Usher Refutes Claim That R&B Is Dead, Says The Idea "Sounds Crazy"

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HUNGRY, Sunfare and Usher Raymond Donate Healthy Thanksgiving Meals
SANDY SPRINGS, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 23: Usher Raymond attends the Healthy Thanksgiving meals giveaway event hosted / sponsored by HUNGRY, Sunfare and Usher Raymond at Mary Hall Freedom Village on November 23, 2022 in Sandy Springs, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Usher says R&B is evolving.

Usher paid tribute to the next generation of R&B artists during a new cover story for Billboard and says that anyone suggesting the genre is dead, "sounds crazy." The comments come after SZA, Victoria Monét, and Coco Jones, among other artists were recognized at the Grammy Awards, last weekend.

“I’m very happy that there’s a new installation of R&B artists who care to be authentic to what they are creating, inspired by artists of the past,” he told the outlet. “Everybody who has ever said to me that R&B is dead sounds crazy. Especially when I know the origins of R&B are in all other genres of music.”

Usher Performs At The Songwriters Hall Of Fame Induction

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 16: Usher performs onstage at the Songwriters. Hall of Fame 51st Annual Induction and Awards Gala at Marriott Marquis on June 16, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall of Fame)

The legendary singer continued: “My point is, I never felt like R&B was dying. I think it just needs expansion. We’re moving toward a standard where people are looking at snippets — TikTok, Instagram and other things — and when fans get it, they take it and do something with it. But if we start to think of it that way and create from that place, the standards for R&B will change. You won’t be able to compare it in an old-versus-new way. It’ll just be what it is.” He added that the genre needs more spaces similar to the Lovers & Friends Festival. “It’s about creating commerce in other spaces. Lovers & Friends is a successful R&B festival that gives you a place to go and celebrate the songs that we make,” Usher said. “We need things that you associate with R&B that you can buy into. Like with hip-hop — glasses, clothes, cars, jewelry, sneakers … ancillary things that people can access. R&B needs and has the potential to have those things as well.”

Usher Poses For Billboard

Usher will be releasing a new album, Coming Home, on Friday. After that, he's scheduled to bring his iconic catalog of hits to the Super Bowl Halftime Show on Sunday. Be on the lookout for further updates on Usher on HotNewHipHop.

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About The Author
Cole Blake is currently an Editor at HotNewHipHop based out of Brooklyn, New York. He began working at the site as an intern back in 2018 while studying journalism at St. John’s University. In the time since, he’s graduated with a bachelor's degree and written extensively about a wide range of topics including pop culture, film & television, politics, video games, sports, and much more. He’s also covered music festivals such as Gov. Ball and Rolling Loud. You can find him publishing work for HNHH from Monday to Wednesday or on weekends. On the sports front, Cole’s a passionate NBA and NFL fan with his favorite teams being the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Lakers. He also roots for the Yankees whenever he finds himself at Yankee Stadium or the Red Storm when in the company of other SJU alumni. His favorite hip-hop artists are billy woods, Earl Sweatshirt, Cam’ron, MIKE, and Mach-Hommy.
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