Usher 'Confessions' BMG *** If you have about as much luck in love as Liz Taylor, then you'd best purchase yourself this new pulling potion. Brimming with sexual innuendo and smooth R 'n B, Usher's new album screams slush with style. But it's not all about the slow jamz. The heavy Lil John produced first single, 'Yeah', featuring Ludacris, is nicely upfront and a fave with dancefloor DJs right now. Also check the wicked Rich Harrison 'Take Ya Hand' and the neo-soulness of 'Truth Hurts'- courtesy of Jimmy Jam. While the aforementioned three tracks will float everybody's boat, the majority of the album is strictly for the lurrrve doctors. Just don't forget the Cava on ice and some buy-one-get-one-free strawberries from Tescos. Nice. Danger Mouse 'The Grey Album' White Label *** That cheeky squeaky mouse has gone and bootlegged a loada Beatles and Jay-Z material and given it his Midas touch. Naughty bugger. Apparently Roc-A-Fella have given the aptly named album their blessing. Meanwhile EMI are said to be jumping up and down like Mexican cockroaches on speed, screaming, "You're money or your life!" If you're quick you'll find the absolutely wicked medley of cult tunage- reworked and remixed- at "all good independent record stores" and on cunning Internet sites. You gotta check chopped-up tracks '99 Problems' and 'What More Can I say?'... they're off tha Richter baybeeee! If your detective skills equal Hetty Wainthropp on Tamazipan then go buy DM and Jemini's last album 'Ghetto Pop Life'- equally as, if not more, saucy. Kanye West 'The College Dropout' Roc-A-Fella ***** The hype surrounding this producer-turned-artist is mental! Every urban DJ and his fish is on Kanye. 'The College Dropout' is all you need to figure out why. Bored of same old, same old hip hop (Neptunes, erherm, mentioning no names) and want a hefty injection of innovation? Kanye's yer man. Crazy 1950's influence, a great hunk of classic soul, with a sprinkling of rock, all melted into hip hop. Not one track is similar to the next. The collaborators list reads like a who's-who of urban music: Syleena Johnson, Jay-Z, Common, Talib Kweli, Twista, Ludacris and Mos Def to name but a few! There's too many tunes to mention, so let's put it this way: Jay-Z has stepped down and Kanye West has stepped in... to the Roc shoes. Words by Elle J Small