Lemme See

"Lemme See" is a song by American recording artist Usher, released through RCA Records, as the third single from his seventh studio album Looking 4 Myself (2012). The track features vocals from rapper Rick Ross. It was written by Usher, Eric Bellinger, Jim Jonsin, Danny Morris, Nickolas Marzouca and Lundon Knighten with its production helmed by Jonsin and Morris. It was digitally released on May 4, 2012 and sent to urban radio on May 8, 2012. "Lemme See" is a mid-tempo R&B song that makes heavy use of synthesizers. Its lyrics depict Usher contemplating on what he is going to do when he "gets a certain female clubgoer into his bedroom".[1]

"Lemme See"
Single by Usher featuring Rick Ross
from the album Looking 4 Myself
ReleasedMay 4, 2012
Recorded2012; Parkland Playhouse (Parkland, FL); Silent Sound Studios (Atlanta, GA)
Genre
Length4:15
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Usher singles chronology
"Scream"
(2012)		 "Lemme See"
(2012)		 "Touch'N You"
(2012)
Rick Ross singles chronology
"Stay Schemin'"
(2012)		 "Lemme See"
(2012)		 "Born Stunna"
(2012)

The song peaked at number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has also reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, the second single from Looking 4 Myself to peak in the top three on the chart, following its lead single "Climax". Internationally "Lemme See" reached number six on the South Korea Gaon International Chart, number 88 on the French Singles Chart and number ninety on the UK Singles Chart. The song's music video was directed by Philip Andelman, and shows Usher inside his estate with his love interest in several risqué scenes. Usher performed the song live during the 2012 iTunes Festival.

Release and composition

"Lemme See" was digitally released on May 4, 2012 as the third single from Usher's seventh studio album Looking 4 Myself, following "Scream".[2] The following week, on May 8, 2012 "Lemme See" was released to SoundCloud.[3] On the same day, it was sent to urban radio and on May 22, to rhythmic radio.[4][5]

"Lemme See" is a mid-tempo R&B song that heavily incorporates synthesizers, and has a running duration of four minutes and 15 seconds.[1][2][6][7] It contains elements of hip hop music, and its production was compared to the one in Kelly Rowland's "Motivation" (2011).[7][8][9] Lyrically, Usher is contemplating on what he is going to do when he "gets a certain female clubgoer into his bedroom", in the line: Hey girl, I'm debating if I should take you home.[1] During the pre-chorus, he comes to the conclusion: I decided to take my shirt off / and show my chest.[1]

Critical reception

The Observer's Killian Fox called the song a hit. Andy Kellman of AllMusic described the track as "a slithering, low-slung jam" noting it as one of Usher's best songs and a stand-out from Looking 4 Myself.[10] DJ Booth commended its production, writing that it contains "sultry, slow-burning synth grooves".[1] Erika Ramirez of Billboard also praised the song's production, calling it "seductive" while showing a positive response to Rick Ross' verse.[6] Several other reviewers showed similar responses to Ross' appearance on "Lemme See", including Sobhi Youssef of Sputnikmusic who noted it as a "welcome" surprise.[11] The Los Angeles Times's Randall Roberts wrote that the song "finds its groove when Rick Ross parks his Lamborghini on the track’s lawn for a cameo".[12] By contrast, BBC Music's Natalie Shaw disapproved of Rick Ross' verse, saying that it consists of "tasteless mentions of Trayvon Martin".[13]

Chart performance

Due to digital downloads, "Lemme See" entered the singles chart in South Korea. It debuted on the South Korea Gaon International Chart at number ten on May 27, 2012, with sales of 17,445 digital copies.[14] The following week, it rose to number six, selling a further 19,632 copies.[15] In its third week, with the release of Looking 4 Myself in South Korea, it sold 10,914 units and was charted at number 18.[16] In its fourth week, "Lemme See" dropped 23 positions to number 41, with 5,493 digital copies sold.[17] It was knocked off the chart the proceeding week.[18] In the US, "Lemme See" peaked below the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 46.[19] The song peaked at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and remained in the top five for eleven weeks.[20][21] In the UK, following the release of Looking 4 Myself, the song entered and peaked at number ninety on the week of June 23, 2012.[22] It also reached number 21 on the UK R&B chart.[23] In France, the song entered and peaked at number 88, while dropping to number 110 the following the week before dropping off the chart in its third week.[24]

Music video and live performances
Usher and his love interest making love in a risqué scene.

