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"You say the sky's the limit, but what about space?"
"Down time is not the name of the game."
"Breaking up is a natural evolution when you try to figure out what you want in life. If you're with an individual who isn't moving in the same direction and at the same rate that you are, it ain't going to work."
"The girls want to see the rips on your stomach - they like that."
"I learned how music works dealing with Jermaine Dupri, and I learned how image works dealing with Puff Daddy."
"I've been working so hard, I'm about to have a Mariah Carey."
"Sleeping is forbidden at the age of 22. It's all work and no play."
"Lucy Liu, give me a call. Jennifer Lopez, we can dance meringue. Halle Berry, I understand. I will listen to you!"
"Somebody has to look out for and protect our kids, and I feel blessed to be a blessing to someone else."
"I'm a flamboyant type of guy, a cooler version of Liberace."
"I like a woman who takes care of herself - it says something about the way she'll care for me."
"The best present a man can give a woman is his undivided attention."
"I guess I had it made. My mother gave me advice - she taught me that women like to be looked in the eye - and my grandmother gave me condoms."
"I think music is like a monogamous relationship, but acting in theatre is like having a different woman every night."
"I‘m not looking to rush back into a serious relationship. However, I have to be willing to give a woman a chance to show what she‘s got."
"I'm all too familiar with obstacles in relationships. There's this safeguard… my grandmother, my mother and my brother. They are the guard dogs of Usher. If you get past those three, you‘re good!"
"She was a great kisser. To be perfectly honest with you, she was the first woman that ever shocked me the way she did. The chemistry was there."
- on kissing Emmanuelle Chriqui in In The Mix.
"Appearance is something you should definitely consider when you’re going out. Have your girlfriend clip your nails, or something like that."
"This album is a lot about relationships. Ah... a lot about good times, bad times. I just wanted to put it on wax. I wrote about my life experiences. And I just wanted to let everybody know that ah I go through the same experiences. That's what All about U really is. It really not all about U, it's all about you. It's a trend set. It's young it's vibery, it's a trend set".
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"Pop ya collar is one of the records that Shekespeare produced, I basically gave him the vibe. Ah I gave him the song . And we sorta wrote it. Everybody wants to show a little signal, that shows that their succesful, I say 'Pop ya collar'. Your succesful, your living good, 'Pop ya collar'. It's as simple as that."
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"We have a dance on this record called the U-turn. That every- body can do. Back in the 80's, there were a whole lot of dance moves. They had 'The Wop', they had 'The Prep'. And it was all about you going to the club., and just having a good time. That U-turn song is back all over again. So if you missed it, where gonna' take you back, were gonna' give you a new dance. It's alled the U-turn"
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"My relationship with Babyface is a lot about business and a lot about pleasure. In order to make a record that will last. One that will be a hit. He has to know who I'am, I told him, what I wanna' write about. And he allowed me to do it. And I just went in there and did it. I'm trying to expand myself as a writer. And he allowed me to do it he believes in me."
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"The relationship, that I've always had with L.A. Reid, is that he be- lieves in me and I believe in him. I told him that".
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"Well I've done music, I've done movies. And I'm, I'm always thinking about how to get to the next level. That's what shows longevity."
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Referring to Usher's movie Texas Rangers, (which will be released early 2001) Usher says " I'm a bad ass in this film."
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"This record says I've evolved as a young boy into a man. This record also says that I've evolved as an artist."
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"If you know She'kspere, then you know his credibility is real good. The track is reminiscent of the '80s. At the same time it has a new twang, and it's sound that you've never heard before and you won't be able to believe. How about that?
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"'All about U' is an everyday fee good record. It's an all about everythng record, from the topic matter to the music. If you like hip-hop, you'll. If you like R&B, you'll love it. If you like rap, you'll love it. If you like well-written songs, you'll love this album . It's a movement, and my plans are to start a new trend overall. I'm a leader not a follower."
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"I don't have anymore acting roles lined up. There's plenty on the table, but I don't have any that I've definitely dedicated a piece of my schedule to. Right now, my focus is solely on my album and the touring."
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"My doctors just told me that I was working so hard that I forgot to do the necessary things,like eating and drinking water and stuff like that, so I was sorta dehydrated and just overworking myself."
