![]() The odds were never in his favor, but he masters the concept. In Usher’s case, he’s up against the towering legacies of his 8701 and Confessions and a period of R&B that the new generation idolizes. Legacy artists folding in what’s hot right tend to make things uncomfortable because it forces us to take stock of what a genre has become. It’s Zaytoven’s most stripped beat and Usher’s most balletic vocal performance, a reminder that the two of them have plenty to offer outside of imitation. It’s here that the pair find the sweet spot. On the standout “Say What U Want,” Usher’s buttery voice floats between a cool falsetto and a warm tenor, sliding up and down a bed of dreamy keys. Ultimately, Zaytoven’s minimalist trap isn’t always the ideal match for Usher’s traditional R&B capabilities, but when they push both to their extreme, something magical happens. However, the production, which went well with the bravado, is a little too bright for his lyrics of atonement. “You Decide” sounds like vintage Usher, ever convincing as he pleads for another chance. He deploys that style all across “A”: on the confident flirtation of “ATA,” the club-ready “Birthday,” and the Gunna-assisted “Gift Shop.” But occasionally, he does return to form. The risque track-named for the position of his lady’s legs-is a logical progression from 2016’s “ No Limit,” which featured another ATLien, Young Thug, and saw Usher leaning into more of a melodic sing-rap cadence. “Peace Sign” is a steamy sex song that finds him propositioning a lover over an astral synth line. It may owe plenty to Usher, but it remains a more swaggered version of the genre that doesn’t exactly deal in tact or displays of raw vulnerability. The R&B coming out of Atlanta- 6LACK’s hybrid soul, Jacquees’ referential crooning-is immediate. It’s not so much that he sounds dated or inept it’s that the teacher taking lessons from his students always feels like regression. Future sounds right at home among Zaytoven’s racing hi-hats, but braggadocious Usher is jarring. Opener “Stay At Home” presents a loosened-up Usher, less concerned with proper singing than channeling the blistering energy of the A. Usher has stared down the dilemma for over 20 years, but here, he sounds liberated from expectations and outcomes. (Consider that this year alone, Zaytoven has worked on several rap albums, a gospel album, and now, an R&B release we’re a long way from “ Icy.”) But longevity can be a bittersweet pill: fail to evolve and get phased out, adapt too much and nostalgia becomes the enemy. Now, they have witnessed and inspired several eras of Atlanta-propelled music. Back then, the singer was figuring out his crossover act while the producer was trying to cement himself outside of trap circles. The pair first connected on the 2009 Raymond v Raymond single “ Papers” for a smoldering elegy of a marriage turned sour. “A”, his “collaborative project” with iconic producer Zaytoven, is an homage to their beloved Atlanta roots and the city’s sound that has permeated just about every corner of popular music.
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