usher stated that his next album will be revolutionary Pop. Really? What makes him think his music will be any different from the Justin Bieber’s, Britney Spears, Rihanna’s, Katy Perry’s and Keisha’s of the Pop world? It seems to me that Usher was suggesting that he’s gonna abandon his R&B roots for a Pop sound. There is a reason why he wants to work with Britney Spears, and Lady GaGa. He wants to jump on their bandwagon as well.
I don’t call what Usher is doing experimenting, because I know if R&B music hadn’t taken a dive, he wouldn’t even be thinking about the Pop music genre. He’s just like Justin Timberlake.
I can clearly remember Justin defending Pop music when other artists were poking fun of it, and then he turned around and abandoned his Pop roots for R&B/Hip Hop.
Usher is very talented, but R&B music is his forte. Some people need to stay in their lane.
GUCCI, YOU ARE MORE OBSESSED WITH CHRIS BROWN THEN I AM, SIT YOUR B******* ASS DOWN!!!! CHRIS WAS DOING POP A LONG TIME AGO! REMEMBER 2008?! exactly, you’re such an idiot, really -.-
@VA STAND UP!!,
Well DAMN, I was going to respond but you said it all!….LOL!
It’s funny how Raggedy rihANNa’s stans live in CB posts trying to compare the two as if they’re in the “same lane” ,but always yell FOUL when someone points out the obvious differences in skill set and ability! One has true vocal range while the other bellows. One writes his own lyrics, plays multiple instruments, and composes music while the other holds the mic and screeches on demand!
~Beautiful People
@KAVION & @RoyalKev Right! Kev that was a dang bibliography, lol. I didn’t read it all, I skimmed through it. But, I agree with just about everything I saw. People kill me. I’m not even that fond of Usher right now (not because of his music), but because of how he is as a performer (both dancing, & singing) he seems kind of tired now. & “Here I Stand” didn’t do it for me. But, I sure will not sit up here & come outta “let field” @ him, like my girl Alja Jackson say.
@VA STAND UP!!
But then again, all of the songs that have been leaking and rumored to be on his new album (i.e. beautiful people) is the same techno-euro s***, so sit. His entire last album was mostly techno pop. Are you joking?
And dead at you saying Usher doesn’t write any of his songs! Chile……sit your ass down!
And boo it’s not the stans that think a top 10 hit on billboard hot 100 is a MINIMUM requirement for a song that is supposed to be doing as well as you all say it is! it’s just the reality of the situation. How can you say a song is slaying and then pull up some statistics from a BET countdown and an R&B chart? And my point was that you’re coming for usher and saying he’s a follower but then by the same criteria Chris Brown is a follower too, with less success.
I repeat, I’m comparing the euro-techno pop which Chris didn’t start doing until 09 after it was popularized, and his new music hints that he’s going to go in this direction again with his new album so don’t come for Usher when your fave is on the same s***.
And R. Kelly stans, bye. You know dam well he tried to jump on trends. It might not have been techno euro pop, but to say that he’s been consistently R&B for his entire career is a lie.
*sips tea*
We talkin about and Usher, Chris and R. Kelly because they are all relevant to the topic.
So girl, I could give a f*** about you talking about Rihanna. If she makes you that mad, then feel free to talk about how she has no talent 100 times while her album still sits at #1 on the world chart. Not number #15. Not #1 on a bet countdown. Not #1 on a R&B chart.
#1 on the WORLD chart.
*stirs tea and takes a sip*
Why are we constantly trying to bring down our talented artists? Does it matter that he’s doing Pop? As long as the music is good, we shouldn’t limit them to one genre. Music is music and Usher has been making quality songs for over a decade.
