This time of year is the best for partying and celebrating but as far as blogging, not so much. However, there is one thing to look forward to during this time. This would be the incredible United State of Pop mash-up by DJ Earworm, this year entitled as “Don’t Stop the Pop.” The mash-up blends the top 25 hits of the Billboard Hot 100.

This year’s mash-up includes Ke$ha‘s “Tik Tok,” Bruno Mars‘ “Just the Way You Are,” Travie McCoy‘s “Billionaire” featuring Bruno Mars, B.o.B‘s “Nothin’ On You” featuring Bruno Mars and “Airplanes” featuring Hayley Williams, Lady GaGa‘s “Bad Romance” and Telephone featuring Beyoncé, Rihanna‘s “Rude Boy,” Eminem‘s “Not Afraid” and “Love the Way You Lie” featuring “Rihanna,” Taio Cruz‘s “Break Your Heart” featuring Ludacris and “Dynamite,” Enrique Iglesias‘ “I Like It” featuring Pitbull, Katy Perry‘s “California Gurls” featuring Snoop Dogg and “Teenage Dream,” Mike Posner‘s “Cooler Than Me,” Black Eyed Peas‘ “Rock That Body” and “Imma Be,” Young Money‘s “Bedrock,” Iyaz‘s “Replay,” Lady Antebellum‘s “Need You Now,” Usher “OMG” featuring Will.i.am and “DJ Got Us Falling In Love” featuring Pitbull, Train “Hey, Soul Sister” and Jay-Z “Empire State of Mind” featuring Alicia Keys.

After two listens it’s obvious that the made-for-radio hits of 2010 focused on melodies. This isn’t Earworm’s best to date; the songs of 2010 allowed for pretty beats but they all don’t perfectly blend together. Despite that, Earworm’s 2010 effort has us reliving all the fun energy of 2010 in a little over 5 minutes.

In other news, those of you who are aged 13-17 and will be spending you New Year’s here, in The Bahamas, can check out DJ Earworm at Club Rush, at the Atlantis Resort, listen below.

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Ciara never made it on the final version of Usher’s “Hot Tottie” but no worries because Usher assists on this new Ciara leak. The song, entitled “Turn It Up,” is just a leak and has not been confirmed to appear on CiCi’s Basic Instinct.

Ciara is following the pack by going the Dance route for this uptempo track. It is definitely something different from all the urban that she’s been promising her fans for this forthcoming album. No complaints though because the song does not come off as desperate but comes off as a fun rush of energy.

Download audio file (Ciara-Turn-It-Up-feat.-Usher-thecsperspective.com.mp3)

Usher is giving the Lady GaGa The Fame Monster treatment to his chart topping album, Raymond vs. Raymond. The album cover just recently leaked… [SOURCE 1] [SOURCE 2]

Lots of pink and purple and bold text which looks very Miami nightlife. From the sounds of the leaked ““DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love” featuring Pitbull and “Get in My Car” featuring Bun B, the album will be all sorts of uptempo fun. Another track to look forward to is “Hot Toddy” featuring Ciara and Jay-Z. Look out for Versus on August 24.

This era of Usher, Raymond vs. Raymond, got off to a rocky start with the simultaneous leaks and overall spoilage of the material from the album. Then the album was released and debuted at #1 with very respectable numbers. After a few single releases, Usher and his team struck Gold, or is it Platinum with his “OMG” single featuring Will.i.am. The single shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and saw Usher at a height that was closest to his Confessions era.

This mainstream success must be making the folks over at Jive very happy, obviously, because a brand new single is here which is set to appear on the August 24 release of the Deluxe Edition and additional album entitled Versus:

Usher just announced he will release Versus, an extension and sequel to Raymond V. Raymond, on August 24th! Versus includes 8 brand new tracks including the lead single ‘DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love’ featuring Pitbull! Also dropping on August 24th is ‘Raymond V. Raymond (The Deluxe Edition)’ which will combine all 22 songs from ‘Raymond V. Raymond’ and ‘Versus’. Keep it locked on UsherWorld.com tomorrow, July 9th for the worldwide premiere of the new single “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love” featuring Pitbull! [SOURCE]

So a new album of 8 songs and a Deluxe Edition that will combine the 14 songs of the original and 8 of the new album; someone is feeling extra confident in Usher right now. This success actually shocked the mess out of us. I mean the promotion for the album was on point but all those leaks and pushbacks had us to believe it was going to be another storm for Usher. Congratulations to Usher anyhow, it’s nice to see him and #1 friends again.

As for this new single, “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love Again” featuring Pitbull and produced by Max Martin, the formula of “OMG” is being repeated. Eventhough “OMG” is so generic and done before, the song is catchy nonetheless and plus it’s summer and all people want to hear on the radio are carefree uptempo tunes.

