In celebration Black Music Month and, belatedly, Juneteenth, Usher delivered a medley of classic cuts in the latest edition of NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series.
Joined by Eric Bellinger and Vedo as well as a full backing band, the R&B legend ran through six tracks spread across three of his signature albums: 1997’s My Way (“You Make Me Wanna…,” “Nice & Slow,” “My Way”), 2001’s 8701 (“U Don’t Have to Call”), and 2004’s Confessions (“Confessions Part II,” “Superstar”).
“Celebrating Black Music Month, this is Black magic right here,” Usher said during the performance. “I really, really am happy to celebrate all of the years of music and really celebrate my brothers. I’m really happy to be able to share. I think that if life has taught us anything, it is that we should share with each other. Not just the music, but understanding that life is a collaborative process and being able to lift each other up, stand with each other. That’s all it’s really about.”
The performance arrives ahead of the release of City Girls’ Usher-featuring new single, “Good Love,” which arrives Friday.
Meanwhile, Usher is set to head back to Las Vegas this summer to begin his second residency, which kicks off on July 15 and wraps in October. The singer took over Vegas last year for a sold-out 20-show run.
“I’m so excited to be returning to Vegas with a BRAND NEW residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM this July through October!” he tweeted back in February.