Raymond v. Raymond

Untitled

Raymond v. Raymond is the sixth studio album by American R&B recording artist Usher, released March 26, 2010. Production for the album took place during 2008 to 2010 and was handled by several producers, including Jermaine Dupri, The Runners, Ester Dean, Polow da Don, RedOne, Jim Jonsin, Danja, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Bangladesh, and Tricky Stewart.

The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 329,000 copies in its first week. It became Usher's third consecutive number-one album in the United States. Producing five singles that achieved chart success, including Billboard hits "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)", "Lil Freak", and "There Goes My Baby". Along with, international hits "OMG" and "More". Upon its release, Raymond v. Raymond received mixed reviews from most music critics. It has sold over one million copies in the United States and has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album earned Usher multiple awards including, two Grammy Awards. For Best Contemporary R&B Album and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "There Goes My Baby".

Background

The album is the follow-up to Usher's fifth album Here I Stand (2008), which featured more mature, adult-oriented themes, but was less successful with fans and sales than his previous work. Usher, whose private life has been highly documented after filing a divorce from wife Tameka Foster, told People Magazine that the album will be, "racy, risky and edgy, and sometimes about personal experiences." The album was originally under the title of "Monster". The album was promoted as a self-confessional, much in the way his 2004 blockbuster album dealt with his high-profile break-up with Chilli of TLC. Usher stated that the album's name was inspired by the 1979 divorce film Kramer vs. Kramer. Recorded during 2008 to 2010, the album was produced by Jermaine Dupri, The Runners, Ester Dean, Polow da Don, RedOne, Jim Jonsin, Danja, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Bangladesh, and Tricky Stewart. Raymond v. Raymond was produced in Atlanta and the Studio at the Palms studios in Las Vegas. Usher explains that it reflects the contrasting themes he explores, he says;

"Conceptually, the recording process mirrored the album. This time I recorded the album in both Las Vegas (for the first time) and Atlanta. In Vegas, it's no-holds-barred, unlimited access. There are so many different places and experiences. Then I recorded in Atlanta -- the city represents to me the reality of emotion and feelings. One city represents perception and the other reality."

Release and promotion

In November 2009, a representative of Usher told MTV News that the album will not be released on December 21, 2009 as scheduled: "The release of Usher's next album, Raymond v Raymond, has been delayed because we believe that the album is so strong that we want to give it the opportunity to have the proper setup before coming out". The album was ultimately released on March 30, 2010, and it will be released April 26, 2010 in the United Kingdom. While Usher was on promotional tour in Australia in an interview he confirmed that he will tour in 2011, countries so far confirmed for the tour are Australia. Tour dates are to be announced towards to the end of 2010 or early 2011.

Usher announced on July 8, 2010, follow-up and re-release albums to Raymond v. Raymond called Versus, and a deluxe edition of Raymond v. Raymond. Versus, called "the last chapter of Raymond v. Raymond" by Usher, will have 8 new tracks, including lead single "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" featuring Pitbull, and the second single "Hot Tottie", produced by Polow Da Don. It will be released on August 24, 2010, as will the deluxe version of Raymond v. Raymond, which will include the new tracks.

Singles

"Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" was released as the first US single on December 8, 2009. The single peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It will be released as the fourth international single (after "More" from the international deluxe edition) on March 20, 2011. For the album's second US single, "Lil Freak", Usher and featured artist Nicki Minaj shot a music video for the song on March 9, 2010 in Los Angeles with director TAJ. The single reached number eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The album's third US single and the first international single, "OMG", featuring will.i.am, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number one in Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The song became his ninth number-one hit in the US, making him the first 2010s artist to collect number-one singles in three consecutive decades, and only the fourth artist of all-time to achieve the feat. Usher also became the third artist ever to have at least one Hot 100 number-one hit from five consecutive studio albums. The single stayed at number one on the chart for four weeks, including three consecutive. It finished at the top of the year-end Billboard charts. It was also named the fifth best-selling song of 2010, selling 3.8 million units.

