Usher (Entertainer)

Here Are the Songs They Play at a Middle School Dance

[Editor's note: The following post by Houston writer and ESL teacher Shea Serrano was named the best blog post of the year in the first-ever Voice Media Group music writing awards. Originally published by our sister blog, West Coast Sound at L.A. Weekly, it's a hilarious real-time account of an afte ... More >>

Top Five Must-See Shows This Weekend

Curious about what's going on around town this weekend? Need some suggestions where to rock, dance, or krump in the Valley of the Sun? Don't fret: These are our Five Shows to See This Weekend.

Pop Isn't Dead: Here's Seven New Songs That Prove It

If you've ever felt like all music on the radio is the same, you're not alone. Your grandmother felt the same way once. It's an old complaint that has always bugged me, because sure, the latest Rhianna single is a pile of dogshit, but I hate blanketing all music with this strain of despair. There ... More >>

Craig Citizen on the Days of Playing to Trannies, People Getting Stabbed in the Face, and Sharks and Minnows

Craig Citizen is the sort of dude you only wish you could be. He's an enigmatic lothario with a certain renown as a hipster DJ, and has been behind some of the more infamous dance nights in the Valley like the old Party Foul! While he used to be a regular fixture at dive bars and dance clubs, Citi ... More >>

Silent-J on EDM's Popularity, His Beat-Mixing Philosophy, Working With Miss Krystle, and How 300 Inspired His Tracks

​Despite what his nom de guerre of Silent-J might portend, Jimmy Ng is rarely at a loss for words. Ask him his opinion on the current state of electronic dance music or what skills are necessary to succeed as a DJ these days and you'll get an earful from the veteran producer and mixer jock. Such ... More >>

Joyful Noise: Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah's Sullied Union

Fred Hammond, A Contemporary Gospel Superstar, Singing Tonight at Pilgrim Rest Church

We are huge fans of modern gospel music, having been turned onto it many years ago by one Buddy Strong, then a South Mountain High music wunderkind and now one of the most sought-after and respected sidemen in the biz.Tonight at 6, Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, downtown Phoenix​(Here is our long-ag ... More >>

Cover Songs of Prince To Become Illegal?

​Prince wants the creativity of other artists to be partially banished. In fact, he wants covering his songs to become a crime, according to Paste.He's always been picky about people doing covers of his songs, but now he's taking that narcissism to a whole new level.Rules do exist at some labels t ... More >>

A Recap of the 2011 Grammy Awards: A Quick, Easy Guide to What Happened

Dan MacMedan, USA TodayNicki Minaj, doing what she does best: always trying to get attention.​The 2011 Grammy Awards kept things classy this year: There wasn't even a single mention of Ke$ha during the entire show!Good job, Grammy people! Thanks for taking out the trash this year. Aside from the l ... More >>

Super Bowl Halftime Show 2011: 10 Minutes of Shouting

​I called it from the very beginning of the football game: The Super Bowl halftime show would be 10 minutes of the Black Eyed Peas shouting. And indeed it was.Between the bad pickup on the microphones and the complete lack of nip-slips, this year's Super Bowl halftime show downright sucked.Th ... More >>

Multiple Benefit Concerts Being Organized to Support Queensland Flood Relief

​Flooding in Queensland, Australia is bringing about plenty of benefit concerts, according to Spinner.While artists like Keith Urban and Mos Def are shuffling around some tour dates to work around the flood, other artists and promoters are putting a more positive spin on the disaster by organizing ... More >>

The 8 Most Awesome Music Stories of 2010

​ Despite what you may have concluded from yesterday's list of the stupidest music stories of 2010, this year in music wasn't all that bad.In fact, a funny blog of Photoshopped album covers was created, a concert for dogs was proposed, and musicians exchanged some choice words.As promised, here ar ... More >>

Incoming: Lucero, B.B. King, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Sebadoh, Keith Sweat

Who wasn't twisted over Keith Sweat circa 1996?​There's no formal way of choosing which artist to write about for any given week's incoming shows. I usually just pick the one that jumps out at me and makes me harken back to the days when MTV actually played videos -- good videos. That's why K ... More >>

Nov. 22 In Blogs: A Bunch of Crock, Miniature Tigers, Poutine, and DMX

​​​In the 24-hour news cycle, it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries:

Modern Essential Tracks For Your Wedding, Vincent Gallo, This Century, and More in This Week's Issue

Nat King Cole, an "Unforgettable" essential part of your wedding soundtrack.​The times, they are a'changing, and traditional wedding songs just don't cut it for everyone anymore. That's why we've suggested some more modern alternatives to keep your wedding rocking, as well as some selections to st ... More >>

Usher @ Jobing.com Arena

Incoming: The Thermals, Usher, Elton John, The Heavy

​Interesting week for incoming shows. There's the run of the mill Roger Clyne show, as well as another  Miniature Tigers show -- both of which are swelling my heart with Arizona pride. So why choose to talk about a British rock band called The Heavy? For starters, their infernally catchy son ... More >>

