Avg Rating: 
3.9 ( 42 total votes )
Everything seemed to be going so well for Usher Raymond. R&B’s most eligible bachelor had just married his girlfriend Tameka Foster and the couple had welcomed two children into the world. But then tragedy struck - at least as far as the Billboard charts were concerned. Usher’s 2008 album Here I Stand was a disappointment, at least relative to the crooner’s historically high standards. It turned out people wanted to hear Usher sing about knocking up his mistress, not being in a stable and committed relationship; about hitting the clubs until dawn, not taking out … ...Read the full album review
Fans can also check out Usher's previous albums: Usher - Looking 4 Myself | Usher - Here I Stand
DJBooth Album Review
Everything seemed to be going so well for Usher Raymond. R&B’s most eligible bachelor had just married his girlfriend Tameka Foster and the couple had welcomed two children into the world. But then tragedy struck - at least as far as the Billboard charts were concerned. Usher’s 2008 album Here I Stand was a disappointment, at least relative to the crooner’s historically high standards. It turned out people wanted to hear Usher sing about knocking up his mistress, not being in a stable and committed relationship; about hitting the clubs until dawn, not taking out the recycling on Tuesday night. Here I Stand failed because, improbably, Usher got boring.
Problem solved. After a highly public divorce, complete with rumors of infidelity, Usher’s living the bachelor life once again, having threesomes with groupies and, on occasion, reflecting on the dissolution of his relationship. The title of his latest opus Raymond v. Raymond might suggest a man battling himself (see T.I. vs. T.I.P.) but the truth is, Usher once again seems almost impossibly confident. This is the album of a man who has done so many crunches his abs could cut glass, not the philosophical musings of a man plagued with self-doubt. In fact, his only real problem appears to be keeping his plethora of sexual conquests organized. It would have been more accurate to title the album Raymond v Raymond’s penis.
Even though Raymond v Raymond is a better album than Here I Stand, it has yet to find its Love in This Club, a smash single that propels the album into the chart stratosphere. It’s not for lack of trying. In the approximately six months since we got our first taste of the album the label has (so far) unsuccessfully cranked out track after track in search of a hit. In fact, it’s been so long that the first leak My Bag didn’t even make it onto the album. I guess that makes Papers the official lead single, although I’m hesitant to call a track with a call and response like “all my fellas if you’re ready to sign say yeah” a single. The same goes for Daddy’s Home, a perfectly decent cut that also failed to catch on, so let’s just skip around and focus on the album’s biggest success so far, Little Freak, a track that, for record, is about a lesbian/bi Nicki Minaj recruiting chicks for a threesome. With yet another hypnotic Polow da Don beat setting the stage, Little Freak is Usher at his most harmonically obscene, but it’s not exactly the kind of song BET’s dying to play on 106 & Park (hello parental complaints). With the anthemic pop cut OMG, produced by will.i.am gaining momentum maybe the 7th time might just be the charm, but even with more possibilities like the Luda assisted She Don’t Know waiting in the wings, it’s entirely possible that we may be looking at the first Usher album in history not to have a number one single since 1997’s My Way. And yes, for Usher that’s a big fu**king deal.
If there’s anything Usher does better than burn up the charts it’s burn up the bedroom. After all, you’re looking at a man who once dropped a song titled That’s What It’s Made For – the “it” being Lil’ Usher. Luckily, Raymond v Raymond contains its fair share of baby makers, even though, ironically, Makin Love is too poppy to truly be sexy. If I could only pick one song from the album to seal the deal it’d have to be Okay, a track featuring appropriately seductive synths that Usher turns into a steamy ode to (drunken) one night stands. I also have to give it up to the album’s slowest slow jam Mars vs. Venus, a breathy, seductive track featuring one of Usher’s best vocal performances we’ve heard in a minute; even after all these years, his voice hasn’t lost anything. Usher’s been around for so long it’s easy to start to take him for granted, but the truth is the man’s still one of the best (if not the best) slow jam singers in the game. Let’s all take a moment to give the man his due.
Ok, moment’s over. Ultimately, I enjoyed listening to Raymond v Raymond as an album more than I did listening to any individual cuts, meaning we’re looking at an album whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Let me simplify that. Raymond v Raymond won’t blow you away. It’s not Confessions, but after Here I Stand it’s a step in the right direction, and a step closer to another classic Usher album. And for now, that’s good enough.
Listen to More: Usher Written by Nathan S.
