Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > July > 09 > Entry
Usher and Son’s First Magazine Cover
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Essence magazine has scored the first official pictures of Atlanta R&B superstar Usher’s first child, Usher Raymond V.
In the article — set to hit newsstands this week — the five-time Grammy winner talks to actor/author Hill Harper about getting married, having a son, and not having a good relationship with his father, who passed at the start of this year.
Harper asks: “If you could take your finger and touch your nine-month old son, Usher V, on the head and impart some certain knowledge, what would you want him to know?
“First of all,” Usher replies, “I’d actually look inside myself and evaluate what I felt like I missed from my own father.”
“What did you miss,” Harper continues.
“Knowing that I was accepted. That I mattered. And hearing that he cared enough to put me before himself.”
As AJC readers may recall, Usher showed us some early pictures of “Cinco” — as he calls him (notice the license tag on the cover of his CD “Here I Stand”) - when he was just a month old. Pictures, he readily admitted, he shot himself. “I’m becoming a photographer,” he beamed. “Developing the pictures and everything.“
He also talked at length with the AJC, at that time, about his new responsibilities, including:
What he’s learning as a new father: “I think I’m learning how selfish I really can be as an individual. Man, before you just get up and go everyday and you work people to oblivion —- and I do. But when you have a child, it’s like, ‘Wow! All of this time now goes towards making sure that one, he has the milk that he needs. He’s being burped properly. Diapers are being changed —- and Lord knows he has let me have it! I am changing diapers!”
“The funniest thing ever was [Atlanta music mogul Jermaine Dupri] watching me change a diaper. He was like, ‘You’re officially a daddy dog.’ “
What he’s learning as a new husband: “Just to be a little more patient. Marriage is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. You have to take your time and be very patient. Sometimes you’ve got to breathe. Step away. Walk away from each other. You’ll drive each other crazy if you’re not considerate of that.”
Do you think Usher being a new husband and father has changed his music, at all? And/or how he’s received by his audience now?
Comments
By Wallace
July 9, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
Well I must say I am actually glad to see this. Finally a baby who knows who his daddy is AND his daddy is married o his mother…now the real test will be that all of his future siblings have the same mother and father…there just may be some hope left after all.
By The Queen
July 9, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
What a beautiful picture…I’m impressed with his maturity and grace. He seems like the hope of the future for some members of the black community. And I think it will only add a more real and inspirational style to his music. He will continue to be successful because he chose to grow up and show what life is * really* about.
By jumpeddafence
July 9, 2008 11:49 PM | Link to this
Aww Cinco is too cute. I am so glad he looks like his Daddy. I was a little worried there for a second. I think him being married had changed his music more than being a Father has. His latest album lacked passion to me, something that Usher is known for. I think he has toned it down some & not in a good way. I love him, I bought the album, but I like apparently alot of people were disappointed & smelled Maneka, oops I mean Tameka’s influence all over it. Did anybody else here today that Usher hired his MOTHER BACK as him manager? Things that make you go hmmmmm…..
By T.T
July 9, 2008 11:49 PM | Link to this
I pray that God keeps Usher and his family, as they keep God 1st in their lives!
By mzthang47
July 10, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
tht is such an adorable look for usher he looks like a wonderful father & no he didnt hve to sell ths pic to essence he gave the pic tho them keep up the great usher.
By mzthang47
July 10, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
tht is such an adorable look for usher he looks like a wonderful father & no he didnt hve to sell ths pic to essence he gave the pic to them keep up the great usher.
By Don
July 10, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
Wallace, you’re obviously either living under a rock or a cynical pessimist. My wife and I have been happily married for 13 years and have two beautiful children….yes they are our biological children.
Get out more, you just may learn a few things…
By Tracy
July 11, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
The baby is too adorable, he looks like Usher’s mom. I still think Usher is too young and could have put father-hood off for awhile.
By Tracy
July 11, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
The baby is too adorable, he looks like Usher’s mom. I still think Usher is too young and could have put father-hood off for awhile.
By Tracy
July 11, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
The baby is too adorable, he looks like Usher’s mom. I still think Usher is too young and could have put father-hood off for awhile.
By AJ
July 11, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
The real issue is sidewalks in our community… We need more sidewalks built in subdivisions and along major roads.
When buying a home, be sure to ask about the sidewalks!!!
By CAKE
July 11, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this
amen wallace. It is wonderful to see that. I pray the Raymonds will always remember their vows and put God first. He is a leader in the industry, hopefully others will follow!
By aaron
July 11, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this
see i donot like usher wife but the babby is cute look just like usher and by the usher i love you but your wife looks like an man and she is 40 two years away i love you always you are sexy
By aaron
July 11, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this
see i donot like usher wife but the babby is cute look just like usher and by the usher i love you but your wife looks like an man and she is 40 two years away i love you always you are sexy
By tina
July 11, 2008 11:57 PM | Link to this
Wallace, FYI, my husband and I are boyfriend and girlfriend from high school…we had our first baby at 35 and the second at 40. Yes, we are married and have been for over 10 years. You must have Usher mixed up with Brittany and her sister.
By Toni
July 12, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this
The picture is adoreable. Right or wrong, Tameka is ensuring nobody takes her husband away (she’s older than all the women he’s dated), and he is a husband so I’d feel the same if any women were all over him. He sounds like he’s got his head on straight. The marriage is the test!
By Toni
July 12, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
It has to be hard being married to someone with Usher’s past. Tameka is not a model or young and she’ll never get anyone else like him so she’ll fight to keep him. The public is mad because they wonder how she got him. I feel for her. She’ll have to come to terms with her self esteem to make the marriage work or she’ll drive him away.
By B.
July 12, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
Tameka got Usher by being the fly on the wall working for him for years, watching Chili, Naomi & all the others come & go and all of his complaints about them and did the exact opposite, then got him in bed..then got pregnant. She’s an old pro and convinced him she was nothing like the others. I ain’t mad at her, now he will see the real woman (wife) who won’t allow other women around him.
By Toni
July 12, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
In the interview with Tameka & Usher, Tameka did say she’s seen them come & go and not appreciate him. What she meant to all the others was “fool, if you’d kept your mouth shut and catered to him, you could have been Mrs. Usher Raymond”. She knew what to do and had the inside track on his past, it wasn’t hard. She worked on this for years and got him.
By mzbhvn
July 13, 2008 10:51 PM | Link to this
I want to send my best best wishes to Usher and family be blessed and i love the song moving mountains thank you for your talent
By kam
July 14, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
So sorry to read all the bitter comments when what this couple really needs is the support of their fans and the community. Usher V is a beautiful baby, and his father and mother are learning how to be good parents as well as keeping their marriage strong. They both seem encouraged and both are working hard—they deserve our prayers and support, not ugly and unnecessary comments from people that don’t even know them personally. God bless and good luck to this beautiful family!
By P-Low
July 14, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
No comment. Be happy.