How does one come back after delivering a diamond certified album? With a bang!
Usher’s 2008 single ‘Love In This Club’ is today’s From The Vault pick.
After taking a brief break to start a family, the crooner returned and was immediately tasked with producing a gargantuan sized follow-up 2004’s record breaking ‘Confessions.’
‘Here I Stand’ was the resulting album and was preceded by the infectious ‘Love In This Club.’ The anthemic cut was helmed by Polow Da Don and featured rapper Young Jeezy.
Much like the singles from his previous cycle, the track was a bonafide hit, claiming the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks in the US. It was a Top 5 smash in the UK and Germany and peaked inside the Top 10 in Canada and France.
More below…
Aptly, the video for the single took place in, you guessed it, a club. Directed by the Brothers Strausse, depicts Ush desperately chasing after his love interest – played by R&B star Keri Hilson – inside a mysterious discotheque.
Beyond Hilson and Jeezy, the video features cameos by Diddy, Robin Thicke, Nelly, Rick Ross and Kanye West.
Its plot was continued in subsequent single’s visual for ‘Moving Mountains.’
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Now that the storm regarding recent “scandal” has somewhat subsiding, we feel it time for Ush to come back – properly.
No more random mixtapes or ambiguous joint projects next go around. No more nonsense.
Despite delivering solid cuts sporadically in recent years, Mr Raymond has been in need of an angle, a moment, a refresh.
So, we’re ready for the big Pop-tinged R&B anthems and the elaborate videos. A true phoenix-like return.
Paired with the right storytelling and promo, we see no reasons why Usher can’t reclaim his throne.