The musician doesn’t mind calling cap on the questioning of his talent, but giving other recording artists their flowers is as equally important to him. Late rap music icon The Notorious B.I.G. (real name Christopher Wallace), often referred to by the shortened name Biggie Smalls, is at the center of Usher’s latest praise session.
In an interview with GQ, the singer shared the story of sharing a studio with the late rapper. Although Usher wasn’t working on his own solo material, he stuck around to watch the rapper lay down his own music.
“He didn’t write anything down,” says Usher. “He lined up four blunts, ran it back, just listening [to the beat].” After three blunts, Biggie was ready to go to work. Usher continued, “He was the most profound talent I think I’ve ever seen in an MC. Coming up with sh*t off the top of his head, the ability to make things so vivid. That sh*t was profound, man.”
Even after the rapper’s tragic death in 1997, Biggie is still remembered as one of the greatest to ever touch a microphone.
In honor of Usher’s Vegas residency, the R&B icon did an interview with GQ, revealing some interesting anecdotes along the way. Particularly, one about how his teenage sons took him to a truly special show that changed his outlook — and possibly converted him into a K-pop stan.
“I literally went to a Blackpink concert in Atlanta, and I was like, man!” Usher said. “I’m goofy! I’m looking like, ‘Wow, this is amazing.’ They were putting on a show. Wardrobe, great sequencing, with the lighting and everything working in sync — there’s no detail spared. I loved that.”
The piece also notes that he thoroughly enjoyed Blackpink’s choreography and all the pieces that went into their concert. Usher goes on to touch on how this ties into his intentions for each of his “My Way” residency performances — titled after his second album from 1997.
He notes that he wanted it to cater to the ladies attending and bringing his level of perfectionism to the Park MGM.
“I really wanted to give women something to look forward to, something to come here to Las Vegas with their friends for,” he shared. “They’ve been saving up all year and were able to manage to get away from their kids or get away from their problems.”
“They come out and really enjoy themselves for the entire weekend. They want to be able to really get away and have an experience,” Usher added.
Usher’s shows are picking back up in March and will run through July. More information is available here.
New releases from Usher have been a rarity in recent years. Thankfully, today (February 14), the R&B star let his fans know that he’s back. In a teaser shared on various social media platforms, he previewed an upcoming release called “GLU.” While the song has undeniably caught our attention, excitement is also swirling because the singer tapped a famous beauty to star in the accompanying visual.
Presently, the Texas native is preparing for his return to Sin City. After taking some time off to rest and recharge, he’ll be performing for audiences at his Las Vegas residence once again later this month. Audiences have been loving the show Usher previously put together. However, it’s practically guaranteed that he’ll be bringing new material with him this time around. While teasing the new arrival to followers on TikTok, he wrote, “You’ll thank me later. GLU. #SlowJams #Black Music.”
As sultry sounding as ever, the 44-year-old sings, “I just love that glue / It gets all on you / All on me” in the teaser. While his beautiful voice rings out, Lori Harvey appears on screen, her perfectly sculpted figure shown from various angles. As the brief video comes to an end, we briefly see the model’s face. Her hair is styled in a short, blunt bob, and her makeup looks on point as always.
Ty Dolla $ign and La La Anthony are both looking forward to the release, according to Usher’s Instagram comment section. Several followers are rejoicing as well, leaving replies like “Stop playing with the King of R&B” and “Lawd, I ran to Apple Music so fast. Where is the rest? Stop teasing us.”
Lovers of the multi-talent have been desperately waiting for news of new music from him. Last year, he spoke with PEOPLE about his future career plans, teasing, “In COVID, while we have been in quarantine, my ideas changed. I actually learned new things. I was able to really be reflective and find out what things matter and really have some true, honest, deep conversations with people and myself, to take some ownership of some of where my life has gone and some of the things that I’ve come through.”
Usher Raymond attends the Healthy Thanksgiving meals giveaway event hosted / sponsored by HUNGRY, Sunfare and Usher Raymond at Mary Hall Freedom Village on November 23, 2022 in Sandy Springs, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
As for Harvey, she’s mostly been waking waves due to her romantic relationship with Snowfall‘s Damson Idris. The two went public recently, and have been regularly spotted out and about together since. Read more about the young lovers here, and check back later for updates on Usher’s upcoming single.