More From Usher
Submit a Review and/or Rating
Member Reviews and Ratings
Average Member Rating: Total Ratings: 42
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 12 |
Rating:
My first post on djbooth.net...anyways...i liked the album, but honestly it dint really feel like a PROPER usher album...And i totally agree with Nathan S that this album doesnt have a proper chart topper in it...but its still good...But by the high standards that usher has set for himself over the past few years (WHICH IS VERY HIGH!!!), it really hasnt hit at that particular level...peace
|
| Posted on Mar 30, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 12 |
Rating:
My personal favorites on this album are lil freak, fooling around, pro lover and more....
|
| Posted on Mar 30, 2010 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 637 |
Rating:
Thought the album was banging, much better than Here I stand! I think Lil Freak still has time to catch on, that record is fire!
|
| Posted on Mar 30, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
I believe this is one of his best album i love the beatz he has on his song.usher is back and he is showing who runs R&B
|
| Posted on Mar 30, 2010 |
|
|
Rating:
this LP is amazin'
|
| Posted on Mar 30, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
this is no where near a 4 star album. after a few spins it all falls into mediocrity. lazy.
|
| Posted on Mar 30, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 14 |
Rating:
thus album is a step up from here i stand glad usher came back strong
top 3 lil freak mars vs venus foolin around |
| Posted on Mar 30, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 452 |
Rating:
the thing that sucks about having a breakthrough album like confessions is people will compare everything you've done after to that. Usher puts this album out before Confessions, would people be so lukewarm on him? I don't think so. As for the album production was top notch, guests strong and Usher was on his game. If people listen to this album for what it is and not for what confessions was, they will enjoy it.
|
| Posted on Mar 30, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 89 |
i did not expect nathan to ratre this so highly especialy since he talked poorly of it before
|
| Posted on Mar 30, 2010 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1345 |
Rating:
This album is hella good, way better than "Here I Stand", even though I actually enjoyed that one... "Pro Lover" has got to be my favorite, its like a Jamaican tune mixed with that Dr. Dre song with Snoop Dogg ("First Episode" I think). "Guilty" is guilty pleasure, definitely a SMASH. "She Don't Know" is extremely addictive. "Mars vs. Venus" is beautiful. This album reminded me ALOT of Confessions, something about the melodies and productions. I can't get enough of this!
|
| Posted on Mar 30, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 57 |
Rating:
Its exactly as mediocre as expected... excuse me btu im off too listen to "That's What It's Made For". P.S. I sure hope there's a review for Badus new album, now that's the real music right there
|
| Posted on Mar 30, 2010 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Mar 30, 2010 |
|
|
Rating:
This album beats out Here I Stand because it's shorter, and overall more consistent. You can play the whole album through w/out skipping. That's how good each track is. BUT, Here I Stand had a few GREAT tracks, and this album doesn't have any that stand out as much. OMG is probably my favorite because it stays in my head the longest.
Best tracks: OMG, Guilty, Pro Lover, Monstarr |
| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
i thought this album was alright. surely better than here i stand. obviously, usher inst the same usher from when "confessions" was released. still tho, its a good album. i really enjoyed OMG and hey daddy. the rest of the album was alright, but these two stood out the most.
|
| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 433 |
Rating:
Alright, like so many people say here, from now on, all of his albums will be compared to Confessions....sadly. I hate it when that happens to an artist. But anyway, I'm glad to say that this album is much much MUCH better than "Here I Stand". I'll give it a solid rating but barely. On this album the album tracks are better than the singles although I really like "Lil Freak". Anyways this was a very mature album, probably one of his maturest.
|
| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
|
Tastemaker |
Rating:
yo yo...Rrrsher is here! i was impressed by the way the album came out. i was expecting an album with mostly 3 star songs wit a couple weak ones and a couple bangers. i was wrong. this is an album of decent 3 star songs and bangers. i didnt find one weak song on the whole cd. theres 2 reasons why this gets a 4 star rating over a 3:
1.No weak songs. every song is listenable at least. 2.Half of the songs r bangers. there r no 5 star songs, but wen half of them bang and the other half r solid album tracks...yes, u got a bangin album. all these r bangers and my favs: 6.Making Love (Into The Light) 5.Okay 4.Venus Vs. Mars 3.Foolin' Around 2.Guilty 1.OMG- this song is bangin hard right now. the beat is ridiculous and Usher sounds so smooth over it. |
| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 217 |
Rating:
Instead of buying a fancy car, Usher handled his midlife crisis by making this album. One second your a dirty ol man then a hormonal Xanax poppin playa then your like a teenage boy...luckily he doesn't need rogain yet, however, this album could use something to stimulate it because it's got a few bald spots. Although I can't deny There goes my baby, Okay (sexiest track on the record), Monstar and She don't know deserve certified props!
|
| Posted on Mar 31, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 21 |
Rating:
i don't know. i like most of the album. i really like omg,i don't know, and more. usher does great with this album. i like it.
|
| Posted on Apr 01, 2010 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 736 |
Rating:
alright. im feeling some of the songs here. Foolin' around is no doubt the best in the album. guilty and hey daddy is the other 2 picks.
|
| Posted on Apr 01, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
this album is crazy good to me.....some songs on this album pmean a lot to me just because i can feel how he feels and....it is just good thats like all i can really say....i am really happy that usher is back hopefully his next songs and album is kinda like this or better.
|
| Posted on Apr 01, 2010 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Apr 04, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
This is not even close to here i stand. Worst usher album by far. BIGGEST mismanagement of a superstar EVER
|
| Posted on Apr 05, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 80 |
Rating:
great album!!!! nothing more needed to say
|
| Posted on Apr 06, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Yeah!
|
| Posted on Apr 12, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 127 |
Rating:
Someone please tell me why guilty is not a single yet? That song is insane. All in all, with all the leaks and such, a great album.
|
| Posted on Apr 13, 2010 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1192 |
Rating:
Overall this is a better album then Here I Stand, though I agree with what most said that this album is lacking the major hit that all of Usher's other albums have had.
