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'''''Raymond v. Raymond''''' is the sixth [[studio album]] by American [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] recording artist [[Usher (entertainer)|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 (musician)|Danja]], [[Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis]], [[Bangladesh (producer)|Bangladesh]], and [[Christopher "Tricky" Stewart|Tricky Stewart]].
'''''Raymond v. Raymond''''' is the sixth [[studio album]] by American [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] recording artist [[Usher (entertainer)|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 (musician)|Danja]], [[Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis]], [[Bangladesh (producer)|Bangladesh]], and [[Christopher "Tricky" Stewart|Tricky Stewart]].


The album debuted at number one on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, selling 329,000 copies in its first week. It sold over one million copies in the United States and was certified platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA). The album also produced five singles that achieved chart success, including ''[[Billboard charts|Billboard]]'' hits "[[Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)]]", "[[Lil Freak]]", "[[There Goes My Baby (Usher song)|There Goes My Baby]]", and international hits "[[OMG (song)|OMG]]" and "[[More (Usher song)|More]]". Upon its release, ''Raymond v. Raymond'' received mixed reviews from most music critics, who were amivalent towards its songwriting and themes. The album earned Usher several awards, including [[Grammy Award]]s for [[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album|Best Contemporary R&B Album]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance|Best Male R&B Vocal Performance]]. Usher promoted the album with a supporting international tour, [[OMG Tour]], in 2011.
The album debuted at number one on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, selling 329,000 copies in its first week. It sold over one million copies in the United States and was certified platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA). The album also produced five singles that achieved chart success, including ''[[Billboard charts|Billboard]]'' hits "[[Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)]]", "[[Lil Freak]]", and "[[There Goes My Baby (Usher song)|There Goes My Baby]]", which reached number one on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] chart. Becoming Ushers eleventh number-one hit on that chart. The album also produced the international hits "[[OMG (song)|OMG]]" and "[[More (Usher song)|More]]".
"OMG", reached number one on the [[Billboard Hot 100]], while becoming Ushers ninth Hot 100 number one hit. "More", was also successful reaching number fifteen on the Hot 100. Upon its release, ''Raymond v. Raymond'' received mixed reviews from most music critics, who were amivalent towards its songwriting and themes. The album earned Usher several awards, including [[Grammy Award]]s for [[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album|Best Contemporary R&B Album]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance|Best Male R&B Vocal Performance]]. Usher promoted the album with a supporting international tour, [[OMG Tour]], in 2011.


== Background ==
== Background ==

Revision as of 12:37, 4 June 2011

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 sold over one million copies in the United States and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album also produced five singles that achieved chart success, including Billboard hits "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)", "Lil Freak", and "There Goes My Baby", which reached number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Becoming Ushers eleventh number-one hit on that chart. The album also produced the international hits "OMG" and "More".

"OMG", reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, while becoming Ushers ninth Hot 100 number one hit. "More", was also successful reaching number fifteen on the Hot 100. Upon its release, Raymond v. Raymond received mixed reviews from most music critics, who were amivalent towards its songwriting and themes. The album earned Usher several awards, including Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary R&B Album and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. Usher promoted the album with a supporting international tour, OMG Tour, in 2011.

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.[1][2][3][4][5][6] 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."[7] The album was originally under the title of "Monster".[8] 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.[9] 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.[10][11] Raymond v. Raymond was produced in Atlanta and the Studio at the Palms[12] studios in Las Vegas. It reflects the contrasting themes Usher explores, he elaborates by explaining;

"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."[13]

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".[14] The album was ultimately released on March 30, 2010, and released on April 26, 2010 in the United Kingdom.