Jermaine Dupri was interviewed on the I AM ATHLETE podcast and responded to getting called irrelevant in today’s music. SOHH also highlighted recent hit songs JD has recently produced. Star producer and music executive Jermaine Dupri was interviewed on the I AM ATHLETE podcast and responded to being called “irrelevant” in today’s music by fans. […]
These days, music nostalgia is showing up in more ways than one. As recording stars like Lady Gaga have older songs finding success in the present day, others like Gwen Stefani are considering reuniting with her former bandmates after years of being on a hiatus. But, between the sheer force that is TikTok sounds and the professional pressures recording artists feel to obtain commercial success, when monitoring the Billboard Hot 100 charts, it is hard not to come across a few dozen songs that aren’t flooded with easily recognizable samples.
Many music purists argue that sampling is a creative cop-out, but when intentionally done, sampling is one of the easiest ways to reintroduce legacy acts into music’s forever-changing ecosystem. For some artists (or their estates), it can prove lucrative.
The world of music theory and overall music production is vast, so a few terms need to be defined to add context to this list. “Sample” as a term is often thrown around loosely, but to clarify in terms of this list: Generally put, there are two things people mean when they use the term. A true “sample” is using part of an original recording, whether it’s clipped, slowed, sped up, or played in reverse. Meanwhile, interpolation is the reproduction of an element of the original recording, such as quoting lyrics or having musicians replay melodic elements of the underlying instrumental. For a breakdown, check out Uproxx’s interview with Naima Cochrane.
With tens of thousands of songs to choose from, the songs selected for this list adhered to a strict set of qualifying factors. First, all samples that appear on the songs listed below must be billed to a Black recording artist’s discography (across the diaspora). Next, the newer song, which includes the older sample, must have been released in the last 20 years (2003 and beyond). Next, cover songs were not considered. Finally, the songs on this list were screened for quality control metrics, including the creative way the sample was used, how prominent the featured sample is integrated into the newer song, and the overall quality of the newer song. These samples were verified by WhoSampled.com’s online database.
So, without further ado, here are the best uses of samples (over the last 20 years) in alphabetical order according to the artist.
50 Cent – “21 Questions” feat. Nate Dogg
Before 50 Cent (real name Curtis Jackson) became a dominant force behind some of today’s popular television programming, he ran the rap music charts. His debut studio album, Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ is considered by many rap critics to be one of the most impactful hip-hop debut projects of all time. Jackson is no stranger to sampling or being sampled, but his song “21 Questions” stands head and shoulders above all others. On “21 Questions,” Jackson’s use of the instrumentation of Barry White’s 1978 song “It’s Only Love Doing Its Thing” is thoroughly blended across the song, serving as the ideal backdrop to the gangster love song.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie – “Look Back At It”
Bronx rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie is one of the leaders of New York’s music scene within the new school. A Boogie acknowledges his heightened status by lending his platform to his home state’s rising acts, including Lola Brooke. The rapper has a string of popular songs, including “Drowning” and “Jungle,” but none stand out quite like “Look Back At It.” What makes the song so irresistible? Michael Jackson. Both Michael Jackson’s 1991 song “Remember The Time” and 2001’s “You Rock My World” were sampled in this track.
Beyoncé – “Naughty Girl”
Beyoncé, affectionately referred to by super fans as Queen Bey, is a music veteran (as she reminds us in the lyric, “since 15 in my stilettos, been struttin’ in this game” heard on “Diva”). The Houston native serves as an inspiration to many of today’s musicians. However, as seen on her latest album, Renaissance, she also finds inspiration in other musicians. In “Summer Renaissance,” she samples Donna Summer’s 1977 song “I Feel Love,” but this wasn’t the first time the Ivy Park boss pulled in music for Summer.
On her debut solo album, Dangerously In Love, she also sampled the late pop superstar on the single “Naughty Girl.” The sensual song pulls from Summer’s 1975 song “Love to Love You Baby,” a masterclass on how to reuse and remix a wildly popular song while respecting the original artist’s work. Honorable mention to Beyoncé’s song “Church Girl,” which samples The Clark Sisters’ 1981 song “The Center of Thy Will.”
