Billboard runs a cover story on Usher, who has been in the music scene for close to three decades and who has influenced every major pop rnb/pop artists along the way, akin to the legacy of his pop predecessor, Michael Jackson.

Usher's career stats are astounding. He's
sold close to 24 million records in the United
States alone and taken home eight Grammys. His
2004 album Confessions sold more than
any other album in the '00s. His recent
single "Good Kisser" was his 13th No. 1 on
Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart --
putting him ahead of Jay-Z, R. Kelly, and Lil'
Wayne.
But past success doesn't guarantee
relevancy in the fast-moving world of pop.
Usher has always proved adept at changing
his sound and finding new collaborators
and new sources of motivation and
creativity. In his new Billboard cover story,
the star reveals five things that keep him
inspired.
Puff Daddy:
Usher lived with Puff Daddy for a while as a
teenager. "I'd say I earned my stripes in
New York City," says Usher. "My time with
Puff, it gave me chutzpah." And he lived out
a teen's hip-hop dreams: "I got to perform
onstage 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."
Dave Matthews:
"There's something magical about the Dave
Matthews Band," Usher says. "Even though
[Dave Matthews is] playing for a huge
audience, he's bringing them into his own
private space."
Jeff Koons:
Usher recently got a private tour of a Koons
exhibit at the Whitney Museum of American
Art in New York City. The singer was
especially excited by a period when Koons
was at odds with the art world. These
situations lead to a special sort of
inspiration. "Out of adversity comes
something that creates not only strength
but perspective," Usher explains.
Mentoring:
Usher's mom, Jonetta Patton always tells
him, "You talk to everybody like they're
your kids," whether it's Justin Bieber or
dancers on his tour. The singer agrees: "I'm
like, 'I'm sorry, I was born to be a dad.'"
Picasso:
Koons isn't the only artist Usher feels
strongly about. In his conversation with
Billboard, he likened his music to Picasso's
Blue Period, when the famous painter spent
several years creating work with only a
limited number of colors.

SOURCE:
http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6296388/usher-billboard-cover-story-sneak-peek