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"I was a bit under the weather, My doctors asked me not to really discuss exactly what went on, but I wanted my fans to know that I am better, and I wanted them to know that I have a lot still going on. I'm really excited and still working hard on completing this record and coming up with visions for the videos as well as concepts for the next album."
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"That is the stereotype that everybody is coming with right now, the 'bling bling,' the 'Rollies' and the Mercedes-Benz, but with this album, I'm trying to take it back. I'm trying to do a U-turn. Let's go back in time and pick up where we left off when we were dancing, when it wasn't about what you had, When music was just all about feeling good, making it to the dance floor that night or that weekend... or the skating rink. Just bringing it back to the essence of what dance and entertainment really is. That's what I'm going to do with this record. At the same time, you'll have records to listen to that'll hopefully help you through a situation, or coach you through the dramatic situations in life where you don't know what to do with your girl or your guy. Hopefully, you'll have a record on there that you can listen to together and say, 'Well, we'll work through this," or "Let's get busy," or whatever. But this is definitely a record all about you and all about myself."
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Is it possible to have a relationship when your so busy with acting? Usher says: "You don't. That's why I wanted to write this record because you don't have time for a relationship, man. It's about all of the problems that go on inside of a relationship if you don't really have time to nurture it. I'm single now. I'm working, so I'm single," he says, while laughing.
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"I've written about six songs already, collaborating with Jermaine Dupri. Vocally, I've grown, I've been working with a lot of different vocal coaches, to strengthen my pipes up, so that I can last a little bit longer on the road, which is a problem I ran into. That's really why I stopped touring. But as far as subject matter, I'm still talking about relationships. It's a little bit bad."
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"I didn't take acting lessons for this," Usher says. "I just went off what I've seen and what I felt about my character. The dialogue is there., you just deliver it. I got a little edge to me, so I think I can pull it off."
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"He's got the acting thing going, the singing, dance, as well," He explained. "I first became interested in Frank Sinatra about five years ago. I noticed that he had a way with the audience. It was his personality. It was like the icing on the cake. He was like that ultimate performer."
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"Acting will broaden my horizons. As an entertainer, It will allow me to assure my longevity in this business."
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Usher speaks on what went on behind the scences in makeing the movie Texas Rangers "I can hang with the big boys," teases Usher when asked about his co-stars, who invited him to guest star on their respective shows. "Seriously, it was a pleasure to work with them. It was a very easy set. Steve Minor is one of the coolest director that I've ever worked with. Minor tried to make the actors camp out so they could get in the spirit of the film but they refused. Calgary is country enough. All you have to do is leave the hotel and have a conversation with someone. I did buy a pair of boots, a couple of big belt buckles and a hat," he laughs. "That's kinda weird for a city guy like myself."
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For the movie Light it up, Usher worked with an acting coach. "My acting coach told me to listen and fill the room, and be very deliberate. Take your time and milk every moment that you possibly can."
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"I wanted to do acting. I had done 'The Bold and the Beautiful.' I'd done 'Moesha.' And, I realized that I wanted to try acting, again. So, I was working on getting a film and it was Babyface and his wife producing. It was an easy choice because I already had a business going on with them."
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"The right woman will come my way someday," says Usher. "I had the opportunity to experience love at an early age." At the age of 14. "I don't want to go through that again." Because of the fact that his heart was broken and "Torn to pieces. I think it allowed me to relate to my song writers. I don't have an ideal woman. I just know there's someone out there and she's coming sooner or later."
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"It feels like I've been up for the last two years, you know. I'm waiting to get a little rest."
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"It feels like I've been up for the last two years, you know. I'm waiting to get a little rest."
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"I got a few sores, you know, blisters from riding on those horses, man. Saddles are hard when you're not used to it. The film's basically the story of the Texas Rangers and how they formed back in the 1800s, after the Civil War, told from the point of view of the founder of the Rangers."
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Usher speaks on when Texas Rangers is come'n out: "I don't have a definite date on it, but it's going to be hotter than "Young Guns," I know that. If you liked "Young Guns," you're going to love this. [Laughs] I'm the badass character, a black man wanting to be respected as a man, and not just as a black man. My character was constantly trying to prove a point. "I am better than this. Don't allow me to just get killed, or send me out as a scout when I'm a shooter and I have a talent."