To be honest, Usher’s R&B music has always garnered into the pop music market. The only song on Raymond v. Raymond album that was totally pop was OMG. And comparing him to Kesha is really necessary. He can actually sing. As a fan of his, I’m interested in seeing what he has to offer. Let’s get one thing straight. Confession and its sales will never be duplicated. That’s in the past. Hopefully this ‘revolutionary pop’ sees him mix both pop and R&B genres ala ‘Caught Up’ and ‘U Don’t Have to Call’. Good luck Usher!
I agree with some of the comments. Usher has been truly loyal to R&B for a long time If he wants to switch it up then that’s fine. Music goes through transitional periods. The 70s was the Disco Era. The 80/90s was when Hip-Hop blew up. Right now Dance/Pop music is in demand. Usher is doing what he has to do to remain relevant. No different than what older artists do.
Oh look, another idiotic stan (@ Gucci) who thinks that popularity= talent. Girl, sit. Jersey Shore is popular too, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good show.
Anyway, I wouldn’t classify Usher or any contemporary artist as “innovators” of any sort, because technically they’re not doing anything that their predecessors didn’t already do. Innovators invent, and Usher hasn’t invented anything. I also am one of the people who thinks that he fell off after “Confessions”. I don’t mind that he chose to go in a different direction, I’m all for artists evolving, but in his case I don’t think that he evolved at all. He sold out. Songs like “OMG” and “DJ Got Us Falling In Love” are songs I expect the Black Eyed
SelloutsPeas to do. Usher is way above that. To me that’s following a trend, not setting one. He has the talent to make original pop music with substance, and so far he hasn’t lived up to that potential. Now he’s promising to do that, but as of now I’m skeptical about this so-called “revolutionary pop”. I don’t know what he has up his sleeve, but I think he’s sort of jumping the gun by calling it revolutionary. I think the public should be left to judge if it’s revolutionary or not, because unfortunately it’s not uncommon for artists to overhype their work. I hope that his description isn’t off the mark, but it’s best if he avoids using hyperbolic adjectives for his new album.No way!
January 21, 2011 at 10:29 pm
Chris stans always have to bring Rihanna into this, this makes you guyz look insecure and pathetic..
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Bytch you are the first one who brought that f.ucking name up not a chris Brown fan but a ritard fan.
that sips tea s*** is really childish -.- that doesn’t make you look though gucci, really your wack as f***! s*** gets annoying with you
chris was the trendsetter back in 2008 with forever, thats all. we know he ain’t no follower! he does everything in a different way
@Dave, yea I hear you! LOL @ the bibliography…Your very sensible when your commenting (I think it’s maybe, one person or topic we don’t agree on – & I can’t even think of what it is at the moment)… I try not to come down to harsh on Usher. I usually hate fair weather fans! He’s done a lot that he deserves a lot of credit for, so I don’t want to bash him. I don’t care if your selling millions or selling hundreds, if I respect your work I respect that artist. Still apart of being a true fan is expressing when that artist is losing that special something that makes them who they are. The music he’s making lately is not really to my liking, but I’d always wish him continued success. I just honestly don’t know if I’ll be buying the new material, if he suddenly sounds like everyone else.
*The Page with RoyalKev / February 7th, 2011(Where there’s a place for everything and everything has its place)
I’m tried of all this Euro Pop sh*t…seriously I can’t take it I want R&B back.
As an aspiring artist, it is a part of my duty to remain updated with the many different sounds of music. Considering the fact that Usher had entered into the industry with a more rhythmic sound that implied hints of Hip-Hop content, he will always be famously known for his earlier works which sampled and showcased his R&B-Soul roots. However, as we continue to progress as a nation and as a world, it has been noticed that the U.K. fans and different countries overseas appreciate a more upbeat and party like sound. People over here in the states prefer more of a melodic vibe that contains substance. As an artist, it’s imperative to find your musical niche, or you will be forgotten. I wholeheartedly agree with @ALMOSTPIA about expanding your sound, however, politics and pressure become an issue. With abandoning a specific sound that your audience has grown accustomed to, leaves everything you do in a shade of gray: we understand about musical growth and experimentation, but if you alienate your fans to try another genre, takes a whole lot of courage and may leave your career at a standstill. Not to mention the fact that the record label probably won’t support your decision.
