Jay-Z said Jay-z believes Usher is the next Michael jackson and Usher agrees: “”I’ve been doing this 18 years now and my icon is well on its way. Michael was doing it for 50 years and that’s something I’d like to grow towards. At the same time, I am one of a kind, a worldwide pop icon. I think Jay is correct. Thanks, Jay!”
I don’t think so.
1) Usher isn’t pop enough, if has forgotten how how to write a “You Make Me Wanna” which wasn’t even the real deal any way.
2) Mandingo here we go. Usher is to sexualized… there is an intimidating rawness to his appeal which is the opposite of MJ’s pan-sexual harmlessness. The tweens might listen but they will keep their difference.
3) Usher is too aggressive in his lyric. You have never ever heard MJ going blue and the bluer you get the more members of your audience.
4) Usher is too black. I know that sounds like a racist comment but the truly crossover stars, the MJS, transcend skin pigmentation and Usher never does. Perhaps a better comparison would be the former CEO of Time/Warner Dick Parsons. He is skin pigmentation neutral because his power (or weakness) doesn’t emerge from there.
5) Usher is 32 years old and he has been reaching for MJ’s mantle at least since the 90s. In the world of MJ icons, if he hasn’t done it he won’t do it.
6) And, one more time, he doesn’t have the songs. Breaking the pop charts isn’t what it was, breaking the charts isn’t a signifyer of an MJ like crossover appeal. It isn’t the way we function when a 100K CD sales can place you at the top.
So, no, not, Usher. I think it’ll come outta hip hop. Both B.o.B. and Drake have the potential to break huge pop.