R&B music isn't what it used to be, and Usher's latest release "I Don't Mind" featuring trippy rapper Juicy J is the proof in the pudding.
The track has a catchy, and predictable, chorus. Throughout the song Usher reassures his favorite dancer that her booty shaking, money making ways don't phase him using minimal vocals over subtle piano chords.
Juicy J then comes in to back him up with an explicit breakdown of his encounters with strippers and to put the cherry on top, it sounds as if the ad libs on "I Don't Mind" were done by Migos.
All in all, an unlikely track for an artist who has gained longevity and popularity from songs like "Nice & Slow," "U Got It Bad," "Burn," "Confessions Part II," and "There Goes My Baby."
"I Don't Mind" sounds like a desperate cry from a hitmaker trying to stay relevant.
Granted in the past, Usher has had stints in his career where his sexual bravado was set to full speed (i.e. 2010's "Lil Freak" featuring Nicki Minaj and "Trading Places") but even those releases were later in his career.
So the question then becomes, is this the new norm for R&B music?
Even Trey Songz, who has only been in the industry for about a decade, is making a change in his music. Singers who won the hearts of many with sweet lyrics are now singing about raunchy strip clubs and one night rendezvous.
It seems as though these artists are struggling to remain true to their sound and identity that catapulted them into stardom.
Our New York Office writer Caroly Menyes also reviewed this track. Check out what she has to say here.
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