Usher's next album was originally supposed to arrive in the fall of 2014, but the singer changed his mind about the release date. "I just ain't ready," he told Billboard. "Meaning I have more that I want to say and more that I want to do. My process is pretty different. L.A. Reid will tell you, it takes two albums to make one with Usher."
2015 came and went without an album as well, though Usher did contribute to a Nina Simone tribute album and unveil a politically charged song titled "Chains." In another conversation with Billboard, the singer declared "the album will come when it comes."
But that doesn't mean he hasn't been working on new music: Rap-Up reports that Usher unveiled two new songs at a recent New Year's Eve performance in L.A. "I feel responsible," he reportedly told the crowd. "I look at all of my social media and my fans been a little mad at me because I pushed my album back. But tonight, if you don't mind, I just want to share something with you. This is just something I've been working on, I figured I'll just play it for you."
Check out clips of the two songs below, and revisit the singer's FADER feature.
