USHER, NEED A HIT? MARRY CHILLI.
TLC’s Chilli wants a man and Usher needs a hit, do you see where I’m going with this? I was listening to the latest Usher Raymond radio single (like the eighth this month, right?) and asked myself what could be his problem. Usher’s once skyrocketing career seems to be fizzling out. His people are over saturating radio with singles that don’t even add up to one solid hit and the release date for the new album, Raymond vs. Raymond, has been pushed back twice. So I thought what if Usher’s hit making is a product of his love life? Maybe his love life sucks right now! This dire situation calls for desperate measures. Instead of having Chilli looking longingly and desperately for love (on a realty show of all places) maybe he should snatch up his good luck charm and save his career.
When Usher dated Chilli, he was able to throw two chart topping albums in the can within a three year span. Their relationship was in mid-blossom when the R&B singer released 8701 in 2001. Singles like “You Got It Bad” and “You Don’t Have to Call” pushed sales through the roof. 8701 went platinum four times! Confessions hit in 2004. Though it was a representation of the end of Chilli and Usher, the passion of true love was still there. I wouldn’t even know where to begin in explaining how huge that album was to his career. Except to say that Confessions went DIAMOND! Its 19 consecutive week-run on the Billboard charts set a record which was not broken until 2009. “My Boo,” “Burn,” “Yeah,” the list of hits goes on! Usher earned Grammy, movie roles, and a loyal following during this relationship. Then like the sweeping of a major natural disaster, blew in Tameka Foster.
The product of Ms. Foster and Usher’s love was Here I Stand (2008). The album started off strong with 443,000 sales in the first week but like their relationship came to a screeching unsatisfying halt. Here I Stand stood still after one hit single “Love in This Club.” This fifth release went platinum but alienated a lot of his fan base. One would think that after the Tameka mishap, Usher would get back to making hits! Nuh uh, now there’s a new “love” in his life, former Def Jam record executive Grace Miguel. I can already tell you this is not the girl for Usher. His new music isn’t having that same immediate success as his past singles. There is nothing lingering about his lyrics. There is no depth to his normally soulful vocals. I can’t feel his heart through this music. Usher is either in need of some new producers or a good woman. If the latter is true, Ush, you know where to find your soul mate, Sunday nights on VH1 probably around 8pm or 9pm.
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BIO
Quita B. is a radio broadcasting professional with seven years of experience and a Bachelor of Science degree in communications and marketing. Known mainly as a talent, Quita B. has conquered every area in radio. Music Director, production director, and promotional team manager are just a few of the titles that she has earned during her career. Quita B. is also an award winning writer and has been recognized by award committees for her work in radio. She is currently the traffic assistant with the Radio People in Jackson, MS and is working on her new “info-tainment” site FameFanatic.com coming soon!
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More condensed version
Quita B.
Middays and Production Director WRBJ, Jackson, MS 2007-2008
Mornings and Music Director KSJM, Wichita, KS 2005-2006
Middays WRJH, Jackson, MS 2002-2005
