Looking 4 Myself is the seventh
studio album by American
R&B recording artist
Usher. It was released on June 8, 2012 on
RCA Records, following the disbandment of
Jive Records in October 2011 and
LaFace Records months later. Several producers were involved with its production, including
Diplo,
Rico Love,
Jim Jonsin,
Salaam Remi,
Pharrell Williams and
Max Martin, among others. It features several guest vocalists, including Rick Ross, Pharrell,
Luke Steele and
ASAP Rocky. Inspired by the
electronic duo
Empire of the Sun and listening to music originating from several locations, Usher intended the album to contain a more experimental sound, that remained relevant to the music of its time. Defined as "revolutionary pop" by the singer, critics noted that
Looking 4 Myself incorporates the genres R&B,
pop,
hip hop, electronic,
Europop and
dubstep. Critic Barry Walters has described it as a key release in the emerging
alternative R&B genre.