Usher is cooking up some fire for his next album. The music superstar hit the studio with today’s top hitmakers including Pharrell, Jim Jonsin, Rico Love, and Diplo to lay down some new tracks for his seventh LP, due in 2012.

“Right now we’re just experimenting with different sounds,” said Rico, who penned “There Goes My Baby” off 2010’s Raymond v. Raymond. “My job is to make sure it stays classic. I don’t feel like Usher is just a Top 40 artist or just an R&B artist or just a rhythmic artist. I gotta make records that connect to all formats.”

One insider who heard the new material tells Rap-Up.com, “It’s the most ridiculous music I’ve ever heard Jim and Rico make. Amazing!”