Would You Believe L.A. Reid Had to Force Usher to Record ‘Yeah’ After He Passed on Hit Song?

*Music producer/songwriter Rico Love claims Usher initially passed on recoding the hit single “Yeah,” featuring rappers Lil Jon and Ludacris.

During a recent interview with DJ Hed on the “Home Grown Radio” podcast, Rico Love recalled how producer L.A. Reid had to force Usher to sing the 2004 song written by Sean Garrett. The track appears on Usher’s “Confessions” album.

“I remember being in the room and they played it, I was there when they played it for Usher and I fell on the floor laughing. I thought it was terrible. By the way, Sean Garrett is one of the greatest. …I’m listening to the words and I’m like – and then you hearing Sean’s voice singing, what does that even mean? … I laughed because I thought it was hilarious,” Rico Love said.

“Usher was like ‘I’m never singing that.’… I remember hearing L.A. Reid on the phone saying, ‘I don’t give a f*ck what you gotta do, you better sing that f*cking song,’ and hung up. And I just remember leaving, I’m thinking, ‘Oh, Usher not singing that song,’” he continued.  

As The Jasmine Brand reports, the track was the longest-running number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2004. Time Magazine also named it one of the best songs of 2004.

“Understanding the power to hear a hit is a gift,” Rico Love added, “and some people don’t understand how to hear a hit. It’s something that I had to learn.”

Watch his full remarks in the Instagram video below.

In related news, Usher will perform during the Super Bowl Halftime Show on Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers.

His latest album, “Coming Home,” was released today (Feb. 9,) and this week, he announced dates for a 24-city tour across North America to support the project.

According to a news release, the USHER: Past Present Future tour will kick off August 20 at Capital One Arena in Washington DC, making stops in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Toronto, Atlanta, and more. The live shows will wrap in Chicago at the United Center on October 29.

Presale tickets are available starting for Citi and Verizon customers. The general on-sale begins Monday, February 12 at 10am local time atLiveNation.com.

The tour will offer various VIP packages for fans. For more information, visit vipnation.com.

 

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READ MORE: Usher Announces North American Dates for ‘Past Present Future’ Tour

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