HIDDEN GEMS: USHER

BY: Jean Louis

As the calendar advances from 20′ to 21′, we’d like to carry on with songs from famous artists that tend not to get much praise. 

We started the series with MJ. And though many inspired by him were covered, there’s one who was also inspired by him. It’s Usher Raymond who also brought us modern-day R&B. A prodigy in his own right, Raymond has etched a path in the early 00s that few have eclipsed. 

Singles like You Got it Bad were love notes. Songs like Yeah played everywhere from clubs to cookouts to school dances. Usher was atop the R&B mountain for nearly a decade. In this installment of the gems series, we explore his hidden masterpieces. 

Usher – I’ll Make it Right 

Sounding fresh out of the times of “New Jack Swing,” the teen prodigy’s first album started with a beat that reminded you of TLC, a voice that reminded you of groups like Soul for Real and Boys II Men. Young Usher did his thing with his first single, the first of many. 

My Way – Slow Jam (ft. Monica) 

A song with many renditions, Slow Jam with the two young artists on the rise made for a melodic gem of epic proportions. An honorable mention to Just Like Me with Lil Kim. The sexy, provocative lyrics between prime Kim and Usher would have easily been unmatched, hadn’t it been for this inclusion. 

8701 – U R The One 

A timeless album that turned the big 2-0 in August, a song that encapsulates his best album, was the closer, U R The One. The song’s vibe can’t be put into words; just press play. 

Confessions – Can You Handle It? 

Inarguably his best album, Raymond, has singles that are still timeless to date at the height of his powers. However, the one song that might slip through the cracks is Can You Handle It?  Lovemaking music at its finest, with a person at his peak? Nothing better than that.

Here I Stand – Best Thing (ft. Jay Z) 

After a four-year layoff, he returned to the scene with Here I Stand. And while it followed the same blueprint as Confessions, it offered a newer, more modern style to what would become Usher’s sound. With Jay Z at the height of his powers, Raymond dropped a single that many overlook. 

Raymond v Raymond – Little Freak (ft. Nicki Minaj) 

Is it a gem by definition? Probably not in this sense. Yet considering how infectious the song is upon the beat drop, this might need more love alongside many of his classics of, all-time. Just ask Nicki. 

Looking 4 Myself – Twisted (ft. Pharrell) 

Upbeat sounds, with a feature from one of the most creative artists in music, this was a vibe of its own. 

Hard II Love – Stronger 

As Usher’s music changed, he changed with it. With this song, Raymond shows the layers of his voice.