Look at other artists, like P!nk, who’s material with her third album, Try This, wasn’t supported by her label because of her refusal to do a more mainstream sound. She was widely noticed for her bluesy alto voice, singing anything from Hip-Hop and R&B to a more giddier material, bubble gum pop that had an edge to it: Pink’s voice carried her over because its rawiness, her ability to inject a sense of soul. Instead of sticking to her guns, Pink decided to do a straight up Punk Rock record Or look at JoJo, a teeny booper princess who has evolved to a young woman, who has this mega voice…but label restraints put a hold on her upcoming project All I Want Is Everything. To date, over 25 tracks from recording sessions have been leaked from the young singer and according to her, her third album is a continuous body of work. She’s release a hawt mixtape back in September 2010 on r*****.com entitled Can’t Take That Away from Me (download it here: http://r*****.bandcamp.com/).
Now back to Usher, I don’t think that what he’s doing as far creating a more pop friendly record is anything revolutionary. If anything, it’s just replicating the sounds of the 80s, where Pop music was infused with a hybrid mixture of Funk, Rock, Pop, R&B, and dance music. Just like when Beyoncé announced late last year that she wanted to create her own genre music, it won’t be anything that we haven’t heard before. Contrary to popular belief, creativity is not patented. Everything surrounding us has inspired all to replicate and recreate ideas to fit their special format. No one can really be the originator for something because they were motivated by an idea that affected them in some manner. Either way, music is evolutionary in itself because as time goes on, musical New Waves take over and become all the rave. Nothing can become “revolutionary” because things are always in constant rotation.
In conclusion, Usher has found a musical alcove that he see fits for himself because its recent success with an audience. Sure, it’s sad to see him deliver watered down pop music that’s nothing more than its simplified version of its original content. Is it safe to call Usher a pop artist now, Trent? I mean, almost all pop artists are selling out and capitalizing off of the radio spins. Majority of these artists have no interest in making good music… only money and fame *cough, cough… Kim Zolciak, Ke$ha and Kim Kardashian*.
Nicki Minaj is on her way of having a #1 World album and that will happen before the later, because her album has already went platinum. Until your fav album goes platinum sit the f.uck down.
Usher is both he is an innovator, but to keep up with the trend of time to stay relevant to the younger fans he is also a follower, he is doing whats necessary to stay on top.
I’m going to start grading these essays, really! 😆
^^^LMAO! You should! This post is filled with them. I still reading half of them!
*The Page with RoyalKev / February 7th, 2011(Where there’s a place for everything and everything has its place)
@ Royalkev
I will be paying your site a visit.
I have to Co-sign @true blue and @royalkev for their points they summed it up. I also agree with @thekiddz all pop music is bad but when its done properly its good. I have no issue with usher experimenting as long as his music is good. I have loved Usher for far too long and honestly a few songs that are dance-pop does NOT make him a follower.
Usher did NOT sellout.
Yea he did Dj Got Us fallin In Love & OMG..but the REST of R VS R is PURE R&B!
SO to say he sold out because of two singles is wrong, even with confessions he had some dance records to. Usher probably wouldn’t have even made DJ
..GOT US FALLIN IN LOVE if his r&b songs didn’t flop & if OMG didn’t sell so well
@bluekid..ahh poor bluekid are u crying? hahahaha
He’s not a Innovator and neither a Follower
He always been on his own R&B style (expect the DJ thing (which was a following), I can’t stand this song 4 real) and he’s good at it and will always be ! But nothin innovating
Chris Brown was the innovator nobody wasn’t trying to do this pop/R&B stuff til Chris did it with Forevor.
Its a testament to his craft that he put out a primarily pop album Graffiti and his R&B songs still got nominated for grammies.
As for Usher hes just doing what he has to do to stay relevant since Love in this club flopped like all hell he had to be a follower and get that new sound.