Usher announced on July 8, 2010,[15] follow-up and re-release albums to Raymond v. Raymond called Versus, and a deluxe edition of Raymond v. Raymond.[16][17] 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.[18]

Singles

"Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" was released as the first US single on December 8, 2009. The single peaked at number 24[19] on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[20] It will be released as the fourth international single (after "More" from the international deluxe edition) on March 20, 2011.[21] 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.[22] The single reached number eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart[20] and number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.[19]

The album's third US single and the first international single, "OMG", featuring will.i.am, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.[23] It also reached number one in Ireland,[24] New Zealand,[25] the United Kingdom,[26] and Australia.[27] 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.[28] Usher also became the third artist ever to have at least one Hot 100 number-one hit from five consecutive studio albums.[29] The single stayed at number one on the chart for four weeks, including three consecutive.[30] It finished at the top of the year-end Billboard charts.[31][32] It was also named the fifth best-selling song of 2010, selling 3.8 million units.[33]

"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.[34] It reached number twenty five on the Billboard Hot 100,[23] and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[35] Becoming Ushers eleventh number-one hit on that chart.[36] The song earned Usher a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, at the 53rd Grammy Awards in 2011.[37] 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",[38] U Don't Have to Call,[38] and for his duet "My Boo" featuring Alicia Keys.[39] 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.[39]

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 second international single, on December 6, 2010.[40][41] 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.[42] The track was re-produced by long-time collaborator, RedOne.[42] "More" peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.[43] The single reached number one in Canada.[44] It also reached the top-ten in Australia,[45] Belgium,[46] and Norway,[47] and the top-twenty in Denmark,[48] France,[49] New Zealand,[50] and Sweden.[51]

Tour

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. On September 8, 2010 Usher announced that he would embark on his OMG Tour (and revealed it was solo). Due to demand, many additional stops in Europe and Australasia were added. It is Usher's first arena tour effort since his 2004 tour, The Truth Tour.[52] To introduce the tour, Usher stated,

"Live performance has always been my thing. It's my purpose to master and capture the moment every time I have you connected. For me, I wanted to make sure that it was state of the art. I wanted to make sure that, in comparison to the other shows that are going on around the world, you get the type of experience that leave you saying, 'OMG.' [...] The look of the tour, it's a little futuristic but enough to capture your attention and leave you saying, 'OMG.' That's the whole point. With an incredible record, I wanted to also leave a great impression.[53]

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.[54][55] Its first week sales also serve as the third-largest one-week sales of 2010 in the US.[55] 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".[55] The album sold over 92,000 copies in the US in its second week of release.[56] It sold over 64,000 copies in its third week of release.[57] It then sold 52,000 copies in its fourth week of release.[58][59] In its fifth week of release it sold 48,000 copies.[60] In its sixth week of release sales increased with 51,000 copies sold.[61] On June 17, 2010, the album was certified platinum by the RIAA.[62] To date the album has sold over 1.3 million copies in the United States,[33] and over 2 million worldwide.[63] It was named one of the ten best selling albums of 2010.[64] 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.[13]

The album debuted at number four in Canada,[65] and has been certified platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA), for shipments of 80,000 copies.[66] Raymond v. Raymond debuted at number two in the United Kingdom.[67] The album reached number-two in Australia and the album has been certified platinum by the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA).[68] It also entered within the top-ten of charts in several other countries.[69]

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[70]
Chicago Tribune[71]
Entertainment Weekly(B-)[72]
The Guardian[73]
Los Angeles Times[1]
PopMatters(4/10)[2]
Rolling Stone[74]
Slant Magazine[75]
USA Today[3]
The Village Voice(mixed)[4]

Raymond v. Raymond received mixed reviews from most music critics.[76][77][78] 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".[76] 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".[70] Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone wrote that it "yields mixed results".[74] 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".[72] Steve Jones of USA Today viewed its sexually-themed material as "rehashed and inauthentic, seldom accentuating the singer's charismatic personal or vocal strengths".[3] The Guardian writer Caroline Sullivan called it a "so-so record".[73] Tyler Fisher of Sputnikmusic viewed it as thematically inconsistent and called it "a predictably unfocused album".[79]

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".[80] Newsday's Glenn Gamboa gave the album a B rating and noted "how well his voice has matured".[81] 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".[1] 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".[82] 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."[83] Billboard's Gail Mitchell called it "a more cohesive collection" than Here I Stand, "centered on the different sides that comprise the artist".[84] 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".[85]

