

Additionally, Usher has also acted (in television, in movies, on Broadway), taken an ownership stake in the Cleveland Cavaliers, mentored a young Justin Bieber, and worked on both American Idol and The Voice, all while maintaining a steady presence in a variety of philanthropic causes.

In late 2018, he celebrated his 40th birthday by releasing “A”, his ninth studio album. 1 singles in three consecutive decades-behind, among others, Michael Jackson. His 2004 album, Confessions, reportedly inspired by his breakup with TLC star Chilli, went not just Platinum but Diamond his 2010 single “OMG” made him only the fifth artist in history to have No. He went on to become one of the most bulletproof figures in pop, capable of straddling club music (2004’s “Yeah!”), ballads (2004’s “Confessions Part II”), boundary-pushing R&B (2012’s “Climax”), and the kind of borderless, big-tent anthems everyone seems to agree on (2008’s “Love in This Club”). That performance led almost instantaneously to a deal with LaFace Records, then home to TLC and Toni Braxton, with Usher releasing his self-titled debut album when he was just 15. See him on Star Search, circa 1991, singing Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road,” wading through a sea of admirers (“I was a ham,” he joked later).

It turns out, Usher might be the closest thing we have to Jackson since Jackson himself-a singer, songwriter, actor, dancer, and consummate performer whose appeal seems to transcend genre and demographics.Ī pop star who’s hovered in the spotlight for three decades running, with little sign of slowing down.Born Usher Raymond IV in 1978, and raised in Chattanooga and Atlanta, Usher started his career at age 10, making the rounds and honing his craft on Atlanta-area talent shows. “I love you!” Usher replied, pointing back. Usher juked, Jackson followed suit, the two traded moves. His vocal capabilities can't be disputed - he can still hit the high notes with ease (although his crooning descends into histrionics on more than one occasion) it's the songs, and more notably, the lyrics that cause most problems here.Few moments define Usher’s career quite like that night in September 2001, when he stood opposite Michael Jackson at a sold-out Madison Square Garden and shared a dance.
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Yep, this is Usher's break-up album, and it sounds like he's at both a personal and professional crossroads. Kramer' on his sixth studio album, that is. International success came a-knocking with its follow-up ' 8701' and the world-beating single ' Pop Ya Collar', and since then, it's been plain sailing for the now 31-year-old.Įxcept if you get the reference to divorce-themed film ' Kramer vs.

The then-19-year-old's second effort was a slick, smooth collection of songs that appealed to a multitude of markets: soul, r'n'b, rap, pop. As far back as 1997, the American singer was enjoying major success - both critical, commercial and from his peer group - for his album ' My Way', and understandably so. It was inevitable that Usher would become a superstar. The problem is that the songs on his sixth album aren't very good. The dimpled, teenaged Usher Raymond of yesteryear is gone in his place is a freshly-divorced 31-year-old man with a few home truths to get off his chest.