Burna Boy – “Last Last”
Last year, international acts dominated the American music market. One of those acts near the front of the pack was none other than Burna Boy. The self-proclaimed African Giant has a strong hold on the West African music space as a native of Nigeria. The musician did see success in countries outside of the continent, but with the release of his single, “Last Last,” his international fame was cemented. The song samples Toni Braxton’s 200o song “He Wasn’t Man Enough.” With just a few vocal adlibs from Toni and under 30 seconds of Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins’ original production, Burna and his frequent collaborator Chopstix reimagined the beloved R&B track with a fresh Afrobeat perspective.
Cardi B – “Bickenhead”
On her debut album Invasion Of Privacy, Cardi brings in quite of few iconic samples. Her strongest display of sampling is heard on the smash single “I Like It,” featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin. However, because the sample used is Pete Rodríguez’s 1966 song “I Like It Like That (A Mi Me Gusta Asi),” it won’t make this list as Rodríguez does not identify as Afro-Latino. But her song “Bickenhead,” also on the album, is certainly a close second. The song samples Oscar Award-winning rapper Project Pat (of Three 6 Mafia). Pat’s 2001 song “Chickenhead” featuring La Chat served as the inspiration behind Cardi B’s track.
Childish Gambino – “Redbone”
A prime example of Donald Glover’s (also professionally known as Childish Gambino) homage to past artists is his 2016 song “Redbone.” The song has been featured in nearly every industry adjunct to music, including television, film, and video games. But what do you expect when funk legend Bootsy Collins is involved? The track interpolates elements of the 1976 song “I’d Rather Be With You” by Bootsy’s Rubber Band.
Chris Brown – “She Ain’t You”
On “She Ain’t You,” Chris Brown walked a creative tightrope, showing love to Michael Jackson, one of his biggest inspirations, while making the track his own. The song samples SWV’s 1992 song “Right Here (Human Nature Remix),” which is also a sample of Michael Jackson’s 1982 song “Human Nature.” While the harmonies and instrumentation remained the same, Brown took the right creative liberties to make it his own.
City Girls – “Twerk” feat. Cardi B
Quality Control’s dynamic duo City Girls entered the rap scene like a bull in a china shop, wrecking sh*t. Thanks to some brilliant music choices, the group has carved a lane for themselves. As proud Liberty City representatives, they’ve paid homage to Florida greats like Luke and Trina in their music. But their strongest sample to date is undisputedly heard in their song, “Twerk,” featuring Cardi B. Pulling in samples from both James Brown’s 1976 song “Get Up Offa That Thing” and Choppa’s 2003 song “Choppa Style,” no dance floor has been safe since its release. Their 2018 song “Take Yo Man,” which samples Salt-N-Pepa’s 1986 song “I’ll Take Your Man,” and Jacki-O’s 2004 song “Fine,” deserves an honorable mention.
Coi Leray – “Players”
Coi’s latest single, “Players,” highlights her knowledge of hip-hop’s roots. The track samples Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five’s 1982 song “The Message.” With assistance from TikTok’s flourishing mashup culture, Coi’s song has gained a life of its own. The strongest of those remixes comes from DJ Smallz 732. DJ Smallz 732’s Jersey club mashup showcases just how tapped in Coi is, as she quickly embraced the TikTok, going back to her home state to film an accompanying music video.
Drake – “Nice For What”
Drake is the king of embracing new artists and sounds. So much so, that critics consider his acceptance of every new trend serves as a detriment. But when it works, it works. Drizzy pulls inspiration from all around the globe into his music, but his best use of a sample to this day features American recording artists. Lauryn Hill’s 1998 song “Ex-Factor” serves as the sample foundation for Drake’s “Nice For What,” while the Big Tymers’ 2000 song “Get Your Roll On” is the cherry on top.
Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, and Amorphous – “Sunshine (The Light)”
Before he found a passion for media commentating or ever thought to write a book, Fat Joe was one of the Bronx’s biggest rappers. Over his decorated career, the Terror Squad head honcho had the pick of the liter when it came to guest features. However, sometimes instead of the artist picking a well-known collaborator, it’s important to work with newer acts. When DJ and producer Amorphous’ mashup of Rihanna’s 2016 song “Kiss It Better” and Luther Vandross’ 1981 song “Never Too Much” became a viral smash, Fat Joe knew he had to act. Bringing in DJ Khaled, the trio pumped out Fat Joe’s song “Sunshine (The Light),” his best incorporation of a sample in his music to date.