No way!
January 22, 2011 at 12:37 am
@bluekid..ahh poor bluekid are u crying? hahahaha
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Nah! I’m cool, Usher is a legion and he will be around, he is talented and he has an old school flare. CB will always be relevant as long as he’s hated.
@kayvion F****** Co-sign like I don’t understand how he’s a follower his album raymond vs. raymond was more urban then any of these popstarts would dare attempt. Ugh he did pop yo collar in 01 which was seen by many as his first attempt to get a pop hit. Thanks for being a voice of reason.
@SANE BEYHANNA SANE
Yeah!
People just LOVE to throw the sellout label on artists
@True Blue, Ummm yes, you have too! LOL. I’ll definitey be looking for you. I actually think I’ll have it up by Monday the 31st…
@Sane Beyhanna Stan, So true – all we want is good music! All this talk about Usher is making me revisit classic Usher now. You forget how good his stuff was. I take back the “I hated Confessions” comment. I don’t love all of it, but the title track (and remix) is still hard and could get him somewhere right now!
*The Page with RoyalKev / February 7th, 2011(Where there’s a place for everything and everything has its place)
It’s hilarious how some of you can’t have a conversation about music without bringing up an artist you stan for or the artist you don’t like because he/she is a perceived nemesis of the artist you stan for. You show your maturity level and the limitations of your musical library.
Like I said before I can’t fully comment on this whole “revolutionary pop” until I hear a song. Usher is a success no matter what because he can deliver good music. I think Here I Stand was a really good album and it still managed to go platinum. It was less celebrated because the media choose to focus on his personal life more than the music and a large portion of this generation of youth don’t want songs that make you think or evoke any real emotions besides feeling s***, drunk, or partying.
I would love for Usher to still maintain some R&B music because R&B is important and has been around for decades. Artists should think about their musical legacy because talent is timeless while popular songs (pop music) will have you asking yourself years later “why was this song ever hot?”
^^^ Ten days from now? Ooh, can’t wait!
^^ @ RoyalKev.
@ True Blue… O, la la whose that in the pic? I have a feeling about who it is, but sometimes I have a bad habit of seeing her everywhere.
@No Way , I think you are making it clear that you can’t take anything away from Usher and that’s a fact, 100%. Still you have to admit that Breezy is a beast though. #just saying.
*The Page with RoyalKev / February 7th, 2011(Where there’s a place for everything and everything has its place)
@ RoyalKev:
It’s Pam Grier. I think Kanye used this photo of her as a single cover for one of his songs that he used to put out for free during G.O.O.D. Fridays.
@royalkev, well I’m not really a fan of Chris brown’s music so I don’t know about that..
To me, Usher is the whole package, he can dance in any kind of way even “tap dance”, he can sing, act, write, and be a great mentor to young folks..
@True Blue, O…Ok I knew I recognized it from something recent. It makes a hot gravatar, you should keep that for a while.
*The Page with RoyalKev / February 7th, 2011(Where there’s a place for everything and everything has its place)
@ No way, that’s a solid case. I agree, he’s the whole package. All day! Now, you said that he writes, I’m not being funny… but are you saying that he’s written his own songs?
*The Page with RoyalKev / February 7th, 2011(Where there’s a place for everything and everything has its place)
No way!
January 22, 2011 at 1:04 am
@royalkev, well I’m not really a fan of Chris brown’s music so I don’t know about that..
To me, Usher is the whole package, he can dance in any kind of way even “tap dance”, he can sing, act, write, and be a great mentor to young folks..
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That’s a quality both men have!
@ Blue Kid, you ain’t never lied! # I stan for the truth! … & yes, Breezy would make a great mentor. Don’t start people… 🙂
*The Page with RoyalKev / February 7th, 2011(Where there’s a place for everything and everything has its place)
@ RoyalKev:
Thanks, I just might.
