Usher Raymond covers the December/January issue of Complex. There's good news and awful news. First, the good. Mark Mann's photography is amazing; the colors are crisp, the stark black and whites and warm browns are strong visuals. The white cover and most of Usher's styling is right-on-target.
However, Usher's re-styling as a thug-wannabe is ridiculously absurd. If you must, plod your way through an absolutely awful interview conducted by "gonzo journalist" R.A. the Rugged Man where Usher "tries to keep it gangtsa." The phony hardcore act is almost as excruciating as watching In the Mix or its dismal box office returns. But don't toss aside the magazine down in disgust because there are several hilarious confessions—the major ones being that Usher is not gay (although he regularly enjoys a colonic) and, most disturbing, he has had sex with an "ugly chick."
"I don't get down like that." The teenybopper was asked to reveal a shocking story that might "scare off some of [his] kiddie fans." (We warned you. Aw. Ful.) Usher: "Y'all read it in the tabloids. You know, the orgies and the whole nine."
Were there ever homosexual activities in any of these orgies? That might be a shocking story...
There was women-on-women but never man-on-man. Shit, nowhere near that! Hell no! No one that I ever roll with or would ever roll with would get down like that.
No one that Usher could ever know could possibly "get down like that"? Never ever? Not a stylist, a producer, a writer, a certain VP at La Face ... possibly even a trainer at the Bally's in Buckhead? Mm'kay.
His bravado isn't upsetting—the entire interview is an exercise in revisionism that seeks to portray Usher as a thugged out wild child. The dismissals of any gay influence are more than somewhat ironic coming from a young man whose entire on-stage persona and style was appropriated from the club kids and the ball community.
Speaking of anal action, Usher confesses that he regularly undergoes colonics but "no, not [a] monthly thing. Hell no!"
Doesn't that procedure involve having a tube inserted into your rectum? It sounds pretty painful, brother.
It ain't no shit you gonna be proud of, I'll tell you that.
Eventually, Usher tires of talking about his azz—which is very nice, as we saw last year in London when he exposed himself to the paparazzi and gave himself a spanking. Usher is not down with the gays, he's man enough to undergo regular colon cleaning, but there's one thing that he will not discuss:
You ever bang an ugly chick? Tell me about her. Was she fat? What did she look like?
I don't have any details for you, man. I'd like to forget about it if I could.
Yes. Let's do that.
Confessions of a Dangerously Media-Savvy Mind
More Complex reviews below.
Revenge of the NERD (Rod 2.0) Beauty and Thug (Rod 2.0) Not So Complex (Rod 2.0) All About Alba (Rod 2.0) Hip Hop Hooray? (Rod 2.0)
Its funny that people are "shocked" and "surprised" at his comments. Come the hell on. What do you expect him to say....."Oh yes...I love the company of men and getting dug out on the regular"?
You are not him. Usher, for the sake of business, is a "brand". He is a commodity for the general public to assimilate into their lives. Just like a Chevrolet or Honda. He has to appeal to the widest possible audience.
Look at what almost happened to Kobe. He got caught banging some white chick on the side with questionable character. What if her character wasnt so questionable?? His ass would have been destroyed. That's exactly what Usher is trying to avoid.
Posted by: Sai | 10 December 2005 at 18:34
(chuckle) As I've read some statements it seems "we" all have our opinions about someone's sexual status instead of our own. I hear a lot of guys talk about others preference when they themselves mimic the very thing they knock. You say you are not a thug but you wear your ball caps twisted to the side of your head (some will say it's a style or statement), you wear your fashions 2 sizes big to emulate the style. My question to anyone, why does it matter? I think the man is handling the stereotype as best he knows how because of all the negative impact it carry's. We bash celebs for not admitting their sexual preference most of us are not even comfortable with ourselves to admit we are gay. If it takes Usher to deny any allogations of being gay to prevent destruction of his career, then I support him whole heartedly. Before any of us (discreet, dl, closeted, private brotha, mind my own business, on tha low) fellas past judgement look at your own lives and compare how quickly you advertise your preference while at work or during your private time. Remember, Usher is just like the rest of use making his living and surviving and it doesn't help when mostly the blacks are driven by bringing him down. How bout we take the same energy we are using to knock him for his words to support his decision. Maybe, he would admit later that he's gay because no matter who he sleeps his fans will always be there. And this would satisfy your thirst to see another black man kicked down.
