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Usher (b.Usher Raymond, 14 October 1978, Tennessee, USA) is one of the few who can boast of real star quality. Indeed, after the release of his self-titled debut in 1994, there seemed to be a danger that he would become better known as a face rather than a musical talent. He appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and also performed at the American Music Awards as part of the all-star recording collaboration Black Men United. However, sales of his Sean "Puffy" Combs -produced debut were a little disappointing at just over a quarter of a million, though it did spawn the hit single "Think Of You". As a consequence, he took creative control over the production of the US Top 10 follow-up My Way, although he did enlist Jermaine Dupri, Teddy Riley and Babyface as co-writers and co-producers. The first single to be taken from the album, "You Make Me Wanna", was typical of the smooth ballads on offer. More unusual was the experimental, hip-hop-styled "Nice 'N' Slow", a US chart-topper in March 1998. The album also included a remake of Midnight Star's "Slow Jam", featuring fellow teenage R&B star Monica. The title track climbed to US number 2 in August 1998. A live album was issued as a stopgap while the singer recorded new material. His 2000 comeback single "Pop Ya Collar", co-written with husband-and-wife team Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs and Kandi, was a surprising failure in America. Usher was more successful in the UK, where the single debuted at number 2 in February 2001. He returned to the top of the US charts in July with "U Remind Me", which premiered the transatlantic hit album 8701. The single "U Got It Bad" also reached the number 1 position in 2002. In early 2004, Arista released the single "Yeah!". Produced by Lil Jon and guesting Ludacris, the addictive, lightly crunk cut fast became a club and radio favorite. By the time the Usher full-length Confessions dropped later that March, "Yeah!" had hit the top of the Billboard charts. The album itself was Usher's most mature work to date and won the Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album in 2004 while "Yeah!" took home the best rapped/sung collaboration award. He starred in the 2005 flop In the Mix and went back to music with 2008's Here I Stand.
Sound Files (MP3)
Love In This Club (f/Young Jeezy) - from the album Here I Stand
Love In This Club, Pt.2 (f/Beyonce & Lil' Wayne) - from the album Here I Stand
Yeah (f/Lil' Jon & Ludacris) - from the album Confessions
Burn - from the album Confessions
Confessions (Part II) - from the album Confessions
Caught Up - from the album Confessions
U Remind Me - from the album 8701
U Got It Bad - from the album 8701
U Turn - from the album 8701
U Don't Have to Call - from the album 8701
You Make Me Wanna - from the album My Way
Nice And Slow - from the album My Way
Nice And Slow (Remix - f/Twista)
Confessions [Part II - Remix] (w/Shyne, Twista & Kanye West)
My Boo (f/Alicia Keys)
Whatever I Want
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