Usher, Kanye West

Few tours live up to their billing as “show of the year,” so Usher’s concert raises considerable expectations. As the number one artist of the year, Mr. Raymond will be expected to deliver all of the flash, special effects, and dance routines typical of big-time stadium shows. Lots of fun, yes, but will it be as good as Madonna’s surprisingly epic performance at American Airlines Arena last month? In addition to Usher, there’s Kanye West, the number one hip-hop artist of the year (at least until Eminem drops his new album in November), who gets cool points for using Canadian turntablist A-Trak as his DJ. Opening up is Christina Milian, the songwriter and chanteuse currently riding the success of her “Dip It Low” single.