Download audio file (Usher-DJ-Got-Us-Falling-In-Love-Again-feat.-Pitbull-thecsperspective.com.mp3)

Usher has had a pretty successful round with Raymond vs. Raymond which means he will be back with another album and who knows, it may finally be the album to top the Confessions era. With that, tracks are still leaking from him. This new one entitled “Love ‘Em All” is produced by Tricky Stewart.

This is a very catchy song with a nice melody and a shallow set of lyrics in which Usher speaks about spreading his love lust for every lady in the club. It doesn’t hold up to the rest of the album but still sounds good enough to get the listener hooked.

Download audio file (Usher-Love-Em-All-thecsperspective.com.mp3)

Well smack us doewn and call us crazy, Usher’s latest studio album, Raymond vs. Raymond, managed to sell a whopping 329, 107 copies making it #1 on this week’s Billboard 200. Justin Bieber’s My World 2.0 holds the #2 spot with 290,903 copies being sold and Erykah Badu’s New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh came in at #4 with 110,282 copies being sold.

I mean we saw the Hits Daily Double predictions last week but it just didn’t sink in. After all the leaks and endless spoilers the album lost any luster it had. Oh well, congratulations to Usher and here’s to hoping his career will reach another peak very similar to his Confessions era.

From the get go with the black background and lasers the video reminds us of “Yeah.” Then there’s some split screen action with Will.I.Am and Usher doing their own little dance moves. The video further progresses into some studio sets, more cool lighting effects and some sexy choreography from the ladies donning all black. There’s even a 3D effect thrown in for fun.

WATCH VIDEO HERE!

Justin Bieber’s second single from My World 2.0, “Never Let You Go,” receives the video treatment. Like “Baby,” the video for “Never Let You Go” is set in a family friendly environment, an aquarium. If we didn’t know any better we’d think they shot the video over here, in The Bahamas. It’s a fun and appropriate video, check it out!

The video is underground urban with Minaj flirting with some female. We like the video and the song. Check it out!

Both Justin Bieber and Usher recorded a song entitled “Somebody to Love”; it was to appear on Usher’s Raymond vs. Raymond but was scrapped and was later adopted by Bieber’s My World 2.0. So who does the song justice, the teenager or the adult?

The production of this song is radio friendly; Bieber’s version is just mastered. Being completely honest, neither of them out do each other because both gents cut an enjoyable and listenable track for the radios. That’s just us, of course your opinions will vary.

Download audio file (Usher-Somebody-To-Love-thecsperspective.com.mp3)

Usher – Somebody to Love

VS.

Download audio file (Justin-Bieber-Somebody-to-Love-thecsperspective.com.mp3)

Justin Bieber – Somebody to Love

Bonus

Download audio file (Justin-Bieber-Stuck-In-the-Moment-thecsperspective.com.mp3)

Justin Bieber – Stuck In the Moment

Download audio file (Usher-Making-Love-Into-The-Night-thecsperspective.com.mp3)

Usher – Making Love (Into the Night)

Another leak from the upcoming Usher project, “Guilty,” featuring T.I. and produced by Ester Dean hit the net earlier today.

We cannot put our finger on it but Ester Dean definitely has a signature style; every song that she’s behind has that recognizable sound. The song has a light vibe with even T.I.’s lyrics being less than Parental Advisory. It’s a cool little track.

In other new pertaining to Ester Dean, a tweet went out the other night that she and singer/songwriter Claude Kelly finished a song for Christina Aguilera’s Bionic.

Download audio file (Usher-Guilty-feat.-T.I.-thecsperspective.com.mp3)

Usher – Guilty feat. T.I.

We’re just going to go ahead and say, Usher’s Raymond vs. Raymond is 2010′s Fantasy Ride. All of the album has practically leaked long before the album will hit music outlets. Whilst the album is pretty decent all the anticipation is spoiled.

Will Usher’s career ever reach the height during the Confessions era or was that its peak? When “Love In This Club” first leaked back in early 2008 we thought hey, Usher is continuing the successful streak then the rest of Here I Stand landed and we were underwhelmed. Rush a year and a half later and the so-called first single, “Papers,” for the Raymond vs. Raymond era hit. The song was reminiscent of some of the songs from the Confession era and we thought okay Usher is cooking again. A few album push backs and countless album leaks later and it seems Usher needs to reevaluate everything musical.

Take a listen to two new leaked tracks: The Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis produced “Lingerie” and The Stereotypes produced “Somebody to Love.”

Download audio file (Usher-Lingerie-thecsperspective.com.mp3)

Usher – Lingerie

Download audio file (Usher-Somebody-To-Love-thecsperspective.com.mp3)

Usher – Somebody to Love

The NBA All Star-Weekend is right around the corner and will include performances by Usher, Alicia Keys and Shakira. Usher is set to perform “Yeah!” and “More.” Shakira will perform “She Wolf” and “Give It Up to Me” and Alicia Keys will perform “Empire State of Mind II,” “No One” and “Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart.”

