Though Usher's HERE I STAND album was a platinum seller, it was critically bashed and a lot of his fans thought that the Prince of R&B had relinquished his crown to the likes of Chris Brown and Trey Songz. Female fans concluded that he had lost his mojo, mainly because they thought that as a husband and father, he could no longer seen as a sex symbol. However, the major blow to Usher's career during the Here I Stand era, was that he fired his Mother as his manager (she was the brains behind the promotion and marketing of his most successful album CONFESSIONS).
In 2010, Usher released RAYMOND vs RAYMOND the album was reminiscent of his Confessions album and we all got back the Usher we all know and love. His promo track PAPERS reminded us of how Usher could transcend his personal life into his music and make it a hit (Papers was a #1 r&b hit and even reached the top 20 chart in the USA). A further 4 tracks from the Raymond vs Raymond all reached the top 40 in the USA (LIL' FREAK, HEY DADDY (DADDY'S HOME), THERE GOES MY BABY and OMG). With OMG(featuring Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas), we saw Usher experimenting with a new sound, the Euro-Pop sound that has taken over the music industry worldwide. Usher was able to score another worldwide #1 hit with OMG, it could be agreed that Usher is back (thank goodness he hired his mum back).
With another platinum album on his hands, Usher decided to go the Lady Gaga route by releasing an 8-song EP that will stand as another album but will be a continuation of the previously released album. Versus is the continuation of Raymond vs Raymond but with a different direction. Versus seems to be somewhat lackluster in my opinion but still boasts of some nice songs. Usher seems to be enjoying the euro-pop sound he experimented with in OMG, that is why he has been able to deliver the infectious DJ GOT US FALLING IN LOVE (featuring Pitbull) and the cute SOMEBODY TO LOVE (with Justin Bieber).But he does not deny us his r&b/hip hop style on songs like LAY YOU DOWN, LOVE EM ALL, LINGERIE and HOT TOTTIE (featuring Jay-Z). But the most outstanding track has to be the emotionally driven STRANGER, where Usher sings about the need to be in love with someone without feeling like an outcast, the chorus goes “Say you'll never give away your heart again, I'll be knocking until you let me in, I know you told me, you rather be lonely, You do even know, that's why I no longer want to be a stranger”
Even though Usher has proved himself to be one of the forces to be reckoned with in the music industry, I think this EP was highly unnecessary, but the material on it still proves to be a somewhat good listen.
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