Usher

By Chris Molanphy Aiken’s and Hicks’ tracks can be eliminated right away. These were American Idol coronation songs that each topped the Hot 100 based on a couple of fluke weeks of massive CD-single sales. I defy anyone reading this column, pop fan or no, to hum me a bar of those two tracks.

By Maura Usher’s “cutting you loose via legal document” comeback single “Papers” was pretty awesome, an incendiary throw-down that was right back in Confessions mode. Unfortunately, for the follow-up single, he’s enlisted the knob-twiddler RedOne, who is fresh off assisting in the ruinatio...

By Maura Favorite Female Artist Alicia Keys Beyoncé Britney Spears Katy Perry Mariah Carey Miley Cyrus Pink Rihanna Shakira Taylor Swift Whitney Houston Favorite R & B Artist Alicia Keys Beyoncé Jennifer Hudson Jeremih Keri Hilson Mariah Carey Mary J. Blige Maxwell Ne-Yo Usher

By Chris Molanphy This bit of throwaway trivia (regarding a movie that, all kidding aside, did suck donkey balls) leaps to mind as I consider the song that finally terminates the Black Eyed Peas’ half-year run atop the Billboard Hot 100. Here’s a rundown of the rest of this week’s charts:

By Maura Yes, apparently Usher has not put his John Hancock on the papers that would sever his mama-relationship-ruining marriage to Tameka Raymond, despite his comeback single “Papers” asserting that he’s more than ready to do so. One wonders if the holdup is due in large part to his forthcoming...

By Maura Johnston Usher, "First Class Flight (To The Moon)": Usher rewrites Ne-Yo's "Closer." It sounds better than anything on Here I Stand, but you have to admit that's a pretty low bar. Bobby Valentino feat. Ludacris, "Me & You": My favorite track on the mix, a straight-up old-school confessional bal...

By Maura Johnston Pro: Right, but it's a play on "upping the ante." What would you have rather seen, something like USHER LOWERS THE BRA? Con: This is the paper that brought us HEADLESS BODY IN TOPLESS BAR. Shouldn't we demand higher standards? USHER UPS THE PANTY [NYP]

By Anono-Critic For the July "Swagger" issue, the mag secured the participation of Usher Raymond for both a photo shoot and a sit-down chat. In "Caught Up," penned by Mitzi Miller, Usher addresses the issue that has enveloped his public profile in the past year: the dismissal of his "mom-ager" of 30/15 yea...