"There Goes My Baby", which was released as the second promotional single prior to the album's release, was released to airplay as the album's fourth single in the United States on June 15, 2010. It reached number twenty five on the Billboard Hot 100, and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Becoming Ushers eleventh number-one hit on that chart. The song earned Usher a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, at the 53rd Grammy Awards in 2011. It was the fourth time Usher has been nominated for and won a Best R&B Vocal Performance award. The first three for his singles, "U Remind Me", U Don't Have to Call, and for his duet "My Boo" featuring Alicia Keys. The last award he won for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. While winning the first two as a solo male artist.

Released as the third promo single prior to the album's release, "More" was released, as the album's fifth and final US single and third international single after "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" from the deluxe edition on December 6, 2010. The single version (dubbed as "More (Single Mix)") differs considerably from its album counterpart, as it is more electro-pop infused, and contains additions of figurative bells and whistles. The track was re-produced by long-time collaborator, RedOne. "More", has currently peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single saw international success in various countries, reaching the top-ten in Australia, Belgium, and Norway. It also managed to reach the top-twenty in Denmark, France, New Zealand, and Sweden.

Reception

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 329,107 copies, becoming Usher's third consecutive US number-one album. Its first week sales also serve as the third-largest one-week sales of 2010 in the US. According to Billboard, the album's first-week sales had been supported by his appearances on the television shows American Idol and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, both of which featured his performing the single "OMG". The album sold over 92,000 copies in the US in its second week of release. It sold over 64,000 copies in its third week of release. It then sold 52,000 copies in its fourth week of release. In its fifth week of release it sold 48,000 copies. In its sixth week of release sales increased with 51,000 copies sold. On June 17, 2010, the album was certified platinum by the RIAA. To date the album has sold over 1.3 million copies in the United States. It was named one of the ten best selling albums of 2010. The album sold more than 7 million tracks and ring tones combined, and held the No. 1 spot on Billboard's R&B chart for seven consecutive weeks.

The album debuted at number four in Canada, and has been certified gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA). Raymond v. Raymond debuted at number two in the United Kingdom. The album reached number-two in Australia and the album has been certified platinum by the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA). It also entered within the top-ten of charts in several other countries.

Critical response

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Chicago Tribune
Entertainment Weekly	(B-)
The Guardian
Los Angeles Times
PopMatters	(4/10)
Rolling Stone
Slant Magazine
USA Today
The Village Voice	(mixed)

Raymond v. Raymond received mixed reviews from most music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 57, based on 16 reviews, which indicates "generally mixed or average reviews". Allmusic writer Andy Kellman gave it two-and-a-half out of five stars and expressed a mixed response towards its lyrical quality, writing "Many of the songs on the album have to be taken on their own, stripped of context; otherwise, determining what applies to Usher’s real and fantasy lives can be problematic". Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone wrote that it "yields mixed results". Entertainment Weekly's Leah Greenblatt perceived that it "doesn't offer much real revelation. Its main aim is more standard issue: Sleek, grown-and-sexy R&B tuned to seduction, not divorce court". Steve Jones of USA Today viewed its sexually-themed material as "rehashed and inauthentic, seldom accentuating the singer's charismatic personal or vocal strengths". The Guardian writer Caroline Sullivan called it a "so-so record". Tyler Fisher of Sputnikmusic viewed it as thematically inconsistent and called it "a predictably unfocused album".