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" It was really hard. I had to learn how to ride a horse, and become a gunslinger. But it was really cool being around James Van Der Beek and Randy Travis, 'cause you know he's all the way country."
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Geppetto: "I worked with Drew Carey on that one. It's actually the story of Pinocchio told from the father's perspective. The Pinocchio story was something that I loved as a kid, and I thought it was really creative of Disney to do it from the father's perspective. They still use the same characters, but they highlight people that they didn't highlight in the old story."
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"I'm more or less doing a little development of my own. I have a Latin artist that I'm working with, Melinda Santiago. She's an artist that just has a glow. I got my hopes on it. I put my name on it. Hopefully you guys will hear us do a song together. I'm doing a lot of production for her, so I'll jump in the studio, write, produce, do background singing, and then we'll go over to my building and have a little rehearsal. The whole nine, you know."
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"You know what? My love is music, but my mistress is acting. So I'm sort of cheating on my wife right now, making a little move over to acting, but it's paying the bills, baby. I hope I'll be getting back in the studios sooner than later. And I'll drop something."
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Usher speaking on the screenplay he is writing called The Facade: "It's in the vein of Prince's "Purple Rain." As artists, we all live under a facade. And that's basically what the story's about: entertainers, and what we go through. The good and the bad. We do have lives, and you'll get a chance to see how they really play out. Maybe this will shine a little light on the people who fall victim to the drugs, sex, or whatever."
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Usher speaks on the deal with Miramax: "We pitched the "Facade" idea to Miramax, and we're going to move with it. Harvey Weinstein is hooking me up. Got me producing movies, yo man, it's crazy. Little baby entrepreneur over here. Shoot. [Sighs] But I believe in it. It's my first project, and I truly believe in it. I don't think anybody who wasn't an entertainer could really get this. So I'm happy. This will be my first leading role. Miramax presented me with my first leading role. That's dope, man."
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fan conventions and talent searches in Atlanta. You seem to really like hanging with your fans. "I'm more or less trying to do something positive for kids that live in the inner city. I hadn't seen a talent show in a long time, so I talked to my mom, you know, "Maybe we should put together a talent search." That's how I got started. Look at Ed McMahon -- he's not on anymore, so we just thought, let's do something. Just give the kids something to believe in and hope for. That was my first annual, the one in Atlanta. Hopefully we'll do it again next year, then the year after that, and the year after that. I hope we'll have it on television. We'll call Ed McMahon and say, "Yo, man, you remember me, right? Now I'm trying to walk in your footsteps, so give me some help."
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"The stage. Actually getting to the stage is the one thing that definitely allows me to release all my frustration throughout the day. If I have any problem with anybody or myself, I get it all out by that time. And trust me, 45 minutes of flavor is not easy to give, but at 19 it is. Hopefully I can learn to calm down my shows, so when I get to be 40 years old, I don't fall down and have a heart attack, and y'all have a big time story (laughs)."
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"You know that you have the audience when you play that first song. A lot of people don't want to get up immediately because they feel like, OK, I got all dressed up, and I don't want to come out of my character. I'm in this character that I want to be cool and catty, so I'm not going to get out of this character, I'm going to sit in my seat and I'm going to look at this show. As the show goes on, eventually they get up [1.2 MB QuickTime] and it's all over, and finally, we get 'em together. There's a lot of stuff going on. You have explosions, you have a band that doesn't stop, you have great dancers who are working themselves to death. And I respect dancers because that is one thing that has definitely vanished over the last few years. There aren't that many people coming out with dancers who really work. I've got some out with me, though."
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Usher speaking on speaks about his audience: "Um, (laughs), well actually, the ladies come along a lot quicker. It's the guys who have a laid back, I'm gonna chill out vibe. But the fellas are always with me, West coast, East coast, whatever, they're with me. We go up there and have a good show, try to keep it positive, and just make it a productive show."
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Usher talking a little about Hollywood: "The show business quality is great out here. You get a great response. There are a lot of tours coming through here, so it's sort of a harder market to please. You got to really come with a magnificent show to get a great review and have people talking about it. That's what I try to do -- and not just with Hollywood, with anywhere that I go, whether it be China, Timbuktu, wherever, I try to give a good show or give 150% every night I go out there."
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"Me and Puffy are cool. Me and Jermane? Actions speaks louder than words"
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"He just wanted to give people the superstar that I'am." Usher says of JD (Jermane Dupri).
