Usher's 'Raymond V. Raymond' Confirmed for March 30th Release

NEW YORK, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Usher Raymond IV's highly anticipated sixth studio album, Raymond v. Raymond will be released on March 30th.

Raymond v. Raymond comes as the five-time Grammy winner currently has, or is featured in four Top 20 songs on U.S. urban charts: "Papers" (click on link to listen) which rapidly climbed to #1 on the urban adult airplay chart last year, remains a Top 5 and 15 staple on both adult R&B and urban mainstream charts respectively; "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" (click on link to listen) featuring Plies claims the No. 19 spot on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart; "There Goes My Baby" (click on link to listen) ranks No. 16 on the urban adult contemporary airplay chart; and Raymond's collaboration with Gucci Mane, "Spotlight," is in the Top 15 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.

Raymond v. Raymond finds the iconic singer addressing various topics reflecting the dichotomies of life. It is described as  a natural follow-up to Usher's ground-breaking 2004 Confessions album which earned him the distinction of being the "Top Hot 100 Artist of the Decade" with 13 consecutive top 20 singles (seven reaching No. 1 and collectively spending the most weeks atop the chart for any act in the decade) according to Billboard magazine. The new album contains the smoldering signature ballads and hypnotic up-tempos the multi-talented, all around entertainer is known for.

Leading up to the release Usher will appear in a number of high profile performances kicking off with the 2010 Grammy's on January 31st (CBS); followed by a half-time performance on the NBA All-Star Game on February 14th (TNT); and he will  headline the final Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Nightly Victory Ceremony Concert on February 27th (NBC).

Additionally, TNT joined forces with Usher to feature his song "More" as part of the network's marketing campaign for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game.  TNT filmed an exclusive music video with Usher that will serve as a promotional spot airing in 600 Regal Cinemas beginning Friday, Jan. 29th. In addition, the video will be used as part of the network's campaign to promote its exclusive coverage of the 2010 NBA All-Star Game in Dallas, TX on Sunday, Feb. 14th.

MTV will exclusively premiere his "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" video, directed by Chris Robinson, tomorrow (Thursday, January 28th) at 6AM EST.

www.ushernow.com

SOURCE Jive Records