Usher performed OMG and Climax this morning on Today. Check out the performances below.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Usher’s new album is an “art-in-motion diary” which reflects on some of the “heavy transitions” in his life.

Usher says his upcoming record Looking 4 Myself is about his personal life.

“There’s an emotional side to it. Over the last three years of my life, it’s no secret I went through some heavy transitions and in that I really came out new. I came out feeling a sense of entitlement and a sense of ownership of all of that I went through to become better and in being able to survive it. So I was looking for something in the music,” he told MTV News during MTV First.

“I was looking for something in life. I was looking for something in it has always been right here. It has always been there. So I kind of used the music as a diary in a way, but a creative, artistic, art-in-motion diary.”

Usher has explained the concept behind the lead single from the album, Climax.

The promo sees him as a jilted lover who is contemplating shooting his girlfriend’s other interest. Usher insists the song isn’t about sex.

“Climax was an interpretation to really give people a better understanding ’cause I felt like people really looked at the record for what you heard first, which was Climax. So, people thought sex. It’s not about sex. Well, climax is about sex, but not the song. Just so we’re clear,” he smiled.

“The song is really about kind of the crescendo of a relationship, where you’ve re

Check out MTV’s First with Usher as Sway sat down with the superstar for a question and answer about the new album and his surprising album listening session in NYC with the play Fuerza Bruta. Watch a live stream now from MTV and listen to new music from the album “Looking For Myself” including ‘Twisted’ which features Pharrell Williams below.

TWISTED

More after break…

If you have SiriusXM, then you were able to hear Usher’s interview with the one and only Sway yesterday (May 16). We have added 20 HQ pictures from the appearance to our gallery. Check them out by clicking below.

T.I. is currently recording his upcoming album Trouble Man, with 45 songs in the can. During an interview with Billboard’s Juice, Tip revealed that he has a duet with Usher lined up for the project, tossing his name into the fold while listing his dream collaborations.

“I like to work with a lot of different people that can provide a lot of different sounds,” he said. “Usher and I have been putting our heads together on how we can present that perfect collaboration between him and myself.”

SOURCE

For all the Usher fans out there who have been eagerly awaiting the release of the seven-time Grammy winner’s new album, Looking 4 Myself, MTV News has you covered: The R&B superstar will be offering fans a sneak peek of exclusive performance footage of his first two singles, “Climax” and “Scream,” as well as the never-before-heard track “Twisted” produced by Pharrell during “MTV First: Usher.”

This special event goes down Wednesday, May 16, at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV, when the man himself, Usher Raymond, will be on hand to introduce the footage and the new single and will stick around for a meaty interview with MTV News’ Sway Calloway to discuss his new album and more on MTV.com. Fans can submit questions via MTV.com or Twitter @MTVNews with the hashtag #MTVFirst or #AskUsher.

The performances featured in “MTV First: Usher” were shot exclusively by MTV News during a special album-listening experience with the off-Broadway show “Fuerza Bruta” in New York City.

“I felt like the natural elements as well as the emotion of ‘Fuerza Bruta’ would definitely speak or be significant to some of the stories and I guess hopefully a connection [was there],” Usher told MTV News last month of tying the performance to his album. “When we began to explore different directions [for the performance like] maybe we use some of their music, maybe we use some of mine … and before you knew it the idea came together.”

Looking 4 Myself will be released June 12 and is available for pre-order now at select retailers in both standard and deluxe editions.

Don’t miss “MTV First: Usher” on Wednesday, May 16, at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV, followed by a lengthy interview with the singer on MTV.com!

What do we think? Hate it or love it? Is it a hit?

We have added 3 MQ photos from the Mary Ellen Mathews photoshoot that was used for Saturday Night Live last night. Check them out by clicking on the thumbnails below.

Climax:

Scream:

Check out a 5 minute interview with Usher recorded for BBC News, where Usher speaks on very much of Looking 4 Myself.

How many Grammys have you won?
7

How many US #1′s have you had?
9

If I said to you, you can only have one more Grammy or one more US #1, which would it be? Which would mean more to you?
It would mean more to me to have a #1 Grammy

How did you get your name?
My father named me. I’m actually Usher Raymond IV. My father’s name is the third.

Tell me how you break into singing?
It was a robbery, I broke in. I’m just joking. My big break was in Atlanta, GA at a talent show. I went on to be apart of a talent search, actually a TV show in America. I was recognized and signed by a label.

Watch the video here.