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"The Usher and J.D. collaboration is a long-term thing."
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"Me and Brandy talk, but I don't want somebody who has an acting job for a career."
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"Singing is an acting role within itself"
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"After Laface saw my abs, they said, 'We could use it for our advantage'"
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"You just play the odds and don't over do it"
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"He made me believe myself. He showed me I had skills that I didn't know I had. He'd throw the ball to me, and I'd throw it back. He'd go up, I'd go down. He'd go right I'd go left. It was such a great feeling, to know I could hang with Forest Whitaker."
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"Music motivates me everyday."
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"Singing on stage gives me a rush that money can't buy. But, acting gives me a different kind of satisfication. It is a way to do everything I ever wanted to do in life. I can pretend I'm anything, and I don't have to get my masters degree to do it."
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"Puberty set in, and I lost my voice, I was very concerned about my future as a singer. What made it worst was all the people in my face telling me I wouldn't make it. For a while I believed them. I thought I was through with singing. It was a terible time., I just didn't have the pipes. I didn't know if it would return, but I wanted to be ready if it did. The funny thing is that when my voice come back, it came back 10 times stronger than it was before, I think part of the reason is because of the people who said I wouldn't make it."
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"I fight harder when people tell me I can't do something. When people tell me I can't sing, it only motivates me to show them that I can sing. When people say I can't act, it only motivates me to show them I can act."
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"I'am going to continue to sing, and I'am going to continue to act. Not just to show those people who don't believe in me, but for myself. I know I can do both."
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Usher speaks about how some fans tattoo his name to there body: "That's one thing that makes you stop like 'Whoa! You did what?' It freaks me out. I'm like, 'What'd you do that for?"
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"I found a new love, my acting is making me wanna' leave my singing."
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My mother, grandmothers, aunts they all kept music going. There where all these people watching me. I thought I'd might crack.
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When asked if he ever pryed into a honey's personal stuff Usher says....."I've never been in a situation where I've had to go through a girls stuff. But if I really thought she was up to something, I would." -Usher says to YM magazine issue November 2000.
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"I'd try the Windmill, anything- even if I might break my neck."-Usher speaks of when he was getting his dance steps down pack.
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"She told me, 'You're sexy- why don't you go ahead?'"-Usher says of his grandmother, who encouraged him to drop him pants with boxers on during proformances!
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"Jonetta Patton is the most important person in my life." -Says Usher of his mother!
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"Seeing my mother happy, is the best thing about being a mega superstar."
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"This is still just the beginning, I'm only 20 years."
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"Im definitely older now. I'm a lot more mature, I've taken my steps to manhood."
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"Like every chance I get, I sit down with the kids, I play basketball with them, talk to them. I encouraged them to stay at the Boys & Girls Club. I tell them, do what you got to do! I'm always going to encourage you."
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"My mother is a great mother. No one can really understand the relationship we have, my mother is a friend over a manager. She's always been there for me, my mother did whatever it took"
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"It always helps to have someone behind you, and my mother was my person.
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"I asked him, but there's no sour grapes. It just didn't work out."-Usher speaking about the time when he wanted to work with Puff Daddy on his second album.
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"The album had to be half and half, I wanted enough of everything so there's always a song you want to hear." -Usher says of My Way.
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"This album......A lot of things on it may be exaggerated to the next level."-Usher is speaking of his 2nd album 'My Way'.
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"The stage is my first love."
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"I was really taking my time and making sure it all goes right. I have to thank them, for listening to me. And opening up to me. I guess it's all about the people you work with."-Usher says of working on his 'My Way' album with L.A. Reid, Babyface Edmonds and Jermane Dupri."
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"I have so many more things to do. A relationship takes time and patience. I do understand that."
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"I've learned that this business is very demanding and stressful, but my mother's been a great teacher. She keeps me grounded."
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"I want to show people that I've grown a lot since my last album, and writing was a part of that process I wanted to keep this project simpler, work with fewer producers/people who could help me tell my experiences."-Usher says of My Way
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"This time around I wanted people to know Usher, so Jermaine and I just hung out a lot so he got to see my life. What we ended up writing and recording is about my life, about what I've dealt with, being a teenager who's going into manhood. It's my feelings."-Usher says of his 'My Way' album.
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