@royalkev, yup check his album credits for his songs
@bluekid, they are both talented however I am not really a fan of Chris brown’s music and his vocals. He dances good tho but I like Usher’s smooth moves more.
No way!
January 22, 2011 at 1:17 am
@royalkev, yup check his album credits for his songs
@bluekid, they are both talented however I am not really a fan of Chris brown’s music and his vocals. He dances good tho but I like Usher’s smooth moves more.
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Ushers moves hasn’t always been smooth, his moves have gotten smooth with age.
I’m sorry you haven’t never been to a Chris Brown concert, I have I haven’t seen that much electrical charge since MJ. Chris Brown perfornaces on stage just …….. you will be breathless, that’s all I can say.
miss spell…… performance
DEAD at a gimmick like Usher ever replacing the King and genius that is R. Kelly. Give me a break! Usher is a no innovator nor is he a compelling artist. He’s a hit and miss. R. Kelly is a musical genius that creates every aspect of his art – From the visual aspects right down to the production and writing. Usher is NEVER doing it.
An innovator is someone that is constantly bringing new sounds, ideas and trends to the world of music. Usher has NEVER done this.
R. Kelly has.
Michael Jackson has.
Prince has.
Stevie Wonder has.
Marvin Gaye has.
Etc. etc.
So get this n**** Usher off the pedestal. He’s not all that.
@royalkev
Yes and its like were quick to call our own sellouts for trying to expand their horizons. First ciara and apparently now usher? Who’s next queen bey?!
@kayvion
Yea I think usher has always had pop influences in his music since 97 but I guess people won’t give credit on that *shrugs*
He’s just doin. He just needs good singles to keep him alive. He needs to have pop singles on R&b ALBUM so he won’t alienate the people that DO buy/bootleg his record. All he needs is a trendy lead single followed by a more urban song
WTF is sippin on tea. SHUT UP B****
Usher isn’t the follower, or the trend setter, the audience buying the music is, so shut the f*** up.
I was going to comment on this until I saw the return of Gucci.
B****, didn’t we run your bi-polar, multi-personality dip s*** ass off when Trent called you out on Twitter. F*** out of here, you are not wanted.
I came on this post because I just KNEW some dickhead would bring up Chris. Christopher always managed to roll off somebody’s ratchet crusty lips on every post somehow someway.
Chris was straight RnB when he first came out because that was his first album and he didn’t have much say because he was young. On Exclusive, when he was older and had a lot more input on the album, was the first to experiment with pop. And then there’s Graffiti, where he’s had the most input of all, and which is also mainly pop and other genres. Chris refers to himself as a pop singer. He’s always loved it andhas loved experimenting with all different genres. He’s never claimed to be all RnB or all Pop or whatever. He makes whatever kind of music he feels like making. Usher, on the other hand, deliberately trying to branch away from RnB. I don’t really care one way or another. I liked Confessions, and I like OMG. Whatever. But do NOT bring Christopher in this.
chris brown and ne-yo are doing it too. r&b is dead
I’m sorry but I think this post is silly. No one can 100% place themselves in either category. Like any other artists, Usher is influenced by other artists and trends but he also brings his own personal style and contribution to the table. I don’t think he should limit himself or place himself in a box. It’s his music so he has the right to try whatever for whatever reason. I love several different kinds of music and could never promise any R&B artist that I’m only going to listen or purchase R&B music and would not expect them to restrict themselves either as to what type of music they are going to record/perform. I think the fans should have an open mind. His album will probably include something to keep his present fanbase satisfied.
Usher is amazing and has done so much for R&B, without usher R&B would be nothing. However these days R&B music doesnt sell very much and to ensure usher doesnt just fade away into the background he has to roll with the times and flavors in music today. He is not just a singer, he is a franchise and an ever successful one may i ad. USHER FOREVER cant wait to see his concert.
Dead at the stans saying Chris Brown was the first R&B artist to have a pop song.
