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Usher Interview
By Sam Enrico Williams 2012-04-27 22:11:38 | |
(TRAMP Magazine) - 
SING THE BLING! Elle J Small talks love, sex and pecks with usher
David Beckham loves him, girls adore him, he’s a millionaire yet he’s still only 25 years old. Oh, and he’s managed by mummy. Meet R and B’s hottest multi-platinum superstar, determined to shake off his squeaky clean image with reported unwanted pregnancy and weed smoking.
“I heard this incident on the flight on the way over here,” sighs Usher as his personal hair stylist trims his sideburns into perfect symmetry, “I asked this lady for a drink and she said they only serve First class passengers. I looked at her and said: what do u think I’m doing up here? She just gave me this look and walked off. The first thing I thought was; it’s because I’m black. So I went up to her and said; do you know what? You are one of the most ignorant people I have ever met in my life and I smiled at her”. Usher’s eyes glint as he imitates that very same illuminous white sarcastic smile. “I mean why would I be up here? You think I’m just looking at the seats? I’m a millionaire! Just because I wear baseball caps doesn’t mean a thing”.
A millionaire. These words linger in the air of the trendy East London studio, in which Usher is just about to sashay across to pose like a pro. But before he can slide into position for the photograph, the singer must first be plucked and preened, “I hate wearing makeup”. He complains within perfect earshot of his makeup artist, “but I have to”, he explains, touching his cheek, “Can you see these bumps?” To be frank, – no. In fact it’s pretty damn hard to find any imperfections on Usher, both physically and vocally.
He is the epitome of cool, a poster pin-up: every major label’s dream. But it seems that Usher is keen to shed his pristine image. Hence his recent admissions to the press or smoking marijuana (wonder what manager/mum Jonnetta Patton thought of that lil’ gem?), telling Tramp he’s through with TLC singer Chilli and partying in London til dawn.
“I go to a few different clubs; China White, 10 Rooms, Funky Buddha, places like that. Normally I don’t really hang out in general population; I just sit in the VIP with a few friends. If I see women or some people who wanna party with me, I’ll bring them over; we’ll have a few drinks and chill”. Usher flashes a cheeky grin. “I’m into making friends. Every time I travel, I try to get to know the people”.
So what happens when you do step outside the VIP? “If I go to the dance floor, everybody’s expecting me to dance. But I just wanna party, listen to some music, see what people are moving to – see what excites the crowd. You know, check the fashion, and see who’s looking good. I’m single you know, so I kinda…” So it’s true? “Uhuh, it’s official”. Everyone thinks you’re still with Chilli… “Nah we broke up. It’s a recent break-up, within the last month. I tend to stay away from press when it comes to my personal relationship. If people ask, I’m gonna be honest. I kinda still feel a little bit weird about it all, we were together two years”. Going through a break-up is hard enough as it is, let alone when you’re under a microscope. Usher agrees. “Sometimes I gotta smile when I don’t feel like smiling. Sometimes I gotta sit back and ride when I really feel like driving [is there a song coming on?] Sometimes I just look for somebody to understand that. That’s why I go out and try and meet people – a woman who I can hang out with and just chill – to keep me company”. With this, Usher winks flirtatiously and try as we must, tramp are finding it increasingly difficult not to be suckered in by his clever interview technique.
Then there’s the reports in Britain’s sleaziest tabloid, The Sun. Apparently Usher’s so-called pal told the paper the reason for usher’s frank song ‘Confessions part II’, where the singer admitted having a love child, was that he wanted to go public in the way he knew best – through his music.
It’s been a really traumatic year for Usher. “He knows he’s been a silly boy”, the pal said, referring to his break-up with TLC’s Chilli. “He was seeing someone behind Chilli’s back and precautions weren’t taken – she fell pregnant. Chilli obviously hit the roof when she found out and that was the end of a good relationship. Usher will make sure the child wants for nothing and is prepared to do his fatherly thing. Hopefully he has learned something from this. He seems to have matured a lot”. However, all this is hearsay, and Usher denied all allegations.
