Rap-Up.com || Usher Kicks Off ‘Today’ Summer Concert Series

Usher set the weekend off right with a sizzling set on the “Today” Toyota Concert Series. Fans lined up in New York’s Rockefeller Plaza to catch the R&B veteran performing old and new hits including his chart-topping singles “Climax,” “OMG,” and “Without You.”

He spoke with Matt Lauer about his upcoming album Looking 4 Myself, due June 12. “The last two, three years of my life have been an incredible journey musically and emotionally, so all of the finds of Looking 4 Myself went into this album,” he said.

“There’s a mantra that I’ve kinda adopted and it is evolve or evaporate. That is really the meaning of life, if we decide to not allow ourselves to move forward musically, in life, whatever it may be, we’ll never see the beauty in it.”

He shouted out his two sons Usher Raymond V and Naviyd Ely Raymond who were watching at home. “The most important part now is being involved as a person, being an incredible father,” explained the 33-year-old singer. “That’s probably one of the greatest goals of all. Receiving awards, having houses, cars… That doesn’t mean anything. Having incredible young men raised is the most important part of all of it.”

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31 Comments

Jordan Gabriel
May 18th, 2012 at 7:42 am
My mantra: If you can’t do at least as good as you do in the studio, don’t bother.

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SdotB Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 7:59 am
@Jordan Gabriel, ummm…NOBODY sounds as good they do in the studio!!!!

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x Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 8:53 am
@SdotB, Bey does

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Cranberry Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 11:29 pm
@x, LAWL. No.

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Nina Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
@SdotB, Believe it or not, a lot of artists do…

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JohnDoe Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 9:48 am
@Jordan Gabriel, so are you suggesting that usher did not have great vocals in these performances today?

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Jordan Gabriel
May 18th, 2012 at 7:43 am
i don’t mean to hate, I’m just saying. I personally think his glory days are behind him.

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King Size Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 7:56 am
@Jordan Gabriel, I don’t think dats a accurate statement. He still has glory days, he jus won 2 grammys last year. He may not be in his prime but he is still great, and 1 of da best and biggest male singers. Only male singer might be bigger his Justin Bieber

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king usher Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 8:03 am
@Jordan Gabriel, well his glory days are a diamond certified album and he is actually the LAST artist who received a diamond certification…you are fooling yourself. Usher is a legend and has the current #1 song on urban radio since 5 weeks. While his competitors Chris Brown and Trey are flopping and getting their albums pushed back….you tried you failed

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Come correct Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 9:11 am
@king usher, Little girl, SIT. Chris Brown is FAR from flopping. Let me educate your ass REAL quick. Who won a Grammy this year? HE DID. Who is the second R&B artist to ever have 23 no.1 hits next to Usher with his 25? HE IS. Which R&B artist walked away with 3 Hip-Hop awards? HIM. Who was named the BEST to ever do a Michael Jackson tribute? HE WAS. Who was named this generation’s Michael Jackson? HE WAS. Chris has been out for 6 years and he’s STILL slaying. Usher has been here for awhile so you shouldn’t be comparing nobody to him RIGHT NOW. Don’t you EVER. Pushing his album back was for the BEST. It happens to EVERY artist. Didn’t nobody say ANYTHING about Chris Brown. Keep that shit cute. Now Trey Songz…….. LAWDT. THAT nigga is a flop. Lmfao.

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Jake Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
@Come correct, Why the fuck you comparing that woman that woman beater to Michael Jackson? Sit the fuck down.

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Wilbur Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 7:57 pm
@Jake, She didn’t make it up though. Important mags and blogs said that. Chris had a nasty past and MJ was accused of a nasty past. They both walked as a stronger person. That right there is the reason why MJ’s brother stood by Chris. Go doodle or something.

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Mr.Mama Inlove with a Woman Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 10:43 pm
@Wilbur, true about that

Mr.Mama Inlove with a Woman Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 10:42 pm
@Jake, Get a Life go doodle

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x Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 8:54 am
@Jordan Gabriel, agreed. He’s maybe still crankin out hits but his heydays are long gone

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King Size
May 18th, 2012 at 7:57 am
Pretty good, I enjoyed all 3 performances and he did climax better than he did on snl

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x Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 8:56 am
@King Size, yea the climax perfomance was on point

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king usher
May 18th, 2012 at 7:59 am
ON TOP! 20 years on the game and still shittin on your faves you go Usher. I love him. He is the biggest r&b/pop male act since Michael Jackson and Usher. Versatility, talent, great personality this man is perfection.
He started as a teen and now he is a mogul, a legend mentoring his heir to the throne Justin Bieber at only 33. Usher’s longevity is incredible. Usher is always consistant! Man Usher is a legend. I love what he said about his sons this man has a good heart that for sure. I know he loves his fans to death.
USHER MARRY ME!

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Replay
May 18th, 2012 at 8:25 am
King Usher!

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kyle
May 18th, 2012 at 11:35 am
He must be getting old because I wasn’t feeling this as much ….

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Lou
May 18th, 2012 at 11:57 am
Chris Brown danced LIKE Michael Jackson

Usher danced WITH Michael Jackson.

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Jyna Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 12:06 pm
@Lou, Usher has been out when MJ was doing his thing. Singing and dancing with people. When Chris came out, he only did so little. They only met. Your point isn’t valid.

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Pitawho? Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 7:53 pm
@Jyna, Exactly. The love CB has for MJ is crazy. He always salutes. The point of the matter is, this post is talking about Usher not CB. The shame.

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The dream Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 7:59 pm
@Pitawho?, Real talk.

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Morgan Reply:
May 18th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
@Lou, THANK YOU.

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smdh
May 18th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
THAT was the most boring audience I have ever seen in my whole lifeee!

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Audrey Hepburn
May 18th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
His mantra sounds like an elementary school motto. :D

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May 18th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
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[...]Rap-Up.com || Usher Kicks Off ‘Today’ Summer Concert Series[...]…
TheDreamer
May 18th, 2012 at 6:45 pm
I enjoyed the Climax performance. He should have done Lemme See or Scream instead of OMG though. Love what he said about his sons.

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Hugh
May 18th, 2012 at 8:53 pm
Great performances

OMG sounds so dated! Next time do Scream.

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Mr.Mama Inlove with a Woman
May 18th, 2012 at 10:39 pm
Would like to see Usher break in to Act Business and Good Performanced

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