Tag: Usher Raymond

My Way: The 20th Anniversary

For an album that’s so short, it’s heavy legacy is what makes it hard to forget. After his 1994 self titled debut album, Usher returns three years later with a sophomore album that’s way more mature and helped sky rocket Usher’s career to another level. On September 16th, 1997, Usher his second album “My Way.” With only three singles released, the album was a commercial success for Usher. The album starts off with a bit of a dancy but R&B joint, which also happens to be the first single off the album, “You Make Me Wanna…” The song is about a girl who says and does all the right things to him that convinces him to want to leave his girlfriend who he is in a relationship with and start something new with her instead. The music video is just as classic. Usher and the other guy dancers with the chairs and different rooms with the shiny metallic outfits and Usher being himself in front of the camera and singing. The next song “Just Like Me” is the one of the only hip hop/R&B track on the album with a guest appearance from Lil’ Kim. The next song “Nice And Slow” is the first slow song on the album and the second single released on the album. A song about slow loving with his love interest and Kimora Lee Simmons plays as the love interest in the video. She gets kidnapped and held in hostage until Usher comes swooping in and saving her. The fourth song, “Slow Jam” features Monica and I personally felt like it should’ve been a single like the other three. “Come Back” is more uptempo hip hop groove kind of song. The album title track itself “My Way” is easily one of the best songs on the album. It’s the final single from the album and the music video is easily a top 5 greatest Usher music video. The whole carnival theme, the dancing, even Tyrese guest stars in the video. The next song “I Will” is my top favorite on the album. It’s no surprise that Teddy Riley did that joint because it has the same style of vocals as the remix to Mary J. Blige’s “My Love.” So smooth but the beat has a heavy bass that thumps when it plays. The next song transitions in at the end with “Bedtime.” Another slow love song. A Babyface joint this time and finally, the album ends with “One Day You’ll Be Mine.” It’s the most slept on song on the album. Don’t hear people really bringing this song up in Usher conversations that much. All in all the album is classic from start to finish. Usher is definitely one of my favorite singers. Never a flat note or a off key moment in a Usher song. Never. Completely flawless and clear, slick, there’s a sort of a shine in Usher’s voice like a squeaky clean wood floor after waxing it. With a waxy clean wood floor, you can definitely slide and glide just like Usher does in his videos listening to him.

The Legacy of Usher Raymond

When this man’s music is up for discussion, a lot of people seem to think that “My Way” was his first. His first joint was on the “Poetic Justice” soundtrack called “Called Me a Mack.” The next year after that Usher released his first debut album with joints like “Can U Get Wit It”, “The Many Ways” and my all time favorite joint “Think of You.” There is absolutely no better Usher joint than that one, I don’t care what anybody says. That first album of his was extremely underrated. I’ve heard people say it wasn’t a very good album but to me it’s better than his shit after the “Looking 4 Myself” album. He went too pop for me. Besides the singles, “I’ll Make It Right”, “Crazy”, “I’ll Show You Love”, “Whispers”, “You Took My Heart” and “Smile Again” were all bangers too. People need to listen to the first album again. His next joint, 1997’s “My Way” is the Usher everybody started to know, the Usher everybody thinks is his first. LOL! Another banging album from Usher. This is the Usher that inspired me fashionably. He was rocking ski masks, leather outfits, shiny jackets and the infamous “U” chain. That “U” chain is his trademark, it’s like the “S” on Superman’s chest. This is the Usher that got him more recognition as an artist. That “My Way” joint was ill too. The video was more iller. “Bedtime” and “I Will” made me think the girls I had crushes on growing up. This was when we had true male R&B singers. They sung about loving their women. The “Live” album is one of my favorite live albums in music but I wish he performed more songs from his first album. “8701” showed a more mature Usher. This was the “Usher & Chilli” era. Usher was older, much wiser, his material was more serious but it definitely prepared us for his album of all time. That album happened to be 2004’s “Confessions.” Man listen, this album is in my top 10 R&B albums of all time list. This is Usher’s best work til this day. I don’t give a fuck what nobody say. The entire album from beginning to end is a banger. No fucking skips, but replays, rewinds, volume all the way up and singing along to Usher. My favorite joint is “Seduction.” It’s my favorite slow joint from Usher. The chorus and harmonies were smooth as silk but that’s regular Usher style. 4 years later, we got “Here I Stand.” This is the beginning of the “pop” Usher that I personally don’t like but this was definitely a dope album though. “Trading Places” is the best joint along with “Best Thing” featuring Jay-Z. After “Here I Stand”, I never listened to Usher’s entire albums just the singles. The singles are dope, he’s still doing his thing but the spark is gone. Too many club bangers for the younger crowd and not enough grown folk music like he used to deliver. It’s rare to hear that from him now but I’m still a Usher fan. Of all the birthdays in October, I’m always amped about Usher’s because he’s definitely my biggest inspiration as a singer, besides Ricky Bell from New Edition. Usher is the singer I always wanted to be but with a hip hop twist. He’s the ultimate ladies man with almost 25 years under his belt and albums and bangers for days. He’s the Prince of R&B to me. There’s no one like Usher Raymond IV. Yeaaahhhhh man!