Jermaine Dupri made the most of some recent time in the studio with Jay-Z, having Hov lay guest vocals for an Usher track and a Mariah Carey remix.

The Carey remix is a reworking of "Bye Bye," the second single from her E=MC2 LP. On the original, Mariah sings about losing family members, but JD hints that the remix will be more upbeat.

"The remix for the Mariah record is crazy," Dupri said Friday (April 1. "Young Hov and Mariah crank it up, and myself, JD — a.k.a. Barry Bonds — cleans up."

When asked if it was awkward to remix such a melancholy song, Dupri said we'll forget about the sad sentiments.

Just last week, Jermaine leaked footage online, in which Jay-Z paid a visit to the studio after the Atlanta stop of the Heart of the City Tour. Jay, Usher, Dupri and Anthony Hamilton were seen laughing it up and promising a hit record.

"It's a Jay-Z and Usher record produced by me," the mogul said. "It's about their lives right now. They talk about their past relationships and how they are where they are now."

"The Best Thing" will be featured on Usher's May 27 release, Here I Stand.

"It's cool," the producer said. "They not really sappy. It's not a sappy song. Usher's album is more about teaching men [that] at some point, you gotta grow up. And growing up is respecting a woman and having a woman in your life and taking care of your woman. That's his definition of growing up. A lot of other n---as have a different definition. That's his definition of becoming a man, taking care of home. This song is kinda like that. It's a responsible type of record. When that girl you settled down with, she leaves you. You realize you lost the best thing that ever happened to you.

"The hardest part about this Usher album is that I'm not involved in the record-company process," he added. "This is the first album where we're not in charge of who picks the singles. So I can't speak on that part of it. I would hope it would be the next single. It feels like it should be. Usher left the studio saying it was the next single. But he also told y'all weeks ago [that] 'Moving Mountains' was the next single. Lyric-wise, hearing Jay-Z say what he's saying and Usher saying what he's saying, people wanna hear this. I could tell you that. N---as wanna hear that."

Another Dupri remix on the horizon is O'Neal McKnight's "Check Your Coat." No, Jay-Z does not appear, but Greg Nice raps on the song. Dupri even threw his own flavor on there as well.

mtv.com

Ugh @ JD's use of the n-word. So unnecessary.

The album is a little over a month away!! I wonder if Moving Mountains will sound a bit different than the version that leaked ages ago.

They already have started playing it on the radio.

UBG First: Usher Presents...Here I Stand! | April 15th, 2008
Over the course of his career Usher has sold close to 26 million albums worldwide and won numerous awards. As an intimate body of work, Usher's last studio album Confessions, took fans on his journey through romantic relationships, making commitments, breaking them and dealing with the consequences of his decisions. Here I Stand in stores May 27th, raises the stakes and is the next chapter in this ongoing story of Usher's coming of age.

Here I Stand tells a story of growth; triumphant, reflective, somewhat defiant, and marks a new period in Usher's life and creative expression. Through his music, Usher illustrates the tension and challenges of balancing a very public life with private decisions; of being a sex symbol and entertainer with being a faithful husband and father. Here I Stand finds Usher working with some of the best producers and writers around, including Polow Da Don, who produced the first hit single Love In This Club, Jermaine Dupri, Dre & Vidal and Dream & Tricky Stewart.

Although the market has changed dramatically since Usher's last release, there is a massive anticipation for his return, demonstrated by the groundbreaking one week jump of Love In This Club from #51 to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (see story below). The follow up single Moving Mountains, provides an opportunity for multiple format single success across pop, rhythm and urban radio.

Usher once again is ready to take top spot & give his fans what he has been giving them from day one, great music!


Usher will perform at this years BET Awards and will grace next months cover issue of VIBE Magazine.


Other UBG Highlighted tracks from Here I Stand include, What's A Man To Do, Before I Met You, the title track Here I Stand and Forever.


Check out Usher in the studio with Jay-Z, JD and Anthony Hamilton Click Here

Source: http://www.urbanbridgez.com/