Girl…………
And for the fool who told me to sit until my fave has a platinum album, fine. But you can also sit until your fave’s last album goes gold.
Also for the fool who said I think popularity = talent, um no sweetie you can sit down too because I only compared popularity. I could give a f*** if you think someone is talented or not.
And I will continue to sip my dam tea you pressed b******. Chris Brown and R. Kelly will never sell like Usher so at the end of the day he has the crown.
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Usher over 100 comments? How did I know Chris name was somewhere on this post.
First things first Michael Jackson is the king of Pop, Usher is the king of R&B/Pop ,R.Kelly is the king of R&B. Usher knows his time is up and he wants to have a title to take to his grave it damn for sure won’t be King of Pop/R&B, reason being Chris Brown.People want to blame Chris for Usher ‘s misfortune but that is not on CB the reality is the majority of people identified Chris as being the next King of Pop&R&b. Nobody will ever hold the title of King of Pop other than Michael nobody will ever hold the title of King of R&b except Kells but Usher’s title was never solidified in history because of CB it is what it is.Say what you want about Chris but when people talk about who closely reminds them of Michael I hear CB not Usher. Michael’s family does not hear Usher IE the BET awards 2010.Usher went diamond so did MC hammer and Boyz ll men anybody checking for them now?My point is Usher has sales not a title and he himself understands that IE reggae sumfest 2010. Usher knows Chris has the crown damn near on his head so he is trying to invent this revolutionary pop title so he can at least have something to call his own. Anybody who thinks Usher has the crown of Pop R&B snug on his head,crack is wack.Truth be told if it wasn’t for 2009 Chris would have had the crown already. Sip tea s*** drink kool-aid but understand Chris is your next King of R&b/pop, crown him B******.
King of Pop/R&B , king of R&B/pop CB is taking the crown s*** he might already have it
LOL,bow down you B******.
FYI ,Usher did very good with OMG and Dj got us falling in love again but Chris was doing techno on graffiti. Idiots you already know why that album did not sell. raymond vs raymond came out after graffiti what a coinkydink.
@ Breezythebest
Preach! I agree with you all the way.
Follower and if your saying anything else your lying to yourself. totally desperate move
Usher went Diamond. What else does he have to prove? If I were him, I’d just f*** around and do every genre from country to J-Pop, as long as my label was willing to pay for it.
@BREEZYTHEBEST
January 22, 2011 at 11:26 am
Anybody who thinks Usher has the crown of Pop R&B snug on his head,crack is wack.
___________________________________________________________
LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kavion made the most intelligent post concerning this topic. Usher has ALWAYS been Urban top 40, meaning he is pop and commercial. He and Beyoncé are the King and Queen when it comes to Pop & Soul. That’s why it was such a great fit when they both did LITC Part 2.
So it is not a surprise to me that these are the two artists who are going in the direction that they are going in now and other artists/entertainers are going to follow in THEIR direction because it is what they are: Trendsetters.
Comparing Usher to R.Kelly is moot because this is like comparing Bey to MJB. MJB and Rob are Bey and Usher’s template and influence in the industry in terms of sound and these two took the MJB/R.Kelly(Hip Hop Soul, Mary and Rob both the king and queen of subgenre) and made it Pop music and they have been influencing the industry ever since in their own way.
And for Chris Brown fans: Usher is to Chris what Bey is to Rihanna. Just remember this. To Usher fans: There is nothing wrong with “the son and heir”(Chris) getting his shine on, Usher’s legacy speaks for itself and the honest of Breezy fans know this in their heart of hearts.
It’s the one thing that many CB and Rihanna fans have in common: They never give the one who spawn their faves(Usher and Beyoncé) the cred that they deserve. Instead they want them to take their “crown” as if that can happen(LOL!!!!). Instead, what their fans should want is that Breezy and Ri create their own crown. Instead of just being a prince and princess which at this moment, they are.