In contrast, Toronto Star writer Ashante Infantry gave the album three-and-a-half out of four stars and called it "a sizzling mix of dancefloor bangers and grinding ballads that put the attention back on his warm, elastic tenor and off his personal life". Newsday's Glenn Gamboa gave the album a B rating and noted "how well his voice has matured". Los Angeles Times writer Mikael Wood interpreted its title as "one seemingly directed toward Usher fans disappointed by the change in direction his wedding inspired". Sarah Godfrey of The Washington Post found its personal-themed songs "tedious", but complimented Usher "when he appears to be getting his bearings back as a single man and heartthrob". Giving it a four out of five rating, Andrew Rennie of NOW wrote, "his sixth album proves that his ability to make grown-up hits is stronger than ever." Billboard's Gail Mitchell called it "a more cohesive collection" than Here I Stand, "centered on the different sides that comprise the artist". New York Daily News writer Jim Farber found it an improvement over his previous album, but criticized Usher for "milking his old role as a cad too cute to stay angry with for long".

Camilla Pia of NME gave the album a six out of 10 rating and perceived "quite a bit of forgettable bravado babble". Chicago Tribune writer Greg Kot viewed that its "songs about 'So Many Girls' and the burden of being a 'Pro Lover' on the prowl" inversely affect the mature-themed songs, writing "It’s the kind of lacerating perspective that adulthood brings, but Usher’s too busy chasing his past to fully embrace it". The Boston Globe's James Reed stated "Usher puts emotional material to little use". Despite commending Usher for his singing, Matthew Cole of Slant Magazine called it "consistently uninspired, with each song showcasing an incredibly gifted performer grown wearyingly complacent". Tyler Lewis of PopMatters called Raymond v. Raymond a "cynically commercial and desperate album" and viewed it as a "pale imitation" of Usher's Confessions. Chicago Sun-Times writer Jim DeRogatis gave it one out of four stars and wrote that Usher "revels more than ever in hollow player posing and empty sexual braggadocio, and delivers the sleepiest and least inspired album of his career". The Village Voice's Rich Juzwiak called its confessional nature "wan" and compared its songs negatively to "pick-up lines: Their immediate success varies, but none are particularly memorable".

Accolades

The album earned Usher three American Music Award nominations. He won two of the awards for Favorite R&B album and Favorite Soul/R&B Artist Male. The album also earned him four Soul Train Music Award nominations. Including, Best R&B/Soul Artist Male, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best Dance Performance.(for "OMG") Usher tied Alicia Keys for the most Soul Train Music Award nominations. He won two of the awards for Best Male R&B/Soul Artist and won the coveted album of the year award. At the Grammy's the album also won both its nominations Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, presented at the 53rd Grammy Awards in 2011. Due to the great commercial performance of the album, Usher won a NRJ Music Award for International Male Artist of the Year.

Following the high commercial success of the album's singles Usher was ranked the third top Billboard Hot 100 artist of 2010. He was also named the top R&B/Hip Hop Artist of the year. As well as the sixth top overall artist of 2010, and the ninth top Pop artist.

Track listing

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Monstar"	Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis	5:01
2.	"Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)"	The Runners, Rico Love	3:44
3.	"There Goes My Baby"	Jim Jonsin, Rico Love	4:41
4.	"Lil Freak" (featuring Nicki Minaj)	Polow da Don	3:54
5.	"She Don't Know" (featuring Ludacris and Sean Garrett)	Bangladesh, Sean Garrett	4:03
6.	"OMG" (featuring will.i.am)	will.i.am	4:29
7.	"Mars vs. Venus"	Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis	4:22
8.	"Pro Lover"	Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis	5:02
9.	"Foolin' Around"	Bryan-Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri	4:11
10.	"Papers"	Zaytoven, Sean Garrett	4:21
11.	"So Many Girls" (additional vocals by Diddy)	Danja	4:36
12.	"Guilty" (featuring T.I.)	AJ "Prettyboifresh" Parhm	3:44
13.	"Okay"	James "JLack" Lackey	3:15
14.	"Making Love (Into the Night)"	Jim Jonsin, Rico Love	3:36

