Serious question: Is Usher still relevant?

[jadillac]

Never thought I'd have to ask this question.

But as he's released music to try and stay current with the styles, it's like he seems more and more out of touch. The singles he's released the past couple years haven't made much noise and quite frankly have been sub-par. And then that electronic/dance album before that.

I had to question his relevance when he did the Wale feature. I mean, maybe he just really liked the project, but Wale(and I'm a fan) doesn't exactly get top billed features.

 

[L&HH]

I seen someone allude to this in another thread and it made me laugh. "I don't mind" went 2x platinum in 2014. The sales of that song alone probably netted him a nice mid to high 6 figure check. There's a lot of "relevant" artists today that would sacrifice their first born for a single like that. He was also featured on Body Language which went gold. Define relevant? Do artists have to be in your face with music every month or something?

 

[Jean Jacket]

A friend of mine Jameel Roberts co-wrote "Good Kisser" a couple of years ago... and it is obviously a certified banger per radio's standards. Usher is not a writer or a creator, he is an entertainer. He is as relevant as LaFace or whatever the fukk he's on will allow him to be. Lucky this nikka's hairline and abs are intact.... otherwise it would have been bushes a long time ago. It's only a matter of time before this nikka catches arthritis. I like Usher tho. He's a good entertainer. But yeah, I think that the genre is being overrun by cacs.

 

[T.H.E. Goat]

People still listen to Usher, I used to hear I Don't Mind and Climax all of the time last year

 

[Silkk]

He can still sell out arena tours, so yes

 

[jadillac]

don't mind" went 2x platinum in 2014.

I had to Google this song b/c I didn't think I'd heard it. I listened and remembered I did hear it a while back, but I turned it off after the 1st line and never listened to it again. "If you dance on a pole, that don't make u a ho" Lame. I didn't know that went double plat. Sad state of affairs. Who's gonna be listening to that song 5 years from now?

Maybe I should rephrase my question then, Is Usher relevant when it comes to making GOOD music?

 

[itsyoung!!]

sales wise? hes done. Been done.

But he had a very successful WORLD WIDE tour last year, im talking packed stadiums in multiple countries/continents..

R kelly hasnt sold well for years BUT he still packs a venue because he has now decades of work and classics. Usher is on the same way but can still fill stadiums/arenas but that may not be lasting much longer. But he'll always have a dedicated fan base to tour and make great money off of.

but big youtube hits/singles/album sales? hes done in that department. Might have a single spike up here and there, but nothing huge like 400+ million views or something. his last big hit did 110 million views on youtube which is really good, but its not some undeniable smash like say Adele Hello


edit: I need to see the receipts of dont mind going 2x platinum last year. Not saying its impossible, but I dont remember the song being that big

 

[GeeEffKay]

Dude can still put out hits, I dont mind was huge.

 

[RajWatts]

heres ur answer

 

[Shadow King]

While "I Don't Mind" was a terrible example of an older artist pandering to Generation Ratchet, it was double platinum and a top 20 (or 10?) single. It should've gotten his album released but it didn't because it was an obvious money grab and Usher isn't and probably doesn't want to make 10 I Don't Minds for his album at this stage of his career.

He'll never go platinum again but if/when he drops there's no reason he can't do Chris/Trey numbers or better. Same as R.

 

[L&HH]

I had to Google this song b/c I didn't think I'd heard it. I listened and remembered I did hear it a while back, but I turned it off after the 1st line and never listened to it again. "If you dance on a pole, that don't make u a ho" Lame. I didn't know that went double plat. Sad state of affairs. Who's gonna be listening to that song 5 years from now?

Maybe I should rephrase my question then, Is Usher relevant when it comes to making GOOD music?

Good music is subjective. I had no issue with I don't Mind. Ushers at the point of his career where we've sort of heard it all from him. Actually Good Kisser was refreshing and dope imo.

 

[jadillac]

Good music is subjective. I had no issue with I don't Mind. Ushers at the point of his career where we've sort of heard it all from him. Actually Good Kisser was refreshing and dope imo.

I just have a problem with Usher making infinitely more immature music now as a grown man than he did as a youngster & young adult. I mean where(what age) does it end?

At least R. Kelly has been doing it since he debuted.


IMO Usher, image-wise, should be at a point in his career where he can stand on a stage and sing a real song in front of a wide-ranging audience of all ages/races of people. "I Don't Mind" ain't gonna work, nor is "Good Kisser" in that scenario.

 

[jwall123]

Good music is subjective. I had no issue with I don't Mind. Ushers at the point of his career where we've sort of heard it all from him. Actually Good Kisser was refreshing and dope imo.

Good Kisser was kinda fire IMO. I remember bumpin it last year like "I havent heard anything like this from Usher in a good minute." I also liked :

 

[Red]

Uurrrrsheerrr baby

 

[Champion]

I just have a problem with Usher making infinitely more immature music now as a grown man than he did as a youngster & young adult. I mean where(what age) does it end?

At least R. Kelly has been doing it since he debuted.


IMO Usher, image-wise, should be at a point in his career where he can stand on a stage and sing a real song in front of a wide-ranging audience of all ages/races of people. "I Don't Mind" ain't gonna work, nor is "Good Kisser" in that scenario.

A lot of ppl I know felt this way and eventually got over it and realized that Confessions Usher is not coming back.

I hear what you saying but at least the nikka can actually sing and has some type of range. That's a lot more than I can say about a lot of R&B singers these days.Usher is essentially riding waves to stay relevant at this point. I look at his recent stuff like I do All Day from Kanye. I personally think its trash and moving backwards but if ppl are gonna eat that shyt up then it is what it is.