As we all know, ATRL is... selective when it comes to praising male artists (as they should be), but Usher is an artist, who the majority of ATRL has been complimentary towards, however, his albums (bar Confessions) aren't really ever discussed on ATRL. Confessions always gets the spotlight when it comes to discussions on Usher's career, but 8701 is Usher's most personal album as Jermaine Dupri once said because the story of Confessions is relative to what was, actually, going on in Jermaine's life, at the time. 8701 is packed with hits and album tracks that deserved the single treatment. Plus, the aesthetics of the album packaging and its videos were just pure Y2K male R&B/Pop star, at his finest. 

 

The hits: 

 

The Grammy award winning 4-week Billboard Hot 100 #1 Lead Single:

 

The 6-week Billboard Hot 100 #1 Second Single:

 

The Grammy award winning Billboard Hot 100 Top 3 (#3) Third Single:

 

The International Hit Fourth Single:

Australia: #7

UK: #16

Netherlands (#27), Scotland (#31), and Switzerland (#22): Top 40

 

The Single-Worthy Album Tracks:

 

The non-single-worthy, but still gems album tracks:

 

We need more prime Usher praise on ATRL 

His third best album, following “Confessions” and “My Way”.
 

 

However, “U Got It Bad” is the GREATEST R&B song of all-time, I fear, and nothing will ever surpass it. 
 

 

P.S: I’ve actually never liked “U Remind Me”. 

Edited May 2, 20224 yr by GoodGuyGoneGhetto

17 minutes ago, GoodGuyGoneGhetto said:

However, “U Got It Bad” is the GREATEST R&B song of all-time, I fear, and nothing will ever surpass it. 
 

A masterpiece 

This album was leaked months before it’s release date and the UK ended up pushing one of the tracks because of it. I think it went #1 there. I forget what it’s called. 

This masterpiece. 

U Got It Bad is still THAT song 

 

Literally R&B perfection - those guitars and the U GOT IT BADDDDDDDDDDDDDD with the extended guitar before the final chorus  >>>

48 minutes ago, Thinking Of You said:

This album was leaked months before it’s release date and the UK ended up pushing one of the tracks because of it. I think it went #1 there. I forget what it’s called. 

 

Love to see his best album finally getting some appreciation around here  U-Turn, Pop Ya Collar, If I Want to, U Don’t Have to Call and I Can’t Let U Go are all bops. 

3 hours ago, Thinking Of You said:

This album was leaked months before it’s release date and the UK ended up pushing one of the tracks because of it. I think it went #1 there. I forget what it’s called. 

Pop Ya Collar.

 

 

After “YMMW” and “N&S” smashed here, his next single was easily going #1. (“My Way” wasn’t released as a single in the U.K). 

Such a good album. I lowkey prefer it to Confessions. It's more concise.

10 hours ago, GoodGuyGoneGhetto said:

However, “U Got It Bad” is the GREATEST R&B song of all-time, I fear, and nothing will ever surpass it. 
 

 

THIS!!

 

I don't think I've ever stopped listening to "U Don't Have To Call" since release. I need to hear it atleast once every other day. Still slaps especially before heading out to the club.