Usher
Raymond V. Raymond
© LaFace/Jive
September 14 - 20, 2025
Year of Release: 2010
Rating:
Monstar
Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)
There Goes My Baby
Lil Freak
She Don't Know
OMG
Mars Vs. Venus
Pro Lover
Foolin' Around
Papers
So Many Girls
Guilty
Okay
Making Love
(Into The Night)
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This week, it's the return of Usher, and his 2010 release, Raymond V. Raymond. It would become another #1
album for him, as this album topped the Billboard Albums Chart, for one week. As his previous albums, another #1 hit would
also surface from the Raymond album, "OMG"; 4 weeks at #1, on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. Six singles were
released from the album. And bu the way, Usher Raymond IV is his real name.
Leading off the album is "Monstar," with a space intro, it merges into another good Usher tune (as he always
has), and has a somewhat Michael Jackson feel to it. "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" (second single) has a good R&B
feel, and Usher brings it well. "There Goes My Baby" (fifth single) - another slow-driven, cool, typical love
feel Usher. "Lil Freak" (third single) is more of a rap song, and quite honestly, Usher's music has always been
more favorable with his love-styled smooth R&B songs. "Lil Freak" gets a pass on this one, as all three songs
previous from this one, is defnitely way better. Nicki Minaj guests on "Lil Freak" -- pass. "She Don't Know"
is WORSE - hard pass, Rap. Ludacris guests on this one.
"OMG" (fourth single; #1) - this song is not as great as his other #1's, of which labeled him as a fantastic
smooth R&B singer/performer. "OMG" is a departure from that. I guess, by the year 2010, Rap was dominating the
music scene (whether you like Rap, or not). Usher joined that bandwagon, as this song, and the previous two tracks
were going in that direction. "OMG" is the better song of the three; it did reach #1, so give it's recognized
credit for that. And, Will.I.Am (known from the group Black Eyed Peas and solo). "Mars Vs. Venus" returns Usher
back to his pure R&B sound. It's another good, typical styled Usher track. "Pro Lover" has it's own groove,
it's not as bad, it's quite good, and, it's Usher, graduating to the more updated R&B. "Foolin' Around" not only
has the updated R&B, it's also another good Usher groove, as heard on previous albums of his. It's another good track.
It could have easily been another hit single. "Papers" (first single) - it's Usher, and his music style that
made him famous. "So Many Girls" from the beginning sounds like it would lead into another Rap styled track.
Not really, yet it does fit with the latest trend in Hip Hop and/or Rap genres. It's not considered a "familiar Usher"
track. He's just getting used to the latest trends in music. "Guilty" (with rapper T.I.) blends a good vibe
of today's upbeat Rap and R&B. "Okay" is a loved-styled Usher track, updated R&B. "Making Love (Into The
Night)" ends the album, and with it's title, it's the famous typical smooth Usher sound. And if this song sounds
familiar, it's the "Into The Night" by Benny Mardones that will ring your memory bells.
Raymond V. Raymond can be appropriately titled as "Raymond V. Rap." (?) It's how Usher is updating his sound
to the common trend in popular music - Rap, and Hip Hop/R&B. Usher is never labeled as a Rap artist, he had other rappers
on his recordings to take care of that. His loved-styled ballads are what made him famous. And yes, there are some here
on this album. Yet, there are the others that are fitting into the latest trends - rap, hip hop, R&B. Raymond V.
Raymond is not a Rap album, and it's not as generous as his previous albums:
Confessions (Special Edition),
Confessions,
But it's Usher adjusting and updating.
The smooth, loved-flavored tracks are the standouts. If you're a fan of today's Rap, Hip Hop and R&B, and an Usher fan in
general, you'll enjoy this album.
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