Usher 'Looking' for Fourth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200

by Keith Caulfield, L.A.  |   June 13, 2012 7:45 EDT

Usher is heading for his fourth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart, as "Looking 4 Myself" should easily top the list next week. Industry sources say the album will sell around 120,000 to 130,000 copies by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, June 17.

The new Billboard 200 chart's top 10 will be revealed on the morning of Wednesday, June 20.

Usher's 'Looking 4 Myself': Track-By-Track Review

The pop/R&B superstar's last full-length studio album, 2010's "Raymond v. Raymond," also launched at No. 1, but with a much larger sales figure. It began with 329,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "Looking" could register Usher's smallest first-week sales for a regular studio album since 1997's "My Way" bowed with 67,000.

"Looking 4 Myself" has already spawned a handful of smash singles, including "Climax." That track is currently in its ninth consecutive week at No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Over on the Billboard Hot 100, it reached No. 17. More recently, his pop/dance track "Scream" has shaken up the charts: it has so far peaked at No. 13 on the Hot 100.

Other albums aiming for high debuts next week on the Billboard 200 include Rush's "Clockwork Angels," Ed Sheeran's "+" and Josh Turner's "Punching Bag."

Rush's latest -- the band's first studio album since 2007 -- may sell around 80,000 to 90,000. Its last set, "Snakes & Arrows," flew in at No. 3 with 93,000.

Sheeran's first full-length studio effort, "+," follows his EP "The A Team," which reached No. 14 on the Heatseekers Albums chart last month. "+" could sell around 40,000 or so copies in its debut. The British singer is riding high on the Official U.K. Charts, where "+" -- a former No. 1 there -- is currently No. 2 on the albums tally.

Country singer Josh Turner will likely nab his fourth top 10 album as "Punching Bag" may shift around 30,000 to 40,000. Over on the Top Country Albums chart, depending on how the week shakes out, it could become his second No. 1 set. His first was 2006's "Your Man," which debuted in the top slot.

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Usher Previews 'Looking For Myself' Album In NYC

by Taj Rani, N.Y.  |   April 28, 2012 7:50 EDT

Sometimes musical artists forget how to keep their craft fresh without losing themselves in gimmicks and trends. Fortunately, after 15 years of dominating popular music, Usher still knows how to think ahead of the game without losing himself, his fans, or his quality of music. On Friday night (Apr. 27), Usher joined forces with Fuerza Bruta: Look Up in a unique listening event for his upcoming seventh studio album, "Looking For Myself," at NYC's Daryl Roth Theater.

Every audience member, including Justin Bieber, stood for the entire time and shuffled around the floor at different times in order to soak in the seamless set changes and every unique moment of the show to the fullest, from Usher running on an elevated treadmill to members of the Fuerza Bruta cast "swimming" on Plexiglass above the heads of the audience. The R&B singer took full advantage of this experience to get personal with his fans, as the tracks for his new album acted as the soundtrack for the evening.

The opening song was Usher's lead single, "Climax," and he closed the show with "Can't Stop Won't Stop" a title that suggests his longevity, dedication, and determination to remain ahead of the younger generation of his R&B counterparts. Here are the highlights of "Looking For Myself":

"Lemme See" featuring Rick Ross
The song was coupled with the performance of a dream sequence where Usher was center stage on a broken-down bed, and a silver curtain enclosed the audience in a circle. As Usher was dreaming, two members of the Fuerza Bruta cast rolled, tumbled, ran, danced, and chased each other around to portray a lovers spat. "Lemme See" sounds like "Hot Toddy" 2.0 laced with the grunts and baritone voice of MMG's head honcho, Rick Ross. "Lemme See" has the potential to define the summer of 2012.

"Dive"
This was the first ballad that was heard off of "Looking For Myself," and it was appropriately coupled with the women of Fuerza Bruta performing choreography above the audience's heads in a pool of water. The visual component gave the song a very sensual feel and also reassured fans that Usher has not completely fallen victim to Euro-pop.

"I Care 4 U"
The cast of Fuerza Bruta was still frolicking in water for "I Care 4 U," but this time the audience watched a love triangle unfold. The most beautiful part about "I Care 4 U" is the tribal feel to the track that allowed the onlooker to get lost in an fantasy and feel like the Amazon was only a few steps away for four minutes.

Here is the full list of tracks performed from "Looking For Myself":

"Climax"
"Looking 4 Myself"
"Lemme See"
"Climax (Kaskade Remix)"
"Twisted"
"Scream"
"Dive"
"Show Me"
"Hot Thing"
"I Care 4 U"
"Euphoria"
"Can't Stop, Won't Stop"

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