When it comes to Justin Bieber, Usher isn't afraid to put his protege in place when he has to.
In an interview with Billboard, the superstar spoke candidly about his music, romance with manager Grace Miguel and how much his relationship with Justin Bieber has changed.
Bieber's legal troubles kept the singer in the headlines this year, something Usher wasn't pleased with. The "OMG" singer says his relationship between him and Bieber has changed, but he's willing to discipline him.
"Our relationship is more man-to-man now," he said. "He's making his own decisions and it's important to show support. I can say I'm not happy with all the choices my friend has made, but I'm supportive of him. I try my hardest to give as much positive reinforcement as I can. I'll punch him in the f****** chest when I need to, and give him a hug and kiss when I need to. It's more than just mentoring. I love the kid."
Usher says his mentoring is slightly different from the lessons he learned from his former mentor, Diddy. The singer has made it known that he was exposed to the club and drug scene at an early age, but says he garnered a lot of great lessons under the supervision of the hip hop mogul.
"I'd say I earned my stripes in New York City," he said. "My time with Puff, it gave me chutzpah. I got to see performers like Tupac Shakur, Redman, Method Man, Ice Cube. I got to perform on stage with The Notorious B.I.G., be in sessions with him and Craig Mack. I got to be part of the driving force that was Bad Boy, that was Puff."
Source: Billboard | Photo Credit: Splash News