The official music video for "Lemme See" was released on June 14, 2012, and was directed by Philip Andelman.[25][26] The video opens with a close-up of Usher's estate, and a woman bound by ropes. Usher is stood by a swimming pool singing the first verse, with the pool reflecting on him. During the pre-chorus, Usher is leaning against a wall while pulling up his top to reveal his chest. Entering the chorus, the video intercuts to Usher preparing drinks for himself and the tied up woman– his love interest.[27] With the second verse, Usher is admiring his still tied up love interest. In the second pre-chorus, leaned against a wall Usher removes his shirt, while the video intercuts to him approaching his love interest to make love.[25] Entering Rick Ross' verse, Ross is sat down shirtless, accompanied by two women sat by him left and right.[25] Touching Ross' back, their tattoos transfer on to Ross and bloom. Him and Usher are both by a pool with Ross performing his rap, while in an intercut scene Usher's love interest is being released from her tied up predicament. In the final chorus, Usher and his love interest make love in a risqué scene, with both their tattoos moving and blooming on to each other in a similar way to Ross' scene. This alternates with the latter scene, Usher leaned against the wall and him and Ross by the pool, with Usher singing the verse. The video ends with Ross and Usher echoing the song's title.

American magazine Rap-Up praised the music video, calling it "seductive" while Billboard's David Greenwald compared it to Barbadian singer Rihanna's "S&M", and noted parts of "Lemme See"'s video as "less edgy" compared to its love scene.[25][27] Opening the 2012 iTunes Festival, Usher performed the song for the first time along with "Can't Stop Won't Stop", "Twisted", "Dive" and "Numb" and other songs.[28]

Credits and personnel
Recording
  • Vocal recording – Parkland Playhouse, Parkland, FL; Silent Sound Studios, Atlanta, GA
  • Mixing – Parkland Playhouse, Parkland, FL
Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Looking 4 Myself, RCA Records.[29]

Charts

Release history
Country Date Format Label Ref.
United Kingdom May 4, 2012 Digital download RCA Records [2]
United States May 8, 2012 Urban radio [4]
May 22, 2012 Rhythmic radio [5]
gollark: Yes, of course it is.
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gollark: The trouble is that it's hard to have that sort of thing not be easily detectable.
gollark: Anyway, I wrote some examples I think should be useful for the `string.dump` page, so you can look there.

References
  1. Richard. "Usher – Lemme See". DJ Booth. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  2. "All albums for "usher"". iTunes Store (UK). Apple Inc. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  3. "Lemme See feat. Rick Ross". SoundCloud. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  4. "Urban/UAC Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on May 7, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  5. "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on May 20, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  6. Ramirez, Erika. "Usher's 'Looking 4 Myself': Track-By-Track Review - The Juice". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  7. "New music: Usher – Lemme See featuring Rick Ross". The Guardian. London: Guardian Media Group. May 3, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  8. "Usher's "Looking 4 Myself" Reviewed: "Lemme See" ft. Rick Ross". Popdust. 2012-06-05. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  9. "Usher, Rick Ross Team Up On 'Lemme See': Listen". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  10. Kellman, Andy. "Usher - Looking 4 Myself". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved on June 10, 2012.
  11. Youssef, Sobhi. "Usher Looking 4 Myself". Sputnik Music. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  12. Roberts, Randall (June 12, 2012). "Album review: Usher's 'Looking 4 Myself'". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  13. Shaw, Natalie. "Usher Looking 4 Myself Review". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  14. "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week, May 27, 2012 to June 2, 2012)" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  15. "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week, June 3, 2012 to June 9, 2012)" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  16. "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week, June 10, 2012 to June 16, 2012)" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  17. "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week, June 17, 2012 to June 23, 2012)" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  18. "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week, June 24, 2012 to June 30, 2012)" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  19. "Usher Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  20. "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Week of August 13, 2011". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. August 13, 2011. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  21. Santiago, Karinah (August 10, 2012). "Chart Juice: 2 Chainz Gets Back-to-Back No. 1s on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  22. "Usher discography in United Kingdom". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  23. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  24. "Lescharts.com – Usher feat. Rick Ross – Lemme See" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  25. "Video: Usher f/ Rick Ross – 'Lemme See'". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  26. "Music Video News: IN DEPTH: Usher f/ Rick Ross — Philip Andelman, dir". Video Static. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  27. Greenwald, David (June 15, 2012). "Usher's on the Ropes in 'Lemme See' Video: Watch". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  28. "Usher Hails Crowd At iTunes Festival 2012 Show: "I'm Really Happy to Be Here" - Audio". Capital. September 2, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  29. Looking 4 Myself (inlay cover). Usher. RCA Records. 2012.CS1 maint: others (link)
  30. "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week, June 10, 2012 to June 16, 2012)" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  31. "Official UK Singles Top 100 - 23rd June 2012 - Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on June 17, 2012.
  32. "Usher Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  33. "Usher Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  34. "The Best of 2012: The Year In Music". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  35. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
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