French Montana – “Pop That” feat. Lil Wayne, Drake, and Rick Ross
The Moroccan-American rapper has a string of smash songs, but the crown may have to go to his song “Pop That,” featuring Lil Wayne, Drake, and Rick Ross. The song was everywhere, which made it difficult to escape, but why would you want to? The remixes to the track also hit, especially the Jersey Club version. The song samples Luke’s 1992 song “I Wanna Rock” and Tyga’s 2011 song “Lap Dance,” which made it the ultimate strip club anthem.
Future – “Mask Off”
Atlanta native Future is a strange case when it comes to sampling. Although his 2018 guest verse on Jay Rock’s song “King’s Dead” featuring Kendrick Lamar and James Blake became a running joke across social media due to his quote from Juicy J’s 1993 song “Slob On My Knob,” in his song “Mask Off,” his use of Carlton Williams’ 1976 song “Prison Song” is without a doubt great.
Kanye West – “Through The Wire”
In recent times, Kanye West has been as cuddly as a porcupine. But before he was viewed as public enemy number one, West was a highly sought-after producer even before he had a smash single to his name. With his unique ear for music, West has almost always incorporated samples of all varieties into his own solo music as well as the work he’s produced for others. Of those multiple dozen uses of samples, his debut single, “Through The Wire,” which samples Chaka Khan’s 1984 song “Through The Fire” and OutKast’s 1993 song “Player’s Ball,” edges out all others by a thin margin.
Kehlani – “In My Feelings”
Singer Kehlani is another example of a singer that often pulls in vibrant blasts from R&B’s past in their work. Before Kehlani had several studio albums to their name, their mixtape releases made a huge impact not only in R&B music but rap as well. However, speaking of their studio albums, Kehlani will often seek out guest verses from more veteran singers, but on “In My Feelings,” they stuck to good ole classic sampling. The breakout single samples one of R&B music’s most celebrated groups New Edition. The track samples their 1988 song “If It Isn’t Love.”
Kendrick Lamar – “King Kunta”
Then there’s Kendrick Lamar. The Compton native’s usage of samples has earned him not only multiple Grammy Awards but a Pulitzer Prize. As a mentee of Dr. Dre, the king of sampling in hip-hop, Kendrick has laser focus when it comes to finding the perfect song to complement his art. His intricate blending of these researched references displays his deep knowledge of music across genres. There are several honorable mentions you could make, but let’s just stick with his 2018 song “King Kunta,” which contains six samples (most notable being Curtis Mayfield’s 1974 song “Kung Fu,” James Brown’s 1973 song “The Payback,” and Ahmad’s 1994 song “We Want The Funk”).
J. Cole – “G.O.M.D.”
Across his decade-plus career, J. Cole has experimented with several sounds all while paying homage to some of music’s heavyweights. So, Cole has quite a few great sample honorable mentions, including his use of Hubert Laws’ 1972 song “No More” on Cole’s 2013 song “Power Trip” featuring Miguel. Also, his use of Fela Kuti and the Afrika ’70s’ 1973 song “Gentleman” and Nas’ 1999 song “Nas Is Like” in his 2013 song “Let Nas Down” can’t go ignored. But his strongest sample use can be heard in his song “G.O.M.D.,” which samples Branford Marsalis’ 1992 song “Berta, Berta.”
Jennifer Lopez – “All I Have” feat. LL Cool J
At this point in time, Jennifer Lopez is probably more known for her filmography than her music, but initially entering the acting world playing the late Selena Quintanilla Pérez, Lopez is no stranger to using art to pay homage to another musician. Her song “All I Have” featuring LL Cool J may not be her most popular song, but is certainly her best use of a sample. The track samples Debra Laws’ 1981 song “Very Special.”
Lucky Daye – “Over”
Although his discography is still growing, the singer does have a few standout uses of samples. The best of those showings hands down is heard in his song “Over.” Sampling Musiq Soulchild’s 2002 song “Halfcrazy,” Daye pours his all into the track, and it certainly paid off. Honorable mention to his 2020 song “Shoulda” featuring Babyface. The track samples Toni Braxton’s 1992 song “Love Should Brought You Home,” also produced by Babyface.
Nelly – “Dilemma” feat. Kelly Rowland
Featuring Kelly Rowland, “Dilemma” was inescapable in the early 2000s, and that hasn’t changed in all these years. Thanks to Gen Z’s obsession with the song, Nelly found himself occupying the top trending sounds on the application for quite a while. The song samples legendary vocalist Patti LaBelle’s 1983 song “Love, Need and Want You” as well as D-Train’s 1986 song “Misunderstanding.”
Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl”
Nicki earned her first solo No. 1 with “Super Freaky Girl.” The song samples the late Rick James’ 1981 song “Super Freak.” Throughout the track, James’ vocals are weaved in and out as Minaj does what she does best. The song also features James’ addictive funk instrumentation. This isn’t the first time Minaj has used a sample in this way; her 2014 song “Anaconda,” which samples Sir Mix-a-Lot’s 1992 song “Baby Got Back,” follows the same format.
Saweetie – “Tap In”
In just a few short years, Bay Area representative Saweetie rose to prominence. Her keen marketing skills and vibrant personality online quickly earned her a dedicated social media following. Known as to go-to musician influencer, Saweetie has become the face of several brand deals and advertisements. But the face of her town area belongs to rappers Too Short and E-40. As a way to pay homage to her standing grounds and Too Short, in her song “Tap In” she samples Short’s 2006 song “Blow The Whistle.”
Summer Walker – “Come Thru” feat. Usher
Summer Walker is one of R&B music’s most impactful acts. Although she feels that she is often overlooked by award shows, that hasn’t stopped R&B lovers from running her streaming numbers through the roof, landing on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for weeks at a time. On her debut studio album, Over It, the single “Come Thru” featuring Usher, Walker, and producer London On Da Track created magic. The song shows how to blend legacy acts with rookie talent with integrity. “Come Thru” samples Usher’s 1997 song “You Make Me Wanna.”
Wale – “Break Up Song”
Wale is the uncrowned king of sampling in rap music. The DMV-representer has found a way to incorporate some of his favorite artists into his music beyond guest features. From his meteoric mixtape run to his studio releases, Wale never passes up on the opportunity to incorporate a sample of some sort in his music. His 2010 song “Break Up Song,” samples Stevie Wonder’s 1980 song “All I Do.”
Usher – “Throwback” feat. Jadakiss
Casual music fans without knowledge of R&B may only recognize the singer Usher from his viral “watch this” gif pulled from his appearance on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series. But for avid lovers of the genre, the Atlanta native is one of the sound’s leading voices. Usher has already appeared on this list as a featured artist on Summer Walker’s song “Come Thru,” as the track sampled his 1997 song “You Make Me Wanna.” But, Mr. Raymond has a few notable samples sprinkled throughout his discography. His 2004 song “Throwback” featuring Jadakiss, however, is arguably the most creative use of one. On the song, Dionne Warwick’s 1973 song “You’re Gonna Need Me” serves as the track’s anchor.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Like Aaliyah once said, “If at first, you don’t succeed, you can brush it off and try again.” That seems to be the strategy the Lovers And Friends Festival is going with this spring (you just know Aaliyah herself would have been on the lineup), bringing back the nostalgic event for a second attempt at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on May 6. Today, the fest announced its millennial-baiting lineup, which features TRL faves like Missy Elliott, 50 Cent, Mariah Carey, and of course, the fest’s inspiration, Usher, whose 2004 hit is the festival’s namesake.
Unfortunately, Lovers And Friends Festival has had a bumpy road so far, starting with its first planned iteration in Carson, California in 2020. Numerous artists on the original lineup initially denied their involvement after the show was announced before their respective booking agents let them know they were on the c/o 2000 fever dream lineup. Once they were confirmed, demand for tickets skyrocketed, prompting the organizers to add a second day before the COVID-19 pandemic put the kibosh on the whole event.
However, a revamped version of the festival came back in 2022, moving to Las Vegas and reverting back to a one-day fest. This turned out to be kind of a bad idea, as logistics for the fest were kind of a mess, leaving fans without shade or water in the 100-plus-degree desert heat (which tends to go the other way at night, leaving fans freezing instead). Then, there were reports of gunfire, causing stampedes and thankfully minor injuries.
Hopefully, they can learn from those mistakes as they return this spring and give fans the show they deserve because as an elder millennial (or Xennial or whatever you call us), I for one am extremely tired of having the rug pulled out from under me. Let us have something nice, for once. Please and thanks.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Usher is not fazed by G Herbo’s claims that he can “outsing” the legendary crooner. The Chicago rapper recently made bold claims that he could beat Usher in a singing competition. Herbo jokingly shared his rendition of the Grammy Award winner’s hit song “Superstar” in an Instagram video.