Camilla Pia of NME gave the album a six out of 10 rating and perceived "quite a bit of forgettable bravado babble".[86] 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".[71] The Boston Globe's James Reed stated "Usher puts emotional material to little use".[87] 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".[75] 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.[2] 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".[6] 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".[4]

Accolades

The album earned Usher three American Music Award nominations.[88] He won two of the awards for Favorite R&B album and Favorite Soul/R&B Artist Male.[89] 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")[90] Usher tied Alicia Keys for the most Soul Train Music Award nominations.[90] He won two of the awards for Best Male R&B/Soul Artist and won the coveted album of the year award.[91] 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.[92] Due to the great commercial performance of the album, Usher won a NRJ Music Award for International Male Artist of the Year.[93]

Following the high commercial success of the album's singles Usher was ranked the third top Billboard Hot 100 artist of 2010.[94] He was also named the top R&B/Hip Hop Artist of the year.[95] As well as the sixth top overall artist of 2010,[96] and the ninth top Pop artist.[97] Following that success, Usher won three Billboard Music Awards in 2011.[98] Receiving honors as Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Album for "Raymond v. Raymond," and Top R&B Song for "OMG".[99]

Track listing

Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Monstar" Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis5:01
2."Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" The Runners, Rico Love3:44
3."There Goes My Baby" Jim Jonsin, Rico Love4:41
4."Lil Freak" (featuring Nicki Minaj)Usher Raymond, Elvis Williams, Jamal Jones, Esther Dean, Onika Maraj[100]Polow da Don3:54
5."She Don't Know" (featuring Ludacris) Bangladesh, Sean Garrett4:03
6."OMG" (featuring will.i.am) will.i.am4:29
7."Mars vs. Venus" Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis4:22
8."Pro Lover" Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis5:02
9."Foolin' Around" Bryan-Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri4:11
10."Papers" Zaytoven, Sean Garrett4:21
11."So Many Girls" (additional vocals by Diddy)Usher Raymond, N. Hill, R. Love, T. JenkinsDanja4:36
12."Guilty" (featuring T.I.) AJ "Prettyboifresh" Parhm3:44
13."Okay" James "JLack" Lackey3:15
14."Making Love (Into the Night)" Jim Jonsin, Rico Love3:36
Deluxe edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Love 'Em All" Tricky Stewart3:40
16."DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" (featuring Pitbull) Max Martin3:42
17."Hot Tottie" (featuring Jay-Z) Polow da Don5:01
18."Lay You Down" Tha Cornaboyz4:04
19."Lingerie" Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis4:15
20."Get in My Car" (featuring Bun B)Usher Raymond, Jamal F. Jones, Bernard James Freeman, Esther Dean[101]Polow da Don4:10
21."Somebody to Love (Remix)" (featuring Justin Bieber) The Sterotypes3:39
22."Stranger" Drumma Boy4:42
23."Dirty Dancer" (duet with Enrique Iglesias) (UK bonus track) RedOne3:36
24."More" (UK bonus track) RedOne3:49
iTunes and Japan bonus track
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
15."More"RedOne3:49
Target, Best Buy, and UK bonus track
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
15."Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" (Remix) (featuring Plies)The Runners4:16
Sample credits

Personnel

Credits for Raymond v. Raymond adapted from Allmusic.[103]

Charts

Chart procession and succession

Order of precedence
Preceded by US Billboard 200 number-one album
17 April 2010
Succeeded by

Release history

Region Date Deluxe Edition
Germany[116] March 26, 2010
United States[117] March 30, 2010 August 24, 2010[118]
Canada[119]
Brazil[120] April 15, 2010
Japan[121] April 21, 2010
United Kingdom[122] April 26, 2010 September 20, 2010[123]

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b c Lewis, Tyler. Review: Raymond v. Raymond. PopMatters. Retrieved on 2010-05-07.
  3. ^ a b c Jones, Steve. Review: Raymond v Raymond. USA Today. Retrieved on 2010-03-30.
  4. ^ a b c Juzwiak, Rich. Review: Raymond v. Raymond. The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2010-03-31.
  5. ^ Adams, Cameron. Usher's Personal Life Got Messy on the Eve of a New Album. Herald Sun. Retrieved on 2010-04-01.
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