Posted by: blk art | 11 December 2005 at 17:54
This comment is directed at blk art... seems that you are more so trying to convince yourself, moreso than you are trying to convince others. Is this a revelation for yourself?
The truth is this, if you're not, then you're not, don't argue about it, God is the only judge, and if you are.... then God will deal with you in whatever ways he see's fit!
Posted by: Ronald Williamson- Hemingway | 11 December 2005 at 23:54
Okay...more than likely he's at least bisexual....I mean we all did see the video for "My Way" and "Uturn" which shows left to his own devices he will make the gayest videos known to man.....but youmake more money saying you're anti-gay (Ie George Bush) so let him go with the flow until the video with him bent over the couch comes out when everyone is sick of his music (his acting is already on the cutting room floor)
Posted by: JOvanny | 12 December 2005 at 09:56
Well Usher is a find body and I would not mind he gay. I wish he was so that I can meet him lol
Posted by: Ricmic | 12 December 2005 at 15:55
After seeing b2K in their underwear, makes you wonder is the whole thugg
thing wrapped around men who love men, and use it as a cover It does bring closeness among brothers to hang out smoke, drink and work on beats all through nite LOL and pull on their dicks a Lot of so called gang or drug related shootings are really niggas killin over another man.
Posted by: uc | 24 December 2005 at 01:09
Every "body" has a dream.
Posted by: platinumman | 31 December 2005 at 10:39
I wish that usher would just give it a break, we all know that he is down for what ever, that why he is not with anybody right now. so just come out of the closet
Posted by: Mac Daddy | 02 January 2006 at 14:10
why peeps are so caught up in other peeps biz.....he who without sin cast the first stone. puhleeze leave usher alone....i don't care if he's gay or not...i love my bnlack bro. just the way he is.
queens, new york
Posted by: ryan | 03 January 2006 at 13:45
I've had "questions" about Usher, but it isn't my business. Nice looking guy, by the way.
Sidenote: I'm still upset, it's been awhile now, that Usher and Chili (always forget if it's one "l" or two) broke up; they were perfect together, in my humble opinion.
Posted by: Dexter | 19 January 2006 at 20:34
Ush is a tight nigga don't hate cuz he got that money. u know biggie couldn't of said it betta himself mo money mo problems. so lets get off ush back and start on Bush cuz he ruining america
Posted by: chris | 02 March 2006 at 17:12
yo, ush is my idol since i was 4. Who got da rite 2 say dat he gay, he ain't gay, just cause he workin hard for wat he does best y r y'all playa hatin' for. Da reason y he ain't wit no body is because he lookin for da rite woman to settle down wit. get off his back. at least he's not sitting down and doin nuthin'like a scrub. He's livin his life, his dream, his vision, no body is worthy of taking the position to judge another human being but GOD. But he's only human. Unless u have any evidence or any information about his sex life, stop guessing and saying things about him if u don't know. So somebody tell me, y do people stay in situations that'll neva wrk. and u can't wait 2 get even when deep inside it really hurts. u neva should have gotten in da mix, but you'll neva undastand till u go through it, all da write things 2 say, wronge things 2 do while your out tryna pick n' choose. There's a time in everybody's life when ur young and wanna be street, cause u think dats where it's at. but all it did 2 u was leave u in da cold with no where 2 go. When u catch ur self slippin', thinkin' u was da shit', damn u must've been trippin, u tried 2 jump dip 2 dip but u thought it was da way 2 b happy until sumbody takes time 2 tell u. So many of y'all think that u got it but u don't have a clue u gotta have more than just a body for somebody 2 b talking about u. learn from the mistakes of others take it from me, when playin' the game your day will come when u gotta stop and start lookin' for the world. sometimes in life u got to go through somethin' to get to somethin, if there were no humps in life there would b nothin' 2 get over. Anger is on letter short of danger, learn from the mistakes of others you can't make them all your self acknoledgement is the key way through 2 life success. Keep ur head up. Don't Judge, Ur Not the key holder 2 this universe.
