Usher has announced that he plans to “wake up R&B,” which many fans believe is a teaser for his long-anticipated new album.
The singer’s last solo album was 2016’s Hard II Love, which features the singles “No Limit,” “Crash,” and “Missin U.” He also dropped a collaborative album with Zaytoven in 2018 titled A.
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Taking to TikTok on Friday (March 10), Usher shared a video of himself strutting through the halls of what appears to be his home in a white bathrobe and black slippers.
“Me on my way to wake up R&B…,” he captioned the video.
There’s long been a conversation surrounding the current state of R&B, especially in the mainstream space. In a 2020 interview with BBC News, Usher’s longtime friend and collaborator Jermaine Dupri said there was a “big gap” in the industry for R&B’s return.
The producer attributed the demise of the genre to the arrest of R.Kelly, describing the singer as a “center-piece” in the genre. However, Dupri remained optimistic for the genre’s return to relevancy — especially with Usher’s forthcoming new album, tentatively titled Confessions II.
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JD said Usher “hopefully” can help turn the tide and put R&B back on the map with his forthcoming album.
“But if Usher can come back and we do what we gotta do with the album and it pops off, somebody has to safeguard it and make sure that they say that it’s R&B,” he added. “Because if they don’t, and it gets big, then it’s gonna trend to the left and somebody’s gonna call it a pop album.”
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He said that’s partly why the record has been held back all these years, because they’re waiting “to get everybody to believe” that R&B can re-emerge as a commercial force.
“If I can have a hand in helping to inspire people wanting to sing again, and this Usher album makes people wanna sing, then I would really be proud of myself,” Dupri concluded.
Regardless of not putting out a lot of new music in recent years, Usher has stayed very much active, delivering several high-profile performances, including his viral NPR Tiny Desk Concert and his Las Vegas residency.
Last month, Usher announced plans to extend his residency with 15 new dates. The singer’s 2022 ‘My Way’ residency completely sold out; 2023 is set to follow suit.
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In a 2021 interview with the Associated Press, Usher discussed the first extension of his residency and a new album.
“I’ve been in preparation really for some time and now I think I’m ready to drop my album,” Usher said. “Before it does, I’ll see you guys at my Las Vegas residency. This couldn’t have come at a better time.”
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In other news, Usher recently announced the impending release of a new song titled “Glu,” and he enlisted Lori Harvey for its steamy music video.
The model — who is the daughter of Steve Harvey — is currently dating Snowfall actor Damson Idris. The couple confirmed their relationship last month on Harvey’s 26th birthday, roughly six months after Harvey broke up with Creed actor Michael B. Jordan after two years of dating.
