Living up to the name "Mr. Entertainment" means being able to shake your thing from the window to the wall and hold it down on the set of a movie — among other things. While Usher has triumphed in many aspects of showmanship, he doesn't want people to forget why they started feeling him in the first place: his singing.

"[With] this one, I just really wanted to be about my vocal ability," Usher explained, enlightening a room full of reporters after his performance at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans last weekend. "I wanted to make real music. I feel like soul music, R&B music is somewhat in jeopardy. It's in trouble right now. If I can make a contribution to R&B, then that's what I'll do."

The originator of the "U-Turn" dance said Jermaine Dupri, the Neptunes and Babyface are among the producers he plans to work with. Usher has already recorded in Atlanta with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis as well as Andre Harris and Vidal Davis (Michael Jackson). The 24-year-old wants to take his song-making back to the essence.

"If you go back to what R&B is, or what soul really is, I think the work ethic is way down," he huffed, calling out some of his fellow artists. "You look at the videos, you see women shaking their ass, you see the cars, you see the 22s. It's really marketing, if anything. It's not real music; that sh-- don't make me move. I'm trying to get back to that. I wanna get back to where it's really about the performance.

"Where I come from and how I was raised was to really understand music," he added. "It's past just a hit record — it's about the performance. You gotta find a way to get it, so I'm gonna do that with my album and hopefully set the trend and continue to keep it going."

The heartthrob who does it all estimated that the first single from his still-untitled album will be out October 13, with the LP following November 18.

twink69 said:

...hahahaha...usher, saving RnB...hahahahahahaha

Great! Glad to here this. Usher has great vocal ability!
It is time to showcase it.


.

Hasn't Usher worked with the cats (like P Diddy) that helped fuck up R&B in the first place?

Usher saving R&B???
that has to be one of the funniest things I've ever heard/read
Geese, I wish these youngsters would just shut their mouths, they have no idea how half of the stuff they say makes them look
I'll put that statement in with the one where britney spears says pat benetar sang "I love rock & roll"

thanks for the laugh
[This message was edited Tue Jul 15 11:05:28 PDT 2003 by lovebizzare]

intha916 said:

Usher working with the Neptunes and JD doesn't do a lot for his credibility on "soul" music. He is a decent entertainer, but he hasn't made a Thriller, Talking Book, or Sign O' The Times, so he needs to sit down.

INTERESTING.

No one can save R&B unless the people who are destroying it leave for good. USHER being one of them.

Dont put him down people!!!


At least he is one of a dying species..who is not dancing with their hos in their videos??? Good Lawd at least the boy got SENSE!!!

Dont put him down

He is giving us what we want aint he? U complain about how u are tired of these dumb videos and boring same lame r&b shit...damn listen 2 him...at least he taking another turn...

namepeace said:

no one will ever make those types of albums...just face it damn, it's not gonna happen... If u saying he needs 2 sit down..ur sayin every1 in the music industry needs 2 sit down..EVERY1!! Cuz there is not a damn artist out there right now capable of making those types of albums now...So what? We should just sit there and listen 2 old records and just stop making music from here on out because of those old rekids? Sorry it's not gonna happen..I may be the king O Old Underground Ol School R&B Soul N Funk (yeah right lol) but fresh new music is always always welcome, and keeps the world going...

"Cuz there is not a damn artist out there right now capable of making those types of albums now"

I dissagree. Although there aren't many, there are some people out there I think that can make a landmark album like those mentioned. Not saying it would sell like those did, but creativaly I think they could do it. I don't think we've yet to see the best from;

Raphael Saadiq
Maxwell
Remy Shand
Outkast

Those would be my picks if it is going to happen. But then again it could be a cat not even on our radar now. You never know. Never say never.

paisleypark4 said:

Slow ya roll! I never meant that as an all-or-nothing statement. I for one am buying more new stuff than ever. Cats like Remy, Dwele, Bilal, Res, Vivian Green,etc. are making good new music. Older acts like D'Angelo, Maxwell, and Jamiroquai have also made some good stuff. But when Usher stands up and all but declares himself the "savior" of soul when there are a lot of new artists out there, he sets the bar pretty high. What I meant was, if he's claiming to make an album like the ones mentioned, he can't (you apparently agree w/that) so he should sit down.

As a matter of fact, I posted the exact same opinion as you on a Dwele thread about 6 wks. ago..

namepeace said:

well amongst the MTV generation..for a pop icon to be sayin gthat is genuine and i congradulate Usher...

twink69 said:

ROFLMAO!!! Usher is not the worst singer in the world, but he damn sure ain't the best either. He can dance rings around anyone out now, though. I think he needs to stick with this.

Good ol' Org. always good for a laugh. Usher has worked with the pimp of all pimps, P. Diddy, and now he's gonna save R&B? Give me a fuckin' break.

twink69 said:

There goes saving r&b.

Nah, at least Usher dances his ass off; it is Musiq who truly cannot sing.

He is a decent entertainer, but he hasn't made a Thriller, Talking Book, or Sign O' The Times, so he needs to sit down.

True.


When Usher stops using those FAKE-DRUM sounding drum machines
(like almost everyone else in "r&b" does now)

&

when Usher finally needs to shave his 10-year-old-looking face..

THEN he can talk about ADDING something to IMPROVE the current, pathetic, money-driven state of "today's r&b",
which really is SO FAR GONE,
it's going to take A LOT MORE
than the m e d i o c r e talent of Chilli's boyfriend.

twink69 said:

2freaky4church1 said:

Musiq DOES suck and I'm glad somebody else realizes that besides me! And for the record D'Angelo can't sing either and is not anywhere as good of a musician as everybody has said he is. Give me ONE example where D'Angelo played his ass off. Everyone said that HE was gonna be the savior of r&b when he first came out. Usher needs to sit his flat nose, wannabe Michael Jackson, taking care of Dallas Austin's baby, Chattanooga CHOO-CHOO riding ass down and keep doing the teeny-pop that's allowing him to have his fifteen minutes!

Anyone see Usher this past week on tv in that 2 hour disco tribute?
He floored me with his dancing!! I was watching totally riveted with my mouth open. I hadn't been that interested in watching a dance routine since Prince with the yellow lace pants.
He was fantastic. I wish I would have taped it.
I'll be looking forwrd to his new CD for something upbeat and funky. There are alot of new artists always coming out and I explore lots of new/different music but lots of it is disappointing, like throw away music, you hear the CD once and don't care if you ever hear it again.
I've enjoyed TTD's and Justin T's cds as of late but funky music just isn't as prevelant as it used to be.