Private Life Has Influenced Usher's New Album

Sat, 01 May 2010 02:23:45 ET

The 'Yeah!' hitmaker admits that his new album 'Raymond vs. Raymond' deals with the breakdown of his marriage, revealing 'I was still married when the record was written.'

Usher's music gives an insight into his private life. The singer, whose divorce from ex-wife Tameka Foster-Raymond was finalized November 2009, has revealed his new album "Raymond vs. Raymond" deals with the breakdown of his marriage as he wants to "set the record straight".

"I was still married when the record was written," he told The Guardian newspaper. "The last thing you want to do in a marriage is give up, but when you've tried everything you can, then the best thing to do is realistically have a conversation about letting go."

"I don't have a private life, that's the catch. What R&B music is, and what it always has been, is taking an emotional experience and singing it passionately. If people wondered if there were certain truths in certain things, my music basically sets the record straight."

The pop star, who has two sons, 23-month-old Usher Raymond V and nine-month-old Naviyd Ely, with Tameka, claims he is honest in his music because that's what fans want. He said, "They want your soul... they want to know how you really feel."

"I have a responsibility both ways, to be an incredible man, but also to be very artistic and open. There are certain things on this album, about infidelity or whatever it may be, that are very difficult. But it's about growing in every aspect of the journey through life."

Despite the difficult times he's experienced, the 31-year-old star looks back fondly on his marriage. He said, "I just think back to how I felt when I found my wife. It was one of the most sincere moments in my life, and I'll never diminish that. I was very happy to have had that experience with her, and to have two beautiful boys, who we raise together. But it just didn't work out for us."

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