WHEN pop superstar Usher offers up advice on making a successful career, you pay attention
The singer – whose latest single is called Scream – yelled out to Radio 1 and 1Xtra’s Academy in Hackney this week how to make it against the odds.
“Growing it up I could easily have joined a gang, got involved in crime or got a girl pregnant,” he admitted. “But I didn’t. I replaced the negative people around me with those who could help me achieve my goals.
“While all my friends were playing Nintendo or relaxing outside I was in rehearsals making a plan for my life. But I needed the support of my friends and family who could see what I was trying to achieve.”
The 33-year-old is might be heading to No 1 this weekend with his new album Looking 4 Myself and have enough Grammy awards to fill a room, yet Usher spends a huge amount of time on his own charitable foundation Usher’s New Look.
It shares the same values as the Radio 1 and 1Xtra’s Academy in Hackney.
While he discovered his talent singing in church as a schoolboy, Usher realises not everyone knows what they want to do with their lives until they’re older.
“At some point in all our lives there was an influence where someone engaged us,” he tells me after his inspirational talk. “Something happened, then you began to put in motion what you felt. Whether it was reading a book, watching televison...
“Strivers achieve what dreamers believe is the best piece of advice I’ve been given. My mother gave me that as a child. You keep dreaming and moving forward.”
Topping the charts in his own right isn’t enough to keep this passionate man happy.
Usher was the driving force behind Justin Bieber, 18, after being introduced to the Boyfriend star through his manager Scooter Braun, 30.
“Mentoring in this way is heart work for me - not hard work,” he explains. “The fact we’re able to take this time as entertainers to invest and engage with young people means the smallest little thing could make a difference.”
I’m sure the hundreds of enchanted young people in the masterclass will have taken away plenty to think about as Usher answered their questions in depth about forging your own path in life.
But surely it must be difficult being a role model?
“No-one is perfect and that’s the greatest challenge,” smiles Usher. “There’s a sense of expectation which comes with being successful. You can’t do everything right, but you do your best.”
Volunteers from Hackney Youth Steering Group were invited into Usher’s dressing room after his masterclass for our exclusive picture – a moment they’ll all treasure.
“We were approached by the Academy as spokespeople for the event and our area,” reveals Rebecca Samuel, 17.
“They wanted young people aged 16-24 who were passionate about the arts and wanting to make a difference to their lives.”
“Usher started out at a young age and is keen to help mentor others,” says Hackney lad Jermain Jackman, 17. “It was great that we got to ask him questions about starting his career and what was important to him but usually he would turn it back round onto us and our goals.”
Aspiring rapper Shiv Dotz, 21, agreed: “You can tell that Usher really wants to help those trying to make it in the industry. We had some other UK artists come down down who were more interesting in talking about themselves.”
The modest man himself loves being back on British shores.
“I always get a lot of love from the UK whenever I visit,” Usher smiles. “I played the HMV Hammersmith Apollo on Monday, which is one of the first venues I played in London. It was nice to go back and do something intimate for the fans, which I know they appreciate. I get to talk to them up close and personal.”
While Usher keeps it real, famous faces who appear to be goodie-two-shoes are not helping their fans according to John Akinde, 17, from Barking. He mused: “Celebrities don’t help when they appear looking and acting perfect all the time. Real people aren’t like that and it doesn’t seem achievable. Usher made a point of telling us to knuckle down and work hard but he said that he isn’t perfect. We respect that.”
“There are lots of issues facing young people at the moment and life can often feel like a struggle,” adds Jazzy Webb, 18. “We feel stereotyped as we are from Hackney and people from here often get a bad rep. We’re sick of being judged.”
“We are proud to be from Hackney and we are hoping that events such as the Radio 1 Hackney Weekend and the Olympics coming to East London will help highlight the positive regeneration of this area,” explains Nesrin Sadou, 17.
Here, here.
Usher was speaking at Radio 1 and 1Xtra’s Academy in Hackney. See bbc.co.uk/radio1/hackney for more info. Log on to ushersnewlook.org/about-us to find out more about his own foundation. Looking 4 Myself is out now.
