Usher made his return on The Breakfast Club on Monday morning to promote his new album, Hard II Love. The R&B legend kicked off the interview answering questions about his legacy and being appreciated for his craft.
“It obviously says a lot that I’ve been around as I have,” he said. “I don’t know if I do it for that reason. I do it for celebrate music, to celebrate the culture I come from.”
He also dished on the meaning of his eighth album. “This album is kind of bringing it back to the center,” he explained. “I made a conscious decision to go towards my own culture. If I listen to radio right now, everybody sound like Atlanta.”
He went on to talking about the success of his Young Thug-assisted single “No Limit,” relationships and how concerts have changed.
“I’m very disappointed in live shows,” he said. “I’m not as disappointed for the creative directors because they’re getting paid a lot of money. One hand has to work the other. You’ve got to have the right records and the right experience. And it ain’t got to be a big ole production to have an intimate performance. I don’t know if record companies understand how important it is to still invest in artists that way and help them if they’re going to have a record company. If you’re going to be an independent artist, do a residency. Go somewhere. Work on you show. Get your show together so that it’s more than that record.”
Watch Usher’s interview with The Breakfast Club below.