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Time to Change: Justin Bieber's Voice Cracks And Other Teen Pop Puberty Woes

Posted 11/1/11 12:21 pm EST by in Justin Bieber, Michael Jackson, Usher


It's hard to think of something more embarrassing for a 17-year-old boy than going to the mall with his mom to buy jeans and having her measure his inseam while all his friends fall out of their food court chairs giggling.

Well, except being a 17-year-old international pop superstar and having your manager discuss the status of your little fellas with all the world. Cue to what we can only imagine was a very red-faced Justin Bieber slouching on a couch during a cover story interview with Billboard magazine recently in which his longtime manager, Scooter Braun, dropped this bon mot. "Vocally, his balls have dropped," Braun said of the vocal changes fans might hear on the singer's upcoming Christmas album, Under the Mistletoe.

Wow, okay. Thanks Scooter, but seriously dude, TMI.

Of course, Bieber isn't the only teen dream who's had to deal with ch-ch-ch-changes to his voice at the peak of his powers. Read More...

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Usher And The Case Of His Mystery Collabo

Posted 8/16/11 3:00 pm EST by in collaborations, Usher


By James Dinh

Collaborations are all the rage these days, and Usher appears to be stirring the pot big-time. On Monday, the R&B crooner teased the Twitterverse about a mystery team-up, offering fans with just one cryptic clue – “YO WHAT UP NY!!...I bet you'd never guess who I'm in the studio wit right now? A Clue. Borough starts wit a B! The record is CRAZY!!”

Now, Usher has a long history of star-studded team-ups, including tunes with Alicia Keys (“My Boo”), Ludacris (“Yeah!”) and Mary J. Blige (“Shake Down”), but the chart-topper has the Newsroom pondering who exactly his secret studio partner is. Assuming that his subliminal clue indicates that the collaborator’s name begins with a B, take a look at some our guesses (and wishes) for Ush’s hush-hush matchup.

Beyoncé
With her string of “intimate” New York shows lined up this week, King B serves as our first guess for Usher’s secret collabo. Not only have these two hit the studio together before for a remix to the R&B singer’s slow jam “Love in This Club Part II,” but they’ve also sizzled in front of the cameras for Bey’s “Naughty Girl” clip in 2004. Call us Team Sherlock Holmes, but why does Usher tease NY boroughs that begin with a B? Brooklyn stands as the most populous borough in the city with the simple BK abbreviation, which also remains the initials for the pop queen.

Read More...

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Justin Bieber, Usher Throw Scooter Braun A Birthday Bash

Posted 6/20/11 9:08 am EST by in Justin Bieber, Usher


Justin Bieber and Scooter Braun

Justin Bieber, Usher and Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine came out to party together on Saturday night. And just what occasion were they celebrating? Well, they were all on hand as Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, celebrated turning the big 3-0. The par-tay took place in Los Angeles, where Braun was roasted by his pals, including the night's MC, Usher.

Other attendees included Asher Roth, Kim Kardashian, Mary J Blige, Paris and Nicky Hilton, Jaden Smith, Wilmer Valderrama and Rita Wilson. Those who couldn't make the party but recorded well-wishes for the music mogul included Will Smith, Diddy, Ludacris and Keri Hilson.

Not only was there food and revelry, but there were also some A-list performances from The Dan Band, Usher and, yes, Bieber, who played drums and performed "Baby," as well as "Never Say Never" with Jaden.

But who turned up for the night's big surprise? Read More...

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Usher Challenges The Boys And Girls Of Atlanta To 'Be Iconic'

Posted 4/30/09 7:18 pm EST by in Usher


Usher Raymond the fourth has been many things. Multi-platinum recording artist, Grammy winner, actor, amazing dancer and now, a giant outdoor billboard in Atlanta.

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.

Usher's Confessions Still Holds Up After Five Years

Posted 3/24/09 6:40 pm EST by in Usher


Five years ago this week, Usher dropped one of the biggest R&B albums of the decade, Confessions. I was actually in the studio that summer in New York when Ush was recording the title track with Jermaine Dupri — throwback jerseys were still in, Ush had the San Francisco jacket and JD still had his braids!

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.
Read More...

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Did You See This?! Kelly Clarkson, U2, Usher And More

Posted 3/3/09 5:33 pm EST by in Chris Brown, Headlines Of The Day, Jonas Brothers, kelly-clarkson, U2, Usher


Kelly ClarksonBy Kathleen Newman-Bremang

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. Read More...

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Kanye West: The Birth Of An Artist Witnessed By MTV Staffer

Posted 11/25/08 3:09 pm EST by in Kanye West, tour, Usher


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.
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Usher's Mom Makes Quite An Impression On The Set Of 'Trading Places' Video

Posted 9/10/08 3:51 pm EST by in Usher


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.
Read More...

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Usher Wants 15 One Night Stands, Just For The Ladies

Posted 9/3/08 10:37 am EST by in Usher


Usher

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?

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Usher's Wife Spearheads Back-To-School Drive In Oakland

Posted 8/20/08 3:58 pm EST by in Usher


Tameka Raymond and Usher

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.

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