It’s widely known Usher played a vital role in making Justin Bieber one of the biggest pop stars on the planet – but he had to fight another singer to make it happen.
Justin Bieber had teenage girls fanning over him since he was a youngster, and although he’s been in the industry a long time, it may have looked different if Usher wasn’t the man to mentor him.
The celebrity was discovered online by Scooter Braun, and when he had a chance meeting with Usher in 2008, he sang for him and the rest is history.
He impressed the My Boo singer so much, he signed to the duo’s joint record label, Raymond Braun Media Group later that year.
By 2009, he drooped One Time, and a long line of hits, including Baby – the song you can never get out of your head, no matter how hard you try.
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Usher has now come out to say his plan was almost destroyed by another singer, none other than Justin Timberlake.
He told People: “I presented Scooter an offer that I felt like he couldn’t resist.”
“We built a friendship, but this would obviously create a partnership that would span us forever, and it was a bit of a bidding war between me and Justin Timberlake,” Usher adds.
“… I was like, I’m not certain that I could understand each and every producer that this artist could benefit from, but what I can tell you is I’m going to give you my passion, and I’m going to give you every bit of what I have to offer.”
The 45-year-old was keen to sign Bieber because “there can only be one Justin”.
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He added: “So if you want to go with Justin, that’s Justin and Justin. Me, it’s only one Justin.
“So that obviously created a relationship and [there was] that support of him as an entrepreneur, because I think that he was trying to find himself as well.”
But when asked if he is aware of the comparisons people make against the two artists, he doesn’t see Justin Timberlake as a rival – nor anyone for that matter.
The Caught Up artist added he “tries to beat my own record” and to “better himself”.
It comes after the star gave a star-studded 13-minute performance at the Super Bowl half-time show last weekend, where he invited on stage, Ludacris, Lil John, will.i.am and Alicia Keys.
There were rumors Justin Bieber may have been invited to come on stage, given Usher mentored him and helped the singer carve out a career for himself. Especially, after he was seen arriving with the Kardashians and Jenners via their private jet, alongside wife Hailey. But, alas, it did not happen, he just enjoyed it from the VIP seating area.
It comes after Usher narrowly avoided falling on stage during his Super Bowl performance.
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