Usher is back!
The R&B icon has unlocked ‘Coming Home’ – his first studio album in eight years.
Featuring production from the likes of Tricky Stewart, D’MILE, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Rico Love, the set also features guest contributions from acts such as Summer Walker, 21 Savage, Latto, Burna Boy, and Pheelz.
Landing amidst the ample buzz surrounding his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, the LP easily serves as one of the most hotly anticipated of the season.
With ‘Coming Home’ finally here, That Grape Juice has tallied our top 5 tracks from the album.
Join us after the jump…
Stone Kold Freak
Helmed by Rico Love & Ghostkid, this blazing bop blends lush hooks, an addictive melody, layered production, and a stellar vocal performance to epic effect.
Living right at the intersection of slow jam and club cut, ‘Freak’ easily serves as one of Usher’s strongest offerings in years. Unquestionably a strong contender for a future single.
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I Love U
When a song unites a trio of titans in the form of The-Dream, Tricky Stewart, and D’MILE, greatness almost always is the end result. And such is the case with ‘I Love U.’
Defined by a killer bass line, this funkified cut is all sorts of addictive and answers our internal call for Usher to play more in the retro-synth space.
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On The Side
‘Confessions’-coded lyrically, this compelling cut sees the crooner lay bare that “I’m in love with a girl that I see on the side.”
For all of Mr. Raymond’s vocal astuteness, the story-telling embedded in many of his biggest hits has been their most pronounced points of appeal. ‘On The Side’ adds to that lineage in a wholly impressive way.
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Good Good
For TGJ, this still serves as the definitive standout on ‘Coming Home.’ Delicious production paired with narrative-driven lyrics that put a fresh spin on the aftermath of a relationship. A career high.
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One of Them Ones
A champion of love songs, Mr. Raymond scores a touchdown with ‘One Of Them Ones.’ Toasting his own status as a pioneer of the slow jam, the superstar seizes the track to celebrate finding “the one” and cleverly declares that the song (that you’re listening to) will “make you put a ring on it.”
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Honorable Mentions
A-Town Girl: While not amongst standout records qualitatively, this earworm is easily the song with the most TikTok appeal. Powered largely by a sample of ‘Uptown Girl,’ the catchiness of the hook could see this become a staple on airwaves.
Ruin: In the context of the album at large, the selection of this Pheelz-produced and featured cut as the project’s latest single becomes more apparent. It’s sonically soothing and Amapiano influence reminds that, for all his successes, Usher is continuing to evolve.
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What do you think of our picks? What are your top tracks from Usher’s ‘Coming Home’?