Ever since the release of “Papers,” (Usher’s personal cry to the world that he was ready to end his marriage to wife, Tameka Foster), fans were shocked, relieved and ready for a revived Usher. That’s why “Raymond v. Raymond” was such a highly anticipated album.

Hmmm, why does this seem like something we’ve already seen before? That’s probably because it is.

Usher used the same “puppy-dog” ploy to lure fans in during the “Confession” era. Fans got a personal revelation with his single, “Confessions,” in which Usher confessed his infidelity to the world.  We sympathized with him as he and his girlfriend, TLC’s Chili, called it quits. The album hit stores, fans flocked to get it and his record sales sky rocketed.   

And Usher delivered; the album was classic full of fun, love, sex, a somewhat resentful man, great music and a story.

This time around…A classic album? Not so much. A story and a few good songs? Sure.

 “Raymond v. Raymond,” the singer’s sixth studio album, is full of infidelity, love, more infidelity, fun and more infidelity.  

Ultimately the same Usher we saw 6 years ago on “Confessions,” accept it comes 2 years after “Here I Stand,” his fifth studio album, where he declared he was an in love, changed man.

There are notable tracks on the album but the message is redundant.

On “Guilty,” featuring T.I., “Foolin’ Around,” (written/produced by Bryan-Michael Cox and Jermaine Dupri) and “So Many Girls,” we get the sorry but I’m a player and I know no other way to be message.

“Pro-Lover,” is a favorite with a special twist. We get the infidelity message but Usher shines light on women being players too (and better ones then men). He dedicates the song to his “Triple G’s with the Double D’s.” 

The songs smooth, Caribbean beat is not only soothing but sexy/seductive as well.

“Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),” the albums second single written by Rico Love, is a certified hit taking us back to the sexy Usher we just can’t get enough of. The smooth chant “Hey, hey, hey, Daddy,” is one women everywhere will be singing over and over again!

And as always Rico Love brought the heat with yet, another single “There Goes My Baby,” an old-school, reminiscent to something Al B. Sure would have sang, song.

The albums third single, “Lil’ Freak,” featuring Nicki Minaj, (produced by Polow Da Don) explores erotic satisfaction and the world of threesomes, which seems to be the theme of just about any song you add Minaj on. But nonetheless it’s hot and dirty.

“The girls wanna minaj/yeah they wetter than a rain man/Usher puts me in/everybody loves Raymond,” Minaj yells in her cartoon accent.

As mentioned the album isn’t his best and doesn’t compare at all to “Confessions,” but it has substance. The fact that everybody loves Raymond probably makes it hard for him to stay committed. We’re over the constant infidelity, but can we really blame him? I’m pretty sure we all know which Raymond wins this battle. – Ebony Haynes

Ebony’s Usher Playlist

“Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),” “Pro-Lover,” and “She Don’t Know”

In related news…

R&B crooner Usher is on his way to the top of the Billboard charts! His newly released album Raymond v. Raymond is poised for a strong debut on next week’s Billboard 200 albums chart, with early sales predictions coming in saying that the album could sell about 330k – 350k copies, putting it in the No. 1 position in its opening week.

But despite this predicted success, we are getting word that his label LaFace isn’t too happy with these projections and actually expected better numbers. We personally don’t understand how they expected any better. While Usher has several singles playing on the radio stations right now, none of them have really been huge hits compared to some of his singles released for previous albums.