Ready To Sign Them Papers

So, I've come to realize that I'm one of the few people of today who still listen to the radio. But, I do. I have a radio/alarm clock, so when I wake up in the morning, instead of just shutting off the alarm, I just turn it down to a normal volume, and continue listening.

While doing this about a week ago, I caught what was announced as the world premier of Usher's new single, entitled "Papers" (WGCi said it was the world premier, but they are known for playing "new" music well after other urban stations like Power92 have already done so).

At first listen, it sounds like the typical Usher ballad; it kind of sounds like "Burn", which kind of sounded like "You Got it Bad". Yeah, along those lines. But, after the track ended, the DJ stated that the track was supposedly about Usher's soon to be ex-wife Tameka Foster. Then, I decided to look up the track, and really listen to the lyrics.

After doing that, it's easy to know that it's about her. I personally appreciated the extremely personal aspect of the track; myself being a poet. Not a lot of singers make music as personal as this track appears to be. Hell, not a lot of urban music artists make music about shit that actually happens in their life at all. But, my opinion of the track differs from most.

A lot of people find the track, "funny", and not in a good way. I mean, I've heard people actually laugh at this track, and at Usher for expressing his truest feelings through his gift of music. I personally don't see what's funny about that but, hey, to each his own. I've read comments on YouTube along the lines of "this song is too personal", etc. I personally don't think anything an artist creates can be TOO personal; with the lone exception of Eminem saying, "listen girly/ surely you don't want me to talk about how I nutted early/ cuz I ejaculated prematurely" in "The Warning", the diss track to Mariah Carey. THAT'S being too personal. Especially when it's only for the purpose of embarrassing someone else. I'mma chalk that up as a case of "When Keepin' It Real Goes Wrong".

But anyway, in the midst of all the naysayers, I did come across an intelligent YouTube commenter, who stated, "No one can make you miserable. Blame yourself for allowing someone to effect you this way. Don't blame her for almost losing your momma or giving all that you had..you did it to yourself. To usher and them fellas talking about they feel where is he coming from. I hope the ex-wifey keeps her head up and dismiss the haters."

Shouts to BlaqueQueenSha for the wise words, which I totally agree with. That's my only gripe with the track, is that he's trying to blame Tameka for everything that's gone wrong in his life being the way it is. Damn Usher, was the nookie THAT good, that you couldn't notice everything else around you collapsing based on your decisions? For the sake of their two kids, and, I guess the 1200 she had before marrying Usher, I wish the best for them and their future.

~Trufe