I think what everyone is saying is that Usher is in between. In between genres and stuck between the last and next chapter of his career. He’s already played the trend by releasing that EP and having an obvious single from both RVR and Versus. That’s all he needs to focus on: Huge crossover singles on urban albums
His sound is pop/rnb. He was never a good singer. More of a dancer known more for copying MJ. Yaaawn.
@BREEZYTHEBEST
LOL…..You better say that ISH! I never considered that he was trying to solidify his place in history by creating a title for himself…..LOL OMG…I love it!
Chris Brown is doing pop as well & ya’ll aren’t on his ass for that so stop the dickriding.
@Usher and Beyoncé: The King and Queen of Pop & Soul
January 22, 2011 at 4:37 pm
And for Chris Brown fans: Usher is to Chris what Bey is to Rihanna.
********
What in the devil are you talking about? Michael Jackson is to Chris what Bey is to Rihanna.
And I vehemently disagree with you! Chris Brown fans/stans all pay homage to Michael for spawning such a perfect seed! 🙂
@ Breezyisthebest befor I give my answer to the original question let me say to you if you think that chris brown deserves to have any crown you gotta be smokeing that good stuff..what records have chris broke what number was he on billboard top decade artist? Chris brown is a good dancer but that is not all it takes to be the next michael..chris can’t sing better than usher and hasn’t even won a grammy..ushers confessions album has sold more than all of chris browns albums combines..even ushers my way album sold more than all chris browns albums combined lol….and as far as chris being in a better spot if it wasn’t for 2009 well that’s his fault for being STUPID! No one told his ass to beat up rihanna..he ended his own career even had oprah talking bad about him if oprah don’t like you than your done I’m sorry……..Now back to the original question I think usher is a innovator 100%….he has proved that he is here to stay..you name another rnb male artist who’s a entertainer who is still relevant..usher been doing this 15 years Neyo fell off..trey is cool but I believe his level is were it is and will go no higher..and chris brown is still trying to repair his image..omarion is buried alive by the way..usher also has trademark moves like the usher glide and the U hand stand and spinning the chain around his neck what does chris brown have crumping? Usher is a icon point. Blank deal with it and I can’t wait for his new Revolutionary pop album
Usher has a solidified status. So I see no reason for him not to expand. If you guys want him around then I suggest you support lol.
On the other very contradictory hand, R&B is still very much in demand. Ergo Maxwell and Sade. As long as the music is good so wil the sales remain.
i get so sick of the LIES. The public is mostly stupid and believes what they are told. How many times are we told that a song or cd is epic and its actual recycled bs….. yet it sells cause the public falls for the lies. I will wait to hear for myself if indeed this is a new genre but they last 3 times we were told that it was a bold face lie.
Chris brown fans make me so mad damit since chris is such a icon where is his damm grammy to prove it . Usher has been in the indestruy for alomst 20 yrs ( 1993) nd is still getting #1’s a sold out world tour . Since these chris fans think that usher didnt influnce chrus u guys must be on sumthing chris said it himself that ush influnce him nd his mom found out he can dance by him imitating usherr do ur reserach people how much has chris sold ? Ush sold 50 million nd is now an icon nd dude is only 32 . Chris most sucessful album is like a flip compared to ushhh. U guys are getting a bit to excited cuss chris is gettin #1s in tge urban chart u guys call dat sucess ? Soulja boy get #1s on dat chart too meanwhile usher is touring the world nd selling out concerts after 18 yrs in the game …. Nd oh yeah since u guys said mj liked chris more than ush thats pretty disrespectful nd did u no dat ushhh performed with mj ? Go on youtube . One more thing did u no the omg tour is the #1 tour so keep putting ush down lets see how many #1s chris will get ten yrs from now when his ush age ………. U guys r so sad n insecure . Damit hoodrats really shouldnt be allowed to go on the internet !!