Deluxe edition

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"Love 'Em All"	Tricky Stewart	3:40
16.	"DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" (featuring Pitbull)	Max Martin	3:42
17.	"Hot Tottie" (featuring Jay-Z)	Polow da Don	5:01
18.	"Lay You Down"	Tha Cornaboyz	4:04
19.	"Lingerie"	Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis	4:15
20.	"Get in My Car" (featuring Bun B)	Polow da Don	4:10
21.	"Somebody to Love (Remix)" (featuring Justin Bieber)	The Sterotypes	3:39
22.	"Stranger"	Drumma Boy	4:42
23.	"Dirty Dancer" (duet with Enrique Iglesias) (UK Bonus Track)	RedOne	3:36
24.	"More" (UK Bonus Track)	RedOne	3:49

iTunes and Japan bonus track

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"More"	RedOne	3:49

Target, Best Buy, and UK bonus track

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" (Remix) (featuring Plies)	The Runners	4:16

Sample credits

• "Lil Freak" samples Stevie Wonder's 1973 "Living for the City.
• "Making Love (Into the Night)" is a remake of Benny Mardones 1980 "Into The Night".
• "She Don't Know" samples Ebo Taylor's 1977 "Heaven".

Personnel

Credits for Raymond v. Raymond adapted from Allmusic.

• Kory Aaron – assistant
• Marcella Araica – engineer
• Alex Barajas – assistant
• Tom Coyne – mastering
• Ian Cross – engineer, mixing, vocal engineer
• Aubry "Big Juice" Delaine – engineer
• Dylan "3-D" Dresdow – mixing
• Jermaine Dupri – mixing
• Joe Gallagher – assistant
• Conor Gilligan – assistant
• Matty Green – assistant
• Blake Harden – assistant
• Kemal Harris – stylist
• Josh Thomas - assistant, mixing
• Patrick Hewlett – assistant
• Sam Holland – assistant
• John Horesco IV – engineer
• Bob Horn – mixing
• Jaycen Joshua – mixing
• Damien Lewis – assistant
• Giancarlo Lino – assistant
• Erik Madrid – assistant
• Michael Makowski – assistant
• Anthony Mandler – photography
• Rob Marks – engineer
• Frank Romano - guitar

• Matt Marrin – engineer, mixing
• Manny Marroquin – mixing
• Thurston McCrea – assistant
• Andrew Mezzi – assistant
• Brandon Middleton – assistant
• Vernon Mungo – engineer
• Gordon Hogan – assistant
• Brandon Parks – assistant
• Nicole Patterson – make-up
• Jonetta Patton – artist development
• Karl Peterson – assistant
• Mark Pitts – executive producer, A&R
• Shawn Porter – groomer
• Usher Raymond – executive producer
• Rob Skipworth – engineer
• Tim Sonnefeld – mixing
• Brian Stanley – mixing
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
• Jay Stevenson – engineer
• Phil Tan – mixing
• Matt Taylor – art direction, design
• Miles Walker – engineer
• Jason Wilkie – assistant
• will.i.am – engineer
• Tre Williams – engineer
• James Wisner – engineer

Charts

Chart positions

Chart (2010)	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart	2
Australian Urban Albums Chart	1
Austrian Albums Chart	68
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)	43
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)	67
Canadian Albums Chart	4
Dutch Albums Chart	34
European Top 100 Albums	8
French Albums Chart	32
German Albums Chart	47
Greek Albums Chart	4
Irish Albums Chart	17
New Zealand Albums Chart	8
South African Albums Chart	17
Swiss Albums Chart	20
UK Albums Chart	2
UK R&B Chart	1
US Billboard 200	1
US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	1

Year-end charts

Chart (2010)	Position
US Billboard 200	18
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	6

Certifications

Country	Provider	Certification
Australia	ARIA	Platinum
Canada	CRIA	Gold
United States	RIAA	Platinum

Release history

Region	Date	Deluxe Edition
Germany	March 26, 2010
United States	March 30, 2010	August 24, 2010
Canada
Brazil	April 15, 2010
Japan	April 21, 2010
United Kingdom	April 26, 2010	September 20, 2010

See also

• List of number-one albums of 2010 (U.S.)

External links

• Official website
• Raymond v. Raymond at Metacritic