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| Length = | Label = RCA | Producer = | Last album = ''Versus'' (2010) | This album = ''Looking 4 Myself'' (2012) | Next album = ''UR'' (2015) | Misc = }} ''Looking 4 Myself'' is the seventh studio album by American R&B recording artist Usher. It was released on June 8, 2012 on RCA Records, following the disbandment of Jive Records in October 2011 and LaFace Records months later. Several producers were involved with its production, including Diplo, Rico Love, Jim Jonsin, Salaam Remi, Pharrell Williams and Max Martin, among others. It features several guest vocalists, including Rick Ross, Pharrell, Luke Steele and ASAP Rocky. Inspired by the electronic duo Empire of the Sun and listening to music originating from several locations, Usher intended the album to contain a more experimental sound, that remained relevant to the music of its time. Defined as "revolutionary pop" by the singer, critics noted that ''Looking 4 Myself'' incorporates the genres R&B, pop, hip hop, electronic, Europop and dubstep. Critic Barry Walters has described it as a key release in the emerging alternative R&B genre. Upon its release, ''Looking 4 Myself'' received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics. Most of them praised the album's diversity in music genre, while some were ambivalent towards its pop material and lack of structure. The album debuted atop the US ''Billboard'' 200 chart, selling 128,000 copies in its first week, becoming Usher's fourth number one album in the country. As of December 2012, the album has sold 438,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Worldwide, it attained top-ten positions in over eight other countries including Australia, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom. ''Looking 4 Myself'' spawned five singles: "Climax", "Scream", "Lemme See" featuring rapper Rick Ross, "Numb" and "Dive". "Climax" peaked in the top-twenty on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for eleven weeks. "Scream" peaked in the top-ten on the Hot 100 and several other countries. "Numb" obtained moderate international chart success and peaked at number 69 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. Usher promoted ''Looking 4 Myself'' by performing in several shows including the off-broadway show Fuerza Bruta: Look Up, ''Saturday Night Live'' and ''Good Morning America''. A tour that would further promote the album was planned, however, it was cancelled due to the singer's obligation as a coach on ''The Voice''. ==Background== In 2010, Usher released his sixth studio album ''Raymond v. Raymond'', with a mixed critical response and commercial success; the project went on to earn two Grammy Awards at the 2011 ceremony.〔〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Raymond v. Raymond Reviews )〕 His follow-up record was originally rumored to be titled ''The Shanetance'' and due for release on March 23, 2012, though Usher later refuted the speculation.〔 While on hiatus between the release of his first EP ''Versus'' and ''Looking 4 Myself'', Usher told AOL Music that he mainly traveled to various locations to listen to music which he "felt was really significant in terms of energy." Some of these locations included the Coachella Music Festival, Ibiza, Germany, Las Vegas, Miami and Southern France. He described some of the music as a "little bit more electronic, some of it a little bit more dance. Some of it, a bit more world."〔 It was Australian electronic music duo Empire of the Sun that inspired Usher to produce the album's title track, with producer Rico Love, which led to the singer collaborating with producers he normally wouldn't work with or admired, such as Diplo.〔 Usher's intention for the album was one "that was not genre-specific but just experimental".〔 During an episode of NBC's ''The Voice'', Usher called the album "by far one of my most risky records ... I wanted to challenge myself". ''Looking 4 Myself'' was chosen as the album's title as it described Usher's 'musical journey'.〔 RCA Records CEO Peter Edge spoke to ''Billboard'' on which two specific groups they want the album to appeal to, "By the time the album is available, Usher's collective audience will have had a chance to really sample a number of songs from the album () the end result will be an Usher album that appeals to his earliest fans, and people who may have never listened to or owned an Usher album before." Prior to the album's release, Usher was put under the management of Grace Miguel—whom he is in a relationship with—replacing Randy Phillips, who managed Usher for a short period after he split with his mother, Jonnetta Patton for a second time, in 2008.〔 The cover art and track listing for both the standard and deluxe edition of the album were revealed on May 3, 2012. On June 4, 2012, 30 second snippets of each track were leaked on the internet. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Looking 4 Myself」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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