As part of the Boys & Girls Clubs' “Be Great” campaign, the people of A-Town were greeted this morning with a shiny new outdoor display featuring a young Usher and the phrase "Be Iconic," which Usher certainly has become.

Like other famous alumni of the Boys & Girls Clubs, Usher found his club in Tennessee to be a place to explore and pursue the skills that would one day lead him to become Mr. Entertainment. "It helped reinforce the values I learned at home, including good character, leadership and giving back to my community, my country and my world," Usher said at the unveiling, according to a press release.

Young people of Atlanta, we wish you the best in fulfilling Usher's challenge.

Listening to the music, on which Ush sang about everything in his relationship, I knew I would hear — hell, the world would hear — something different this time. He was already a star, but with this joint, you had the feeling it was going to be different. Usher would be talking about realer things that older cats could also relate to.

Then he dropped the megaton bomb with “Yeah!” I remember hearing the record on a mixtape — I wanna say it was a Big Mike R&B mixtape. I told my brother Ari it was going to be huge — it just felt pop and 'hood at the same time, like nothing else that was on the radio — and Luda put the nail in the coffin with his verse at the end. We just listened to the mixtape all that weekend — it had to be close to Christmastime — and “Yeah!” in particular. As the album release date neared, I had the chance to hear more material and do more interviews and really get a chance to know more about Usher as a person. He really let his guard down and got pretty personal.

For some reason, it felt like I was there damn near every step of the way with him. Me and Whitney were there the day he got the projections for his first-week numbers — he was thinking 800,000 to 900,000 at first, but then we learned he was going to hit that mil ticket. A million! I was proud of him, because he clearly put out the best album of any genre that year and deserved all the accolades. It was dope to see that an album could be so artistically (in)credible and so huge at the same time.

Confessions is one of those albums that's still so great, you really can't decide on a favorite song until after months of living with it. From the intro to the last record, all classic tracks, and they fit together perfectly because the record feels so real.

I can't lie, though — after all this time, "Throwback" is still my favorite joint and I remember telling Usher all the time, "We need a video for my joint!" He would hit me with the Usher grin and be like, "I know. We're working on it." Well, you never came through, homie, but the album is still hot. In this day and age, I don't think we'll ever see another R&B album sell 10 million like Confessions did. If Justin Timberlake only sold like 3 or 4 million off his last album full of hits, I can't see any album topping Usher's sales. I honestly can't see anybody dropping another R&B record that lives up to the quality and the whole movie (the real-life drama with Chilli, the tour, the special re-release with the videos) he put behind it.

U2 can now add having their very own street (temporarily) to their stacked list of accomplishments. MTV News was there when the rockers christened U2 Way in New York City.

Can't wait for Kelly Clarkson's new album to drop? If you didn't already check it out when the songs were leaked last month, MTV has the official preview of Kelly's highly anticipated comeback.

Usher has some words of advice for Chris Brown. From one R&B star to another, Usher says Brown should lay low and stay off the jet skis.

Evan Rachel Wood told MTV News why you should be excited for the "Spider-Man" Broadway show. You know, besides the fact that it's a "Spider-Man" musical.

It's one of those questions that can keep you awake at night: Which Jonas Brother looks best in 3-D? Well, don't fret, we asked the boys themselves.

By Whitney-Gayle Benta

Like my colleagues Rahman, Shaheem, Erica and Yasmine, I have many fond memories of Kanye West's early days as he transitioned from producer to musician. The story that sticks out the most was during his first tour.

In 2004, the same year Kanye released his debut album, The College Dropout, he was also asked to join Usher's the Truth Tour as the opening act.

I was a part of a small crew that was sent down to North Carolina to do an interview with Usher and cover his show. Since Ush was the big star of the evening, he automatically received all the attention from everyone. His set was so expensive and well choreographed, he even incorporated trampolines into the show.

Since this was Kanye's first tour, naturally his set was extremely modest. It consisted of Kanye, DJ A-Trak, loyal brother in hip-hop GLC and most importantly his signature College Dropout teddy bear mascot. Despite a small production budget, Kanye rocked his show and gave 100 percent to the crowd.

The best part of this experience was that I got a chance to witness firsthand how Kanye utilized his time on tour to study Usher, a certified pro. Instead of hanging out backstage or heading to the hotel after his set, Kanye made sure he took in all the details of the headliner's show, because he knew that one day he'd have his shot.

By Yasmine Richard

OK, working at MTVizzle or "The Matrix" as my friends call it, I've met a whole lot of people. But here on the set of Usher's latest video for "Trading Places," I got to meet one of the coolest people in the biz. And it's not who you think!

Watch Usher talk about his new video after the jump.

I'm talking about Usher's mom. I'm sorry, but Ms. Jonetta Patton is one of the best mommagers ever. And the best part of it all is how much she and her son resemble each other. Love it!

Oh, and this video is fire. Classic Usher, ladies! And for you fellas, there's some eye candy for you too. So here's a quick recap for you.

Smokin' hot video: check. Tour about to kick off: check. Looks like Usher is back. Again!

Usher has announced his plans for an "intimate" 15-date tour especially made for the ladies, called the One Night Stand Tour. After all his talk about being a family man, it seems he hopes to prove he's still a sex symbol too. Read all about Usher's tour here.

So the question is, are there any guys out there who'll be feeling left out if Ush does, in fact, bar men from the shows?

Usher's wife Tameka Raymond, who felt inspired by her husband's voter-registration efforts in Atlanta and Detroit, will host the first annual "Back to School Expo" in Oakland, California, on August 24. The Oakland Natives Give Back fund has joined forces with Usher's I Can't But You Can voter -registration drive.
 
The expo, to be held at City Hall, will hand out backpacks filled with school supplies to over 600 Oakland public school students. The event will also include a surprise celebrity appearance as well as a fashion show, teen summit and talent showcase. The expo not only wishes to teach kids about the importance of academic success, but also seeks to tell the kids to encourage the adults in their lives to vote.
 
Oakland native Tameka, along with philanthropists Nyeisha DeWitt and Delicia Abdur-Rahim, started the Oakland Natives Give Back fund to show solidarity with the Oakland community.

Are you ready for football season? We know we are. But if your enthusiasm for the start of this year's NFL season could use a little kick in the pants, check out the planned — and rumored — musical performances associated with the launch and conclusion of it.

The NFL has now confirmed that its 89th season will be ushered in by ... well, none other than Usher.

The R&B star will perform during a special and (more importantly) free pregame event on September 4 at 3 p.m. in New York's Columbus Circle. Country crooner Keith Urban will also take the stage, right before the defending Super Bowl champs, the New York Giants, face the Washington Redskins in this year's season opener.

Meanwhile, rumors abound about who'll be playing the Super Bowl halftime show — following last season's set from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and a dazzling, rain-drenched performance two years ago from Prince. The New York Post reported earlier this week that the pride of New Jersey (no, not the Jonas Brothers), Bruce Springsteen, will bring his E Street Band to the big game — set for February 1 in Tampa, Florida — to rock the crowd at Raymond James Stadium. The NFL declined to confirm the booking, telling The Associated Press that it does not discuss halftime plans before it makes the announcement. A Springsteen spokesperson also declined to comment.