“That was decent wasn’t it, though?” Herbo gushed in the clip. “That was decent. That boy good!” He challenged the “OMG” singer’s vocals by captioning the video, “@usher can’t f**k wit me on my worse day.” Usher caught wind of Herbo’s video after The Shaderoom reposted it. He shared his thoughts on Herbo’s claims with a simple “cap” emoji.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 26: Usher performs onstage during the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Usher has never shied away from defending his crown as one of the best R&B singers off all time. Rumors began to circulate over the summer about a potential Versus battle between the Confessions singer and Chris Brown. However, Usher denied the speculation in several interviews. “Nah, there’s no Verzuz,” he told E! News. “I don’t think y’all ready for nothing like that. You might be ready for something like that on stage, maybe in the future. Stay tuned.”
In an interview with People’s Everyday podcast, Usher spoke doubled down on his denial to battle any artist in a Verzuz. “I think if you ever came to my show, you would understand that I don’t even think a Verzuz could handle all of the songs that I have to be honest. He even entertained a possible Verzuz-one-man show. “It’s like, I could do it by myself, but I don’t wanna do that. That’s not the purpose of Verzuz, me versus me.”
The platinum selling singer went on to boast about his incomparable talent. “I’m a different animal, man. I’m cut from a way different cloth man. And when you put those songs on, I’m telling you, I don’t think anybody in the world would want smoke with them songs.”
Let us know which artist you think could go hit for hit with Usher.
Earlier this week, Chicago rapper G Herbo took to Instagram to show off his singing chops. While in a car, Herbo belted out a rendition of “Superstar” from Usher‘s 2004 album, Confessions.
After singing a few notes, Herbo turns around, telling the other passengers in the car, “That was decent wasn’t it, though? That was decent. That boy good!”
While he seems lighthearted in the video, the video is captioned with text reading “@usher can’t f*ck wit me on my worse day.”
It didn’t take long for Usher to catch wind of the video. He commented on the clip, which was originally posted on Herbo’s Instagram Story, and later shared by The Shade Room, with a simple emoji of a blue cap, indicating that he doesn’t believe Herbo’s post.
Though it seems like both parties were simply engaging in playful banter, Usher is not one to take these challenges sitting down.
Back in April 2020, Usher took to Instagram to sing a few bars of the chorus of his song “Climax,” after The Weeknd claimed in an interview that the song was inspired by the sounds of his 2011 debut mixtape, House Of Balloons. This then inspired fans to submit clips of themselves also singing “Climax,” with the hashtag #ClimaxChallenge. Perhaps a “Superstar” challenge may be underway soon.
Usher is mourning the death of his beloved Grandmother, Tina. The crooner took to social media to reveal the loss of his late grandmother with his 10.6 million followers. “I LOVE U MORE,” he captioned a series of photos the late matriarch.
“It’s taken me a few days to come to grips with the fact that my Grandma Tina is no longer with me. I’m praying for clarity and strength for all whom relied on her. Her daily devotion was to help those in need and she did just that. It was her life’s work. She was truly a prayer warrior for me and so many others. I feel a bit lost right now.”
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 23: Usher is seen at “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on February 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by RB/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Usher’s ode to his grandmother didn’t end there. He opened up about how he’s coping with the traumatic loss. “Part of me is trying to be strong, for others. Her belief was that GOD always has a plan. I’m trying to understand that right now. And the other half of me continues to break silently. We were just laughing days ago. I really thought we had more time.”
Ernestine Carter died in her Chattanooga home on Christmas Eve. She was 87 years old. “When I was lost, she was always there,” Usher continued. I needed the perfect Bible verse to suit the reality of what I was facing at the time she’s provided it.” The Grammy Award winning singer ended the heartfelt message with a quote from a friend.
“Someone told me just today, ‘Keep in mind that it’s only sad b/c we miss them and that’s us being selfish and rightfully so but it’s really a congratulatory celebration b/c they’re at the ultimate place forever!’ I believe that. She will be missed very much.”
The news of Miss Ernestine’s passing comes on the heels of Usher announcing that 50 more shows will be adding to his Las Vegas Residency in 2023. Our thoughts and prayers are with the singer at this time.
(@nojumper)
