Usher "Versus" EP Review

  If there’s any one that wears their heart on their sleeve and makes you want to dance all at the same time better than Usher Raymond there wouldn’t be a need for another superstar in the R&B arena. As difficult as it may seem though, that’s not all the multitasking this mega superstar has managed to accomplish through out his illustrious career. While releasing six albums he’s captured the hearts of TLC group member Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, model Naomi Cambell, and most recently, stylist Tameka Foster. He’s written an album confessing his infidelities and an album expressing the heart aches of marriage, all the while selling a grand total of 45 million albums worldwide. Aside from his other business ventures, this guy knows how to stay busy. Most recently, though, his troubles seem more interesting than usual because he’s dealing with something that’s on the other side of the spectrum completely, marriage and divorce. He hasn’t suffered a total lose though; he’s gained two children in the process, boys at that! That’s like having four kids! Good job Usher, two thumbs up! Ushers’ latest is an EP that will at last bring everything to a closing as far as his recent marriage is concerned.
       Usher begins this EP with words and phrases you would expect from a bachelor fresh out of a divorce in the first song entitled “Love Em all”. This song begins with a rhythm reminiscent to LL Cool J’s “I Need Love” but soon transforms into your everyday synthesized love song with hyper snares, a subtle 808, and a repetitive chorus. With lines like “There’s enough of me to go around up in the club, yea! / There’s enough of me to make sure I pleasure all these girls in the club yea!” and “I’m gonna make sure its fat, gonna do you you you and you/ and then im gonna do her! Ok lets get it straight, all my ladies get in line, yea!” it is obvious this guy is single and ready to mingle. Eat your heart out ladies. Though this song fails to go anywhere musically, it still gets you in the mood to dance and ready for the next club song named  “DJ Got Us Falling In Love”. This song is one for the club and one for your boom box when you’re dancing naked fresh out of the shower. While infecting your speakers with a high-powered chorus, heart pounding drums, and synthesized sounds essential for a techno song, this song will put you in a good mood. This song is almost complete, but suffers a set back mainly because of Pitbull’s off brand Cuban swagger and less than impressive lyrics. This wouldn’t be your typical song for a rapper, and Pitbull makes it painfully evident that he should stick to his own party songs and not recite verses in a rappers place.
            Moving along, Usher turns the heat up a bit with “Hot Tottie”. Usher delivers a performance that would almost constitute this song an aphrodisiac. Usher wastes no time in getting it started on this song when he says ”I see you like to talk, I hear you baby/ claimin you a bad #*@!, show me baby”. Makes you want to grab your lady and kisser doesn’t it? Jay-Z makes a stellar appearance proclaiming him self as “King Hov”.  You don’t hear rappers ride a beat the way Jay does these days, and Jay-Z doesn’t slip once as he lyrically assaults this freak song.
            The mood changes though in such a way it would aggravate any woman in the heat of the moment with a song like “Lay You Down” and actually disappoints in comparison to the previous song. “Lingerie” sneaks it's way in though and makes the ladies want to slip into something sexy and put on a show for their mate. This groove puts your mind at rest and gears your body for freaky dance moves. Usher couldn’t get enough of his baby though with “There Goes My Baby” as this song was track number 3 on its predecessor “Raymond vs Raymond”. It’s a good song and is actually a perfect fit for the EP considering the direction Usher decided to take this “last chapter” of his. “Get In My Car” wouldn’t be a complete song with out Bun-B. Unfortunately it seems Bun didn’t try hard enough on this one. The beat has Bun B written all over it, but he disappoints with lines such as: “Well its big bun b, back on my B.I./ never been an every day joe like G.I.”…. Really Bun?  Over all this song is average and actually takes away from the project as a whole.
             Usher brings along Canadian newcomer Justin Bieber on the sensational remix of  “Somebody To Love”. This fast paced dance song makes you fall in love with the dance floor more than anything. Even though this song was initially put out by Justin Bieber it painted a perfect picture for Usher him self.
            Usher gives this EP an appropriate ending with “Stranger” while addressing some of the issues with love and loyalty.  The beat definitely give’s you sort of a goodbye feeling, and his lyrics along with his voice certainly give you the farewell vibe. Ultimately it’s a good closer to an interesting chapter in his life.
            Although Usher has stated that “Versus” is the last chapter in “Raymond vs. Raymond” you can’t help but wonder where he will go from here. How many more hearts will he be clumsy with? Who will bare his child next? How long will he be a bachelor? Who will be in his next love triangle? Regardless what the answer may be, one thing is for sure and two things for certain: Usher is going to sing his heart out and the people will get some good music in the process. So, if you’re looking to dance or simply reminisce on a past love, “Versus” is a definite keeper and should get heavy rotation in your CD changer or play list.


1.)   Love Em All – 3.3/5
2.)   DJ Got Us Falling In Love (ft. Pitbull) – 4.3/5
3.)   Hot Tottie (ft. Jay-Z) – 5/5
4.)   Lay You Down – 3.1/5
5.)   Lingerie – 3.8/5
6.)   There Goes My Baby – 4.4/5
7.)   Get In My Car (ft. Bun-B) – 3/5
8.)   Somebody To Love (Remix) (ft. Justin Beiber) – 3.4/5
9.)   Stranger – 3.9/5

} Vocals{     }Beats{      }Overall{
  4.1/5           3.5/5           3.9/5