Usher Claims He's Going To "Wake Up R&B"

BYGabriel Bras Nevares3.7K Views
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Given the soulful legend's Vegas residency and teases concerning new music, fans are expecting something big from the superstar soon.

Usher fans, get ready, because the star singer just posted a TikTok video saying he's going to "wake up R&B." Of course, many would argue that the genre's never slept, but the Southern born and bred artist wants to reach a new level. Moreover, he went through a pretty heavy pop phase at the end of the 2000s and along the 2010s. However, in that time, he eventually took a backseat to big releases. With the extension of his Las Vegas residency and more big moves, it looks like Usher's set on dominating the industry with new music.

What's more is that he already has something locked and loaded in store. For example, on Valentine's Day he released a sultry and tantalizing visual tease for an upcoming "GLU" single and music video. Also, the tease stars Lori Harvey, which also caught fans' attention. Even though it's unclear when this will drop, and what exactly it consists of, it was enough to get fans ready. In this latest tease, in which he walks around a mansion in a comfy bathrobe, he's probably banking on the grandiosity and opulent image that his powerful music evokes.

Usher Plans to "Wake Up" R&B

Furthermore, fans can't wait to see the 44-year-old star return to some of his artistic roots. In fact, he recently proclaimed that his classic 2004 album Confessions was "the birth of toxic R&B." While elaborating on his point, he said that back in the day, to be toxic meant to be honest. Even though he sung about relationships and overcoming their pitfalls, he said that being toxic now is more akin to acknowledging your personal pitfalls with no remorse. However you'd define it, one thing's clear: few artists can do that style as vividly, passionately, and with as much class as the "Burn" hitmaker.

Last year, Usher celebrated the 25th anniversary of his acclaimed project My Way with an expanded edition. Considering his Vegas shows as well, he's at a career peak where he can look back at the greatness he accomplished and bask in his status. Fortunately for his fans, that vantage point hasn't dissuaded him from continuing to push himself and show why that status is so earned. Whatever he brings, we're sure it'll make a big splash. Regardless of the final product, come back to HNHH for the latest news and updates on Usher.

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a music and pop culture news writer for HotNewHipHop. He started in 2022 as a weekend writer and, since joining the team full-time, has developed a strong knowledge in hip-hop news and releases. Whether it’s regular coverage or occasional interviews and album reviews, he continues to search for the most relevant news for his audience and find the best new releases in the genre. What excites him the most is finding pop culture stories of interest, as well as a deeper passion for the art form of hip-hop and its contemporary output. Specifically, Gabriel enjoys the fringes of rap music: the experimental, boundary-pushing, and raw alternatives to the mainstream sound. As a proud native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, he also stays up-to-date with the archipelago’s local scene and its biggest musical exponents in reggaetón, salsa, indie, and beyond. Before working at HotNewHipHop, Gabriel produced multiple short documentaries, artist interviews, venue spotlights, and audio podcasts on a variety of genres and musical figures. Hardcore punk and Go-go music defined much of his coverage during his time at the George Washington University in D.C. His favorite hip-hop artists working today are Tyler, The Creator, Boldy James, JPEGMAFIA, and Earl Sweatshirt.