As if that isn’t enough, Keys and Shakira are set to do perform a duet halfway through the show. Wonder what this duet could be? We shall know soon enough.

It’s funny because before heading out, our channel was turned to MTV around 6 am this morning and we just caught glimpses of Lenoir and Usher, not even realizing it was a new video. Not until an hour later did we see the video all over blogs getting praise.

The video was done with class to lighten the song’s sexually drenched lyrics. We already thought the song was a good choice with its big gulps of bass. Overall, with this choice of single and great video this new era has been ushered in correctly.

Well this brings the tally to 10 or just above in the number of leaks from Usher’s Raymond vs. Raymond. There must be some plot to sabotage this album so that it is shelved or something because the music just won’t stop leaking. Of the many songs that leaked last night is a new one entitled “So Many Girls” produced by Danja.

Danja supplied Ursh with a beat for the clubs with a pulsating bass and electronic presence. It seems that Ursh is going for ballads vs. club music with this album because there is a definitive line; they all just do not mesh well. The song has us hooked though.

On a serious note: Usher may be trying something different by his standards by doing this urban/pop/dance sound but it has reached a point where we can only take dance/electro from certain urban artists. We thought the idea of mixing urban and pop was the best a few years ago but once everyone flocked to the idea people wanted to make their money and conformed to what became a radio standard. We’re ready for the next new sound that will impact the masses; we’ll get on that bus before it leaves and hop off before it arrives at its final destination. Listen to Usher’s other 3 leaked tracks after the break: “Take That,” “Get In My Car” and “Slippin’.”

Download audio file (Usher-So-Many-Girls-Prod.-By-Danja-thecsperspective.com.mp3)

Usher – So Many Girls

We don’t know exactly where these images are from but here are some photos taken of what looks to be the promotional art for Usher’s upcoming album, Raymond vs. Raymond. Obviously, the person was in a photo editing software session and whipped out a camera and took a few snaps of the screen. With all the leaks and poor reaction to his new music it seems Usher has a second flop on his hands.

Drama aside, Usher’s team has come up with some amazing looking graphic designs. We guess putting more art detail into an album cover is really catching on these days.

 

It’s your basic run-of-the-mill club video with a fancy car but it’s still decent. We’ve had the single on heavy rotation in our iTunes so we’re not even checking for the video, it’s the song we like. We might just have to pick up this Gucci Mane album, y’know since we’re into his music now.

It seems Mr. Raymind vs. Raymond is having a serious leak problem as three songs have leaked from him. There’s no confirmation if these songs will make it onto the album but they definitely give us an idea of the level the album will be on. The first is “Daddy’s Home” produced by The Runners, the second is “Blockin’” produced by Tricky Stewart & Jazze Pha and the third is “More” produced by RedOne.

The Runners produced “Daddy Home” is the sound direction we want to hear from Usher. With it’s deep bassline, urban overlay and sexy lyrics Usher is giving the longtime fans some good sounding but familiar music.

Usher – Daddy’s Home

Tricky Stewart and Jazze Pha take the production credits for “Blockin’”. The song has a late 90′s early 00′s R&B flavor to it with its bouncy beat and gritty synthesizers. The lyrics speak of Usher trying to get pass one friend to get to the other despite them both being physically attractive.

Usher – Blockin’

The RedOne produced “More” is another dance club heavy jam. It’s a pretty good song for the radio but the sole direction of Pop cheapens his ability and gives the liteners a song that will not be memorable.

Usher – More

Rapper Gucci Mane is getting ready to release his new studio album The State vs Radric Davis and the first single from that album is entitled “Spotlight”. The song features Usher and is produced by Polow Da Don. According to MissInfo the video was shot yesterday in Atlanta by director Benny Boom.

Now this is not grimey or gritty in anyway. It is a tame song fit for the radio. Usher sings the hook, in which he does his job quite neatly. A lot of people complain that Polow’s production is always recycled but he is one producer whose sound we don’t mind, for now. Also, we’re slowly getting into Mane’s music before we thought he was a gimmick; starting with that Gucci name but he does have a, dare we say it, “swag.” The album drops sometime in December.

Gucci Mane – Spotlight feat. Usher

Anticipated much? Today the first single, “Papers”, from Usher’s sixth studio album, Raymond vs. Raymond to be released December 8, premiered today.

Penned by Sean Garrett and produced by Zaytoven, Usher has returned with a lead single that sticks to his R&B roots. After a very public divorce from his wife, Usher went straight into the studio to work on this album in hopes that this personal struggle will do for this album what a past struggle did for Confessions.

The song is Usher pouring his heart out to masses stating “I Damn Near Lost My Mama” and that although he portrayed a happy relationship to the public it was quite the opposite. The song is very good and despite our opinion of how tacky it is to put something so personal out there for the sake of helping your career along we think this will give Usher another fan favorite. Fear not because Raymond vs. Raymond is here to rescue you all from the lackluster Here I Stand.

Usher – Papers (CDQ)