@JA READ MY COMMENT Michael is the king of Pop end of story there is no prince.This is about Usher and CB make no mistake Usher has a place in history it just won’t be as the King of R&B/ pop bottom line.Usher is CB’s father and he gave him a style to run with and Chris ran, skipped and flipped with that s***.Usher is a legend if you think not you would be a fool that does not even need to be debated.Your right CB sales are not greater than Usher’s and yes he has yet to get a grammy but guess what going on six years in the game and only 21 he is talked about in the same breath as Michael and Usher, think about that.
Okay Trent, you’re just plain hating! Why would you say “The next Ke$ha”? You cannot be serious. Please. Usher is the greatest R&B act we have right now. Don’t play yourself Trent. Stop running a biased blog and start running a proper blog.
Yeah, Usher is truly garbage now. Ever since his marriage to that woman and the divorce, all he has been putting out musically is garbage, not close to being recycled. I thought that when he divorced the woman, he would start putting out the good music we are all use to hearing from him but no.
He continues with mind boggling crap I just don’t get. He thinks he is the next Michael Jackson, but he better start looking around at the better and hotter talents than him right now, like Chris Brown. Chris is a big movement right now in the R&B industry and she not be underestimated by anyone, and I truly see him as being the next big think in music since Michael Jackson, if he can just stop with all the ridiculous tattoos and getting into trouble, Chris will be the next big take-over in music.
@ anthony chris is a big momvemt ? Lml yeah ok since ush is so garbeg how did he manage to havr the #1 tour pluse his album went platuim in two cuontries nd gold in severral others nd he gaind his nineth number on. Nd 16th top ten nd wht the hell is chris doin u guys r so inecure nd wished chris could b as sucessful as usher dammit am so tired of u guys always hypin. Chris up wheres his number ones nd gramis ? Nd for those sayin ush a follwer its called growing as an artist nd its working for him his gaing a fan based outside of rnb oh yeah did u guys lnow that he won international artist of thyear at the nrj awards in france yesterday chris is basically the male ciara seriously doe his fans are uneducated hoodrats dat shouldnt be let lose !!!!!
A lot of you just sound so damn stupid! Usher can do whatever he wants? Um… okay yeah he can, but that doesn’t mean that people can’t have an opinion about it. Why can’t people just see that Usher is a f****** sell out? He’s not a true musician because a true musician would never jump on the band wagon! His two euro and dance pop hits are extremely childish and generic. To be honest, his last two R&B albums were horrible! The reason why he hasn’t been selling much with his latest R&B albums is because it’s not even real R&B… just generic, horny, s** driven, hip-hop trash! Usher has lost his substance over the years because he’s running out of ideas to stay in the game. His performances lately have been pathetic. Back in the early 00’s and late 90‘s, he made nice, mature R&B music, and he got lucky with Confessions because Crunk N B and R&B/Hip-Hop was in at that time and he was able to keep hype around him because he was a performer.
Everyone knows that the majority of “pop” music is immature and bubblegum. This whole electronic/pop era is getting old and I really do believe that it will disappear later this year. I bet that this revolutionary pop will backfire on him. Look at what happened to Nelly. He had a successful pop single, but his album tanked because nobody cares about him anymore, it was just the single that they liked. Also, look at Ne-Yo. He released a euro pop single and it failed and then came out with R&B music and his album bombed. Usher will just be a single artist and not sell more than 1 million copies around the world. Y’all are acting like going platinum is amazing. Raymond VS Raymond only a little over 1 million copies worldwide. Wow… how amazing? Lady Gaga sold 12 million worldwide, Rihanna has sold 2 million worldwide thus far of her s***** new album, Beyonce sold 6 million of her last album, Justin Beiber sold 2.3 of his album worldwide… platinum isn’t s***! And for Usher’s status, 3 million isn’t even s***!
Music is music and heck if Usher decides if he wants to sing folklore I’ll continue to support him because he is incredibly talent and works hard.
Where is it etched in stone that an artist can only sing one form of genre.
Looking forward to his next album