It’s been four years since Usher released a new album, a lapse that the confessional singer recently admitted had angered some of his fans. To be fair to the crooner and dancer, he has had some other projects to work on, including playing Sugar Ray Leonard in Hands Of Stone. And Usher did release two new songs earlier this year, including Master P-inspired “No Limit.” Those tracks are part of Hard II Love, his much-anticipated eighth studio album that, by the way, has just gotten an early release via Tidal.
The 15-track album includes “Champions,” a bilingual, peace-promoting tune from the Hands Of Stone soundtrack, which presumably plays when Leonard and Roberto Durán aren’t pounding the crap out of each other. Usher also faces some hard truths on the eponymous track, but kicks things off with “conversation” with Quantico’s Priyanka Chopra on the bumping “Need U.”
Hard II Love is currently streaming on Tidal, but you can pick it up via iTunes on September 16.