R&B superstar Usher kick starts his print promotions by cover the June/July issue of Nylon Guys magazine, which is available on newsstands now. Currently readying his next studio album, led by the new single "Good Kisser," the Grammy winner chats with the mag about his reaction to fans' feedback of his music, his upcoming Sugar Ray Leonard biopic, and mentorship in music.
On his mentorship in music industry, starting from age 15 when he moved to NYC to work with Sean “Diddy Combs”:
“Artist development made me who I am. Somebody took the time to help me find what it is that works for me as an entertainer and who I am as a music maker.”
On his upcoming role opposite Robert De Niro and Edgar Ramirez in the Sugar Ray Leonard biopic “Hands of Stone”:
“I wanted to show a different side of who I am, not just throw my acting chops toward a romantic comedy. When I played Sugar Ray, everything was Sugar Ray. Every day I trained like a boxer. I ate like a boxer. I moved like a boxer.” …”We spent some time at his (Leonard’s) house. I spent time training with him here and out in Los Angeles, just to get the nuances of how to move and to understand his approach.”
On his fans reaction to his musical output:
“In all honesty, I give one shit. I do hear them–that’s why I say one shit. I do give a shit, but not two shits. Two shits is a lot. I care enough to make sure they understand that I’m making it for them, but I’ve got to be true to where I am.”
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