8701 (Arista, 2001) by Usher

Usher's third album is a solid mix of ballads and up-tempo dance numbers.  "U Remind Me" is basically a more dance-friendly version of "U Make Me Wanna" wherein one girl makes Usher think of another girl.  "U Got it Bad" is a phenomenal ballad and when he says, "Look at your mate, help me sing my song/Tell her, 'I'm your man, you're my girl/I'm gonna tell it to the whole wide world'/Ladies say, 'I'm your girl, you're my man/Promise to love you the best I can,'" it's impossible to not sing along.  The one song that I think was overlooked on this album for some reason though was "Can U Help Me."  The Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis-produced ballad has beautiful music and displays Usher's range as a vocalist.  Emotionally and technically, it is my favorite record on 8701.

My Way (LaFace, 1997) by Usher

This is what Usher's debut was supposed to sound like.  However, when he released his self-titled debut three years earlier, he was too young to be believable.  Fast forward a  few years and have Jermaine Dupri step in to assist on the writing and production end.  The result is My Way.  The opening lines of "Nice and Slow" are suggestive but not too far-fetched, "My Way" was catchy, and "U Make Me Wanna" was teenage drama without the bubble-gum pop that weighs down so much music that intends to present a youthful perspective.  Usher, along with Justin Timberlake, have gone on to become two of the biggest stars of their generation and this was the album that Usher needed in order to prove that he was the real deal and jumpstart down a path that would lead to one of the most successful careers in modern R&B.