Posted by: Michael | 06 July 2006 at 17:31
CAN EVERY1 JST STOP H8IN ON USHER FOR FUCK SAKE, I DON'T C U GOIN ROUND MAKIN USE OF UR STUPID LIL LIVES! HOW THA FUCK DO U EVEN KNOW IF HE IS GAY ANYWAY, HAV U SPOKE 2 HIM OR SUMTHIN???!!! JST COZ HE HAS THA LOOKS, THA MONEY, THA LADIES, THERE IS !!!NO!!! NEED TO BE HATIN ON HIM...OK!! U PRICKS R JST JELOUS COZ U HAV NO1 BETA 2 H8 ON!! IF HE IS GAY THEN HOW COMES HE HAS BEEN OUT WITH ALL OF THESE BEAUTIFUL LADIES?????!!!!! SO FOR THA LAST TYM, SHUT THA FUCK UP AND GET A LIFE, COZ USHER HAS DONE ABSOLUTLY NOTHIN WRONG WHAT SO EVA!
U BUNCH OF FCKIN ASS HOLES.
LUVIN USHER 4EVA NO MATTER WHAT..FUCK U LOT.
Posted by: usher luver | 17 July 2006 at 09:39
Usher is gayer than Elton John arriving at a Judy Garland convention in a Tiara, pearls, and a pin on his dress sayin "I am the Queen of England" That boy is so gay.
Posted by: fighter | 20 July 2006 at 01:57
If he or anyone in his crew dont "get down like that" someone forgot to tell his backup dancer from the "You Make Me Wanna" video and several other performances. I wont say his name cause the brother is very much on the "DL"....
Posted by: D | 13 October 2006 at 10:18
Keep on da low Ush...b/c all these peeps would do is try to ruin your life...
Posted by: realist | 20 October 2006 at 07:00
noone is trying to ruin his life, we dont wonna be decieved and especially his female fan who love him, and spend the last moeny they have to go see him in his dumb concert.
Posted by: lilmike | 10 November 2006 at 06:47
i could care less what people say about usher he is my husband and i love him no matter what. also i felt that when this romour was speaded i know it was too good to be true. i didn't belive anything the media puts out beacuse they always try to make people look bad .but that's not really the case so usher if you see this this is ya girl briana and i really love you and i don't think that you are gay baby.......
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox,
Briana s. raymond
Posted by: Briana | 12 November 2006 at 17:16
shit...i'd do the boy in a heartbeat.
Posted by: worst_1_yet | 04 January 2007 at 15:03
I dont think Usher is gay, why cant he just be fine as hell, body gorgeous and not be gay.
Posted by: Shelly | 15 January 2007 at 08:20
this is MY rule of thumb....."To each his own"
if Usher say's he isn't gay...respect that. Everybody knows how it feels to have people in your business and we all wish for respect. He deals with enough of this bullshit and no matter what he say's people will believe what they want anyway. He's an extremely handsome, talented man and people should leave it at that.
Posted by: Derek | 26 February 2007 at 18:36
i kno that usher is not gay!!!!!!!! as fine as he is... it jus aint possible! the reason that peepz talkin down iz cuz they r sum haterz!!! 4sho!!!!! ush can keep doin his thing and he dont need to worry bout all them otha niggaz!!!!!!
i love you baaby!!!
keep doin it real big!!!
Posted by: lucille | 28 February 2007 at 18:07
I WISH ALL THESE HATIN ASS FOLKS WOULD LEAVE MY MAN ALONE. HE'S NOT GAY. FOLKS JUST HATIN CAUSE HE IS SO SEXY. SOME OF THESE HATERS AIN'T HALF AS FINE AS USHER, SO THEY GOTTA FIND SOMETHING NEGATIVE TO SAY ABOUT HIM SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP THEIR HOES OFF HIS DICK. TOO LATE FOR THAT. HOES IS ALREADY ALL OVER THIS MAN SHIT AND BOYS THESE DAYS CAN'T STAND THAT. THIS IS SOME TRUE SHIT, SO TAKE THAT SHIT IN AND LET IT MARINATE. DO IT LIKE YOU DO YOUR RIBS AT A FAMILY BAR-B-QUE. MY MAN IS SEXY AS FUCK.......SO GET THE FUCK OVER IT AND GET A LIFE. THERE'S OTHER HOES OUT THERE THAT'LL REALIZE THAT THEY'LL NEVER GET USHER, AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, THEY'LL SETTLE FOR ONE OF YOU HATERS OUT THERE. THIS COMING FROM DANIELLE OF ALABAMA. bama_bitch0687@yahoo.com IF YOU LOOKING FOR ME AND GOT SOMETHING TO SAY. I'M ON FACEBOOK AND MYSPACE TOO. LOOK ME UP.
Posted by: Danielle Brown | 22 June 2007 at 02:35
do not really care what usher does with his life.
Posted by: claude | 15 October 2007 at 13:15