Though it’s clear the boy who started out singing in a choir aged just six years old, and was spotted by the infamous Antonio ‘LA’ Reid, at aged 13, he became a man, don’t think Usher is totally off his rails, just yet. The odd spliff, suggestive body language and reported unwanted pregnancy, doesn’t mean that Usher Raymond isn’t still as ambitious or as conditioned as he was five years ago. He may find time to party like it’s 1999 in between albums, but during gruelling promotional tours, Usher is as focused as a fox.
“When I prepare for a photo shoot I usually go on a low-carb diet. I eat a lot of chicken and fish and work out a lot with my trainer. Right now I’m in the process of getting ready to tour, so I’m not training. I need to get my weight down cause I move better, more fluid, when I don’t have as much muscle. When I’m doing photo shoots, I have like six or seven small meals a day. Loads of chicken, fish, broccoli, oatmeal, salads with no dressing; very low sodium. I’m very self-conscious of that.”
Then of course there are the utterly amazing dance routines, which alone have made usher famous. Throughout every music video the smooth crooner keeps the viewer locked on his flexible physique as he glides across the screen. These clever moves are exactly that – fans are so enthralled by Usher’s sexy steps that there’s no need to spend a fortune on special effects. kerrching! Add to the slick choreography: a pitch-perfect vocal, good looks and charisma on tap, and the comparisons to an early Michael Jackson will inevitably come flooding in. Do they annoy him? “Not at all. To be recognised in the same bracket as Michael Jackson; that’s beautiful. I hate it when people say: this is the guy who’s gonna take Michael Jacksons spot though. You can never replace someone when they’re great at what they do. You can be inspired by that person, but to take that person’s spot? Nah!”
In any case Jackson had already admitted that he is a fan. “After the tribute we did for him in New York in August 2001, he told me he thought that what I did was amazing. To dance and sing the song that I sing is very hard.” Another celebrity fan is the ‘loos’ David Beckham, who Usher admits he was supposed to call when he landed, but has “been so busy” He adds “I will speak to him before I leave though.”
With this Usher politely excuses himself for the photo shoot. As the gaggle of stylists fluster around the multi-platinum artist like he’s best thing since Jimmy Choo stilettos, Usher laps up the attention like a kitten.
Relishing the opportunity to show off his tight six-pack to the room full of patiently waiting press, Usher changes his top several hundred times. There is a screen which Mr Flirtatious can undress behind, but with a torso like that? What the hell.
Confessions…
Ushers new album ‘Confessions’ broke records by selling more than a million copies in its first week of release – making it the highest-selling album debut since 2001 and a record-setter for an R ‘n B artist.
Usher on ‘confessions’:
“There’s loads of love, pain, sacrifice, good times, ups and down, mainly relationship-orientated stuff. There’s a song called ‘Do it to me’- it’s sort of a Prince-influenced record. It shows you what the life of the woman who’d date me would be like. First of all, I’d send you a letter with some roses, inviting you to your favourite restaurant. You’d pick the location, we’d sip some wine, have our dinner the we’d make our way back to the house, probably in a convertible drop-top; something real sexy.”
Tramp on ‘Confessions’:
Our usher’s come a long way since ‘My way’ days. Ok, so he went off track with the cheesy ‘Pop Your Collar’ last year, but he’s back in full effect with a stunning, more mature sound. Yes, you still have lots of slushy shmoochers like ‘Burn’ (which could cause suicide if you’re not getting it in the sack) and the scandalous ‘Confessions 2’ – both Jermaine Dupri productions, but there’s such a diversity of R ‘n B, you won’t get bored. Star tracks include first single ‘yeah’, produced by Lil’ john, featuring ludacris and and the Philly-infused, soul burner, ‘Truth Hurts’ courtesy of Jimmy Jam. And of course there’s the big phat ‘Take Ya Hand’ from the man himself, Rich Harrison.
Once this sexy lil’ funkster’s in your stereo, it’s all over. Usher excels himself on ‘Confessions’ with a vocal range to scare Whitney and melodies to rival Stevie. Our Usher’s all grown up.
‘Confessions’ is out now on BMG Click here to continue reading.... | |
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