Usher is currently on tour with Chris Brown in one of the biggest collaborative tours in recent years.
While Brown’s has been hampered by legal troubles, Usher is not concerned.
During an interview with The Associated Press, Usher defended Brown against any criticism.
“Absolutely not,” Usher explained. “He’s my brother, and he’s amazing as a performer. That’s who I see. He works hard for his fans, and his fans support him.”
The 33-date co-headlining tour comes on the heels of massive solo success for both artists. Usher is hot off his 2024 Super Bowl halftime performance and his wildly successful “Past, Present, Future” tour, which moved over 1.1 million tickets in North America. Brown’s “Breezy Bowl XX” tour pulled in nearly $300 million.
The highly anticipated tour launched in Denver on June 26, and Usher says they are representing the legacy of R&B.
“It’s not about me and my brother coming together,” Usher said. “We come together in support of our fans of R&B.”
Usher also spoke about how R&B music deserves to be in stadiums.
”It deserves to be in a stadium,” he said. “And it’s not just for theaters. It is not just for arenas. We do this … too, and we are major too. R&B is major too.”
Usher shared that the tour honors Buddy Bolden, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Prince, and Luther Vandross. Also Earth, Wind & Fire and Babyface.
“We’re carrying it over there for them,” he said.
During rehearsals for the show, Usher said that their “mutual admiration” for each other’s art was revealed.
USHER AND CHRIS HAVE ‘MUTUAL ADMIRATION’ FOR EACH OTHER
“When we run through the show, I look over, and I see Chris standing up doing my portion and dancing,” he said. “When it would be my time, I’d be standing up rooting him on. I love his music. And I am encouraged by his music in the same way I feel like he’s been encouraged and inspired by mine.”
Usher also hopes that the tour could be a new blueprint for Black artists.
“There is power in numbers,” Usher said. “After this becomes the success that I know it’s going to be, you will see more collaborations. You will see artists beginning to understand, ‘Wait a minute. We actually serve more of our fans when we bring them together, as opposed to trying to do it all by ourselves.’”