A | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 12, 2018 | |||
Recorded | 2018 | |||
Studio |
Westlake Recording ( West Hollywood, California) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 27:09 | |||
Label |
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Producer | Zaytoven | |||
Usher chronology | ||||
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Zaytoven chronology | ||||
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Singles from A | ||||
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A is a collaborative studio album by American singer Usher and record producer Zaytoven, the latter of which entirely handling the album's production. [2] Released on October 12, 2018, the album is an homage to the city of Atlanta, where Usher and Zaytoven grew up, featuring guest appearances from fellow Atlanta-based musicians Future and Gunna. [3] [4] [5]
A peaked at number 31 on the US Billboard 200, and received mixed to negative reviews by critics.
On July 25, 2018, Mark Pitts, President of Urban Music at RCA, posted a photo on Instagram of him and Usher working in the studio. [6] Pitts posted another image in September on his Instagram of him, Zaytoven, and Usher in the studio. [7] Zaytoven and Usher previously collaborated on the 2009 single " Papers" from Usher's 2010 album Raymond v. Raymond.
In an interview Usher conducted the Thursday before the album release with The Fader, he said "Zaytoven and I were working on my project, my future album, actually. And we started working on songs, had great combinations between the first two, three, and we kept going." [8]
The album was recorded at Westlake Recording Studios in West Hollywood, California. [9]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [10] |
A received mixed to negative reviews by critics. AllMusic wrote that “A is inspired if mechanical, with Usher's superior vocal dexterity almost neutralized by overly familiar scenarios and materialistic lyrical tropes.” [11] According to Pitchfork writer Briana Younger, "Zaytoven’s minimalist trap isn’t always the ideal match for Usher’s traditional R&B capabilities, but when they push both to their extreme, something magical happens." [12] Elias Leight of Rolling Stone wrote that "On ‘A,’ Usher moves with the times — and that’s a bad thing". [13] Medium stated that “the less said about his A EP the better.” [14] Highsnobiety commented that “both Usher and Zaytoven could do much better”. [15] 34th Street Magazine called it an “uneven 37 minutes”, criticizing its “repetitive content and lyrics”. [16]
Usher announced the project on October 11, 2018, with a trailer showing himself and Zaytoven driving around Atlanta and visiting various locations. [4] The trailer also featured various portions of the tracks; alongside this, Usher also posted snippets of the tracks separately on Instagram. [4]
The cover art for the album is designed by American fashion designer Virgil Abloh. The artwork is Abloh's album-themed take of his own signature Off-White branding. [8]
A debuted at number 31 on the US Billboard 200 with 15,000 album-equivalent units, which included 4,000 pure album sales. [17]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Stay at Home" (featuring Future) |
| 3:28 |
2. | "ATA" |
| 3:07 |
3. | "Peace Sign" |
| 2:58 |
4. | "You Decide" |
| 3:32 |
5. | "Birthday" |
| 3:24 |
6. | "She Ain't Tell Ya" |
| 3:21 |
7. | "Say What U Want" |
| 3:39 |
8. | "Gift Shop" (featuring Gunna) |
| 3:41 |
Total length: | 27:09 |
Credits for A adapted from AllMusic. [19]
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Digital Albums ( ARIA) [20] | 35 |
Dutch Albums ( Album Top 100) [21] | 135 |
US Billboard 200 [22] | 31 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ( Billboard) [23] | 19 |