Open Letter to Usher

Hello Usher,

I just heard your brand new single “I Don’t Mind” featuring Juicy J and immediately felt compelled to congratulate you for releasing such a powerful song. While most of today’s mainstream rap and R&B newcomers regularly objectify women in their music, it’s nice to have an artist of your caliber give these young guys a lesson on how to treat a lady.

First things first, I really dig the hook.

Shawty, I don’t mind If you dance on a pole/That don’t make you a ho
Shawty, I don’t mind when you work until three/If you’re leaving with me
Go make that money, money, money/Your money, money, money
Cause I know how it is, go and handle your biz/And get that money, money, money
Your money, money, money/You can take off your clothes
Long as you coming home, girl, I don’t mind

Right off the bat, you let your girl know that trust is not an issue.  Too many artists paint women as shady and untrustworthy, but not you. You even take the time to reassure her that she isn’t a ho, just because she’s taking her clothes off for money. Trust is key to a healthy relationship and you don’t have a problem letting the object of your affection know that no matter who she strips for, you’re confident that she’s coming home to you, even if it’s really late at night…or very early in the morning depending on how you look at it.  I also like how you make it a point to reinforce the fact that her money is her money.  With so many songs generalizing all women as gold diggers, you’re quick to distance yourself from such narrow-minded foolishness.  I hope these young artists are taking notes to learn how the mind of a real man works.

Ok, on to the first verse.

The ballers in here tonight, they gon’ buy a hundred bottles
As soon as you shake it I know they gon’ make it colossal in here
Cause shawty you thinkin’ them tricks that you do with your body
Got all of these niggas they crowding around you like they seen Beyonce in here
You want your own and you need your own, baby, who am I to judge?
Cause how could I ever trip about it when I met you in the club?
I make enough for the both of us, but you dance anyway
You know I was raised in the A

Here, you prove how secure you are in your manhood. While most men wouldn’t feel comfortable with their girlfriends/wives sharing their special “bedroom” tricks with random dudes, you acknowledge the fact that since you met your girl at the club, judging her for the very thing which attracted you to her in the first place wouldn’t be right. Being nonjudgmental is a sign of wisdom and maturity.  Again, you’re showing these youngins how an adult thinks.  And even though you’re making millions upon millions, and she’s most likely not, you wouldn’t dare stop her from doing something she loves and that she’s obviously good at.  After all, the ballers wouldn’t be making it “colossal” if she didn’t have a reputation for being great at her craft.  That’s important…especially in the A.

Second verse.

When you get off of work I’ll be ready to go in the ‘Rari
And when we get home we’ll have us our own private party in here
So I don’t worry at all about the things they do or say
I love you anyway
You can twerk it while in a split, you racking up them tips
Your body rock and your booty poppin’, I’m proud to call you my bitch
They be lookin’, but they can’t touch you, shawty, I’m the only one to get it
So just go ahead and keep doing what you do, do it

After a hard day at work, even if it’s 3 in the morning, you’re right there for your girl, making sure she gets home safe in the comfort of your beautiful sports car.  That should make any woman feel good. Today’s rappers and singers are too scared to display any hint of chivalry and simply end up looking like jerks. You turn that notion around unapologetically. And you’re even willing to cater to her needs in the bedroom once you get home, because you know that the only thing she really wants after getting off work at 3 in the morning following a very busy night on her feet dealing with demanding customers, is her very own private party. There’s obviously nothing you wouldn’t do for the girl you’re proud enough to call your bitch. That’s real love, man.

Now, allow me to offer a little bit of criticism here.  I don’t mean to offend you in any way but I don’t think Juicy J is a good fit. His verse kinda kills the vibe.

I’m just tryna cut her up, tryna bust a nut
Tryna take somebody bitch, turn her to a slut
Tryna fill my cup, tryna live it up
Throw some hundreds on that ass, walk her out the club
(Yeah, ho) Lap dance for the first date
Bet I threw a few bands, that’s third base
It’s okay if you work late, we can still party like it’s your birthday
We can still party hard in your birthday suit
Knock that pussy out the park like my name Babe Ruth
Shawty she just want a tip, I just want to see her strip
If you fuck me like you love me shawty you might get rich
Have her own cake, her own place, blow her own gas, no role’
When we in the bed she like to roleplay, tell her friend to join in both ways

I know Juicy J is the go-to rapper of the moment but his lyrics just don’t capture the spirit of your song.  Whereas you go out of your way to be compassionate, understanding, and caring to your bitch, Juicy J is just coming off crass.  I know he’s trying to show these sluts some love, albeit in his own clumsy way, but I think he did a much better job displaying his sensitive side on the verse he did off Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse”. I don’t know if he intentionally toned down his sexually explicit content for Katy’s pop audience but I think strippers deserve the same consideration Ms. Perry does. If anyone knows anything about how hard it is for strippers or pimps, it should be Juicy J.  Thankfully, the song ends with your hook and everything is right again.

By the time you read this letter, I’m sure your song will be dominating the airwaves from NY to Cali and everywhere in between, which is great because kids need to hear examples of what loving and supportive relationships are all about.  I’m sure the children of Usher’s New Look, your organization dedicated to providing positive role models, leadership, and career opportunities to disadvantaged youth, are proud of their big brother/mentor for going against the grain of today’s misogynist music.  If you were a contestant on the Voice, I’d definitely turn my chair around.

Not to end on a sad note, but following the unfortunate passing of the iconic Bobby Womack, I’m glad that we still have artists like you to carry on his legacy.

Sincerely,

A fan

You can also find this article at http://raprehab.com/an-open-letter-to-usher/