Usher covers the newest edition of Billboard magazine and the
American singer is explaining his place in ‘RnB’ by wearing a crown.
The 36-year-old singer has been one of the people in the past decades
who have continued to climb steadily on the charts with good music. One
of his newest singles ‘Good Kisser’ has been one of the biggest hits
this summer.
Read excerpts from the interview below:
On Delaying His Album:
“I just ain’t ready,Meaning I have more that I want to say and
more that I want to do. My process is pretty different. L.A. Reid will
tell you, it takes two albums to make one with Usher.”
On Justin Bieber:
“Our relationship is more man-to-man now, He’s making his own
decisions and it’s important to show support. I can say I’m not happy
with all the choices my friend has made, but I’m supportive of him. I
try my hardest to give as much positive reinforcement as I can. I’ll
punch him in the f—ing chest when I need to, and give him a hug and kiss
when I need to. It’s more than just mentoring. I love the kid.”
On his extra fit body:
“These days, I try to eat for my blood type when I’m not eating
for the fat kid inside me. But the idea is to eat the foods that work
best for your body. For my blood type the meats I can eat are pork, beef
and fish.”
On Grace Miguel:
“I have an incredible partner and manager. She has helped me
through some of the hardest times in my life and my career. … One thing
that has come from having a great partner like Grace is being able to
cherish the places that I’ve gone. In the past I’d do what I have to do
and get on the bus to the next city. Life has become a vacation.”
Usher’s career stats are astounding. He’s sold close to 24 million
records in the United States and taken home eight Grammys. His 2004
album Confessions sold more than any other album in the ’00s. His recent
single “Good Kisser” was his 13th No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop
Airplay chart — putting him in front of Jay-Z, R. Kelly, and Lil’ Wayne.
But past success doesn’t guarantee relevancy in the fast-moving world
of pop. Usher has always proved adept at changing his sound and finding
new collaborators and new sources of motivation and creativity. Now he
reveals five things that keep him inspired.
Puff Daddy:
Usher lived with Puff Daddy for a while as a teenager. “I’d say I
earned my stripes in New York City,” says Usher. “My time with Puff, it
gave me chutzpah.” And he lived out a teen’s hip-hop dreams: “I got to
perform onstage with The Notorious B.I.G., be in sessions with him and
Craig Mack. I got to be part of the driving force that was Bad Boy, that
was Puff.”
Dave Matthews:
“There’s something magical about the Dave Matthews Band,” Usher says.
“Even though [Dave Matthews is] playing for a huge audience, he’s
bringing them into his own private space.”
Jeff Koons:
Usher recently got a private tour of a Koons exhibit at the Whitney
Museum of American Art in New York City. The singer was especially
excited by a period when Koons was at odds with the art world. These
situations lead to a special sort of inspiration. “Out of adversity
comes something that creates not only strength but perspective,” Usher
explains.
Mentoring:
Usher’s mom, Jonetta Patton always tells him, “You talk to everybody
like they’re your kids,” whether it’s Justin Bieber or dancers on his
tour. The singer agrees: “I’m like, ‘I’m sorry, I was born to be a
dad.’”
Picasso:
Koons isn’t the only artist Usher feels strongly about. In his
conversation with Billboard, he likened his music to Picasso’s Blue
Period, when the famous painter spent several years creating work with
only a limited number of colors.
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