Sharon Jones of Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings on Acting, Lady Gaga, and Festivals

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings​In terms of venues to have Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings play in Phoenix there probably isn't a better choice than the Orpheum Theatre. When you combine the retro late '60s/early '70s funk and soul of Sharon Jones with the historic music venue it could be a li ... More >>

Jay-Z Puts Beyonce on Blast in Usher's "Hot Toddy"

Don't let Usher and Jay-Z's puppy dog eyes fool you​Seriously, it's a great thing Usher isn't married any more. If he was, maybe it would be more difficult for him to sing songs about threesomes and boobies. But luckily, for listeners everywhere, we get to hear Ursh sex it up on the airwaves, and ... More >>

Aaron Taylor Talks KISS FM, DMX, Bob Marley, Usher, Masters At Work, and More

DJ Aaron Taylor​Name: Aaron TaylorAKA: Vanilla Gorilla (not really)Current club schedule: Thursday at Jackrabbit Lounge, Friday at Suede, and Saturday at Myst.Genres spun: Hip-hop, Top 40, old school, electro, reggae, or anything else you might tip for.How did you get started as a DJ? Back in '94, ... More >>

Milestones in Bieberdom: Historic Moments in the Life and Career of Teen Idol Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber Turns Usher into a Good Guy on "Somebody to Love"

Cute couple​Leave it to Justin Bieber to make a gentleman out of Usher.Usher, a player notorious for demanding threesomes and using big boobies as criteria for hooking up, actually sounds sweet on the track featuring him and The Biebs, "Somebody to Love," which is all about commitment and showing ... More >>

DJ John Blaze Talks SB 1070, Public Enemy, Capone-N-Noreaga, Local Hip-hop, and More

Besides pissing off big-name recording artists and motivating them to boycott Arizona, last month's passage of SB 1070 became an absolute call to arms for those in the local music scene. And one of the first artists to answer the call was DJ John Blaze.Along with P-Town hip-hop siren Queen YoNasDa, ... More >>

Usher Plays It Cool, Tim Urban Wins on 'American Idol'

​Jeez, it was bright last night on American Idol.So bright, that R&B superstar Usher had to wear sunglasses indoors (or else, he was blinded by the size of his ego.)Nonetheless, Usher was miles ahead in his skills as a mentor compared to Miley Cyrus last week. Maybe he can be a mentor for Simo ... More >>

NBA Wants Radio Edit of "Empire State Of Mind" During Free Agency Period, Threatens To Sanction Nets Owner Jay-Z

​NBA commissioner David Stern has asked rapper Jay-Z -- a part owner of the New Jersey Nets franchise -- to release an edited version of his hit song "Empire State of Mind" to be played during the league's free agency period this summer.The issue is a verse of the hit song where hip-hop star born ... More >>

Q&A: Dave Longstreth of Dirty Projectors sure does like Wikipedia

​It was early morning when I got the e-mail confirming my phone call with Dave Longstreth from Dirty Projectors. It was to be at 9a.m. my time, the following day. I went to work and went about my business as usual when it hit me. What does one ask the Dirty Projectors anyway? I went online to do s ... More >>

Conchords in Concert

Flight of the Conchords: The Trick Is to Get on Their Good Side

T.I. Proves Why He's the King

Luke HolwerdaIt's been an interesting career for Bankhead/Atlanta-based rapper T.I. He's currently weathering the brunt of charges brought against him for illegally owning three unregistered firearms, a part of his life he was not shy to mention while onstage at the Celebrity Theatre on Sunday night ... More >>

R&B Is “Rap & Bullshit”

Top 10 Songs You Must Turn Off

Snoop and Diddy headline a cast of stars destined to steal the spotlight from Super Bowl XLII

Chris Brown

Exclusive
(Jive)

Alligator Rap

Hippin' and hoppin' in the rain

The "Up Close and Personal" Tour

Or far away and anonymous, depending on your seats

Trak Record

Montreal turntable phenom A-Trak has quite the résumé for such a young DJ

Literary Crunk

SF author Tamara Palmer digs deep into the Dirty South's rap explosion

Club Deez at the Buzz

Friday Nutz Live

Fast Track

Smooth-rhyming rapper Ol' Green Eyes rides his ticket to overnight stardom

Kid Capri at Myst

Rare chance to shake it with hip-hop giant

Crunk Junkie

An acquired taste becomes a guilty pleasure

On the Down-Low

Shovel away all that Usher, Prince and Lil Jon you've been jamming and dig this year's buried black-music treasures

Trend-Spotting

In a scandal-ridden election year, the top 10 music stories were all about winning the popular vote

Blue Xmas

Coming to terms with musical memories

Club Directory

Got Milkshake?

Our night crawlers brave Britney to stalk rowdy rap queen Kelis

Best Break Into Stardom By A Local Musician

Buddy Strong

Burke Slaw

With his latest star-powered release, Solomon Burke — the King of Rock and Soul — preaches to a new congregation

Going Strong

Young Phoenix piano player trades church hymns for gig with R&B star