In a recent interview with Apple Music, iconic American R&B singer Usher has revealed his desire to immerse himself in the Afrobeats genre, expressing keen interest in collaborating with Nigerian musicians Burna Boy and Pheelz.
Usher, who has already collaborated with Burna Boy on the album track “Homecoming” and with Pheelz on “Ruin,” the main single from his latest album, is now looking to further embrace the Afrobeats wave.
During the interview, Usher credited Pheelz for influencing his collaboration with Burna Boy, emphasizing his enthusiasm for being part of the thriving Afrobeats movement. He shared, “I am all about collaboration and bringing African, you know, Nigerian culture to my own world. Their music is really popular now. I wanted to be part of it [Afrobeats], that’s why I went to Africa to make this album.”
Usher went on to elaborate on his experiences in Ghana and Nigeria, noting the rich cultural influences he picked up during his time there. He expressed a deep admiration for Burna Boy as an artist and highlighted the belief that the collaboration would elevate the song, saying, “I just felt that Burna Boy would take it to a different level of credibility. I really do enjoy him as an artist. I just felt that this song would only be lifted better if he was part of it.”
As Usher ventures into the Afrobeats scene, fans eagerly anticipate the musical magic that will result from his collaboration with these Nigerian artists.