Lil Freak is probably my favorite track on the album, though there are a couple of others that have found a spot in my rotation (which is usually a good sign if i may say so). Besides not having Tricky Stewart & The-Dream in the group of producers for this album, that list is really a who's who of hit makers in todays industry |
| Posted on Apr 13, 2010 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Apr 13, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 38 |
I felt the exact same way. I have the album but haven't listened to it yet but so far I haven't really been excited by the singles he's been releasing. I've honestly been rather disappointed since Moving mountains.(UGH!) But lil freak isn't bad and the other joint daddy's home is ok...but just not the kind of hits that I expect from the caliber of an ARTist Usher is.
|
| Posted on Apr 14, 2010 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 394 |
Rating:
Definitely worth a spin. He's back on the singles court and is back on the radio. Usher is performing like he did before he married whats-her-name. Though none of these songs are stellar, doesn't mean it's not a good album. More which he performed for the NBA all stars is my favorite. Even though he has good features on this album, he could've done a lot better. Believe this isn't the last of Usher though he does his best work single.
|
| Posted on Apr 14, 2010 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Apr 14, 2010 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 306 |
Rating:
i couldnt agree more on the rating especially when you have all types of ideas topics that were thrown into this project which just created a memorable album.
all this leaves me with is my mouth hangin in aww of sir dance-alots greatness lol |
| Posted on Apr 15, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Soul brother too much yeah!
|
| Posted on Apr 15, 2010 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Apr 15, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
I pretty much think this album sucks. It just feels like a collection of bad songs. OMG is one of the worst songs I have heard this year. It is a horrible thing that poses as a club hit, but comes out as crap. The songs that seem to have real substance are not as impressive as those of other recent albums. What happened to you, Usher? I have really liked Usher in the past and have thought him well worth his crown of "King of R&B". With the emergence of new artists (especially Trey Songz), Usher has been dethroned and banished from the "royal family". This album is star studded, but none except Nicki Minaj add to it artistically. Usher will continue to sell a lot if his album looks like the guest list at an exclusive party, but if the total work is a pile of garbage he will any real credibility as a grammy-worthy artist.
|
| Posted on Apr 24, 2010 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Apr 27, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 20 |
Rating:
there you go, OMG @ Billboad Top 100 spot 1. so the album finally has it's deserved number 1 single, but imo not the best song though....more honestly, i really hate it. it's poor man's pop music...but whatever, it sells and that's what seems to be the most important thing these days..
|
| Posted on May 11, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 4 |
Rating:
Love this Album, Usher always does his thing. Favorite song is OMG! I hear this in every type of club. Great beat choice. Love ya, Keep up the great work babes!
|
| Posted on May 13, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 18 |
Rating:
i just want 2 say that Usher u did ur damn thing on This whole CD..every song on here is the shit and i can listen all day long
|
| Posted on May 13, 2010 |
|
Professional  Total Ratings: 21 |
Rating:
With collabs with Nicki Minaj "Little Freak" one of my favorites and Ludacris I think he overall got a winner. Do I love everything? Well he could have left his business I mean "Papers" out LOL. But hey I know artists like to purge. For me that song was mostly a distraction.
 Creative DJ who mixes many genres & enjoys taking listeners on a Musical Journey. Huge supporter of Indie Artists, something bout that new & raw love for the music! Read more: http://www.djbooth.net/index/dj/profile/98347/#ixzz0o7r0Nh6y http://SerenityGroove.com/ http://twitter.com/DeeJayClyde |
| Posted on May 16, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
im diggging that omg song that shit slap
|
| Posted on May 17, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Many of the songs on the album have to be taken on their own, stripped of context; otherwise, determining what applies to Usher’s real and fantasy lives can be problematic.
Usher proves that his ability to make grown-up hits is stronger than ever. Usher has gone back to basics. Sex, love, cheating and drama - the four basic ingredients in most of his previous work - are all in abundance here, and Usher has definitely regained his mojo. |
| Posted on May 18, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 5 |
Rating:
I LUV U USHER BABY
|
| Posted on May 27, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 16 |
Rating:
This album definitely K.O.'s "Here I Stand" because it's production and single selection... But overall still was looking forward to hearing more from Usher he been game along time he could came little harder. This album would been great for a first time artist... #justsayin
|
| Posted on Jul 07, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
I can't believe that The Dream's "Love King" is higher rated than this one... that's why I'm giving it 5 stars. He is an amazing vocalist and unlike The Dream, his songs all sound different from each other.
|
| Posted on Dec 13, 2010 |
FEATURED ARTIST
FEATURED ALBUM
TOP 20 MUSIC CHARTS
The top rated new Hip Hop & R&B songs on DJBooth, updated every Sunday.
