In a revelation that surprised many, Usher disclosed during an interview on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast that he once envisioned forming a powerhouse supergroup with JAY-Z, Diddy, and Pharrell. The R&B sensation shared the story of this unrealized collaboration, expressing his regret over the missed opportunity.
According to Usher, the quartet went beyond mere discussions and delved into the business aspects of the prospective supergroup. However, the ambitious project eventually fizzled out as they all became “distracted” amid their individual pursuits.
Reflecting on the almost-formed supergroup, Usher lamented, “JAY-Z, Pharrell, Diddy, and me were supposed to be a group. Yeah, that’s crazy. I didn’t say ‘No.’ I didn’t say ‘Yeah.’ I think that we just got caught up. I think we all got caught up in the moment. We were talking about it and having secret meetings about it. We were talking about music and how we gon’ flip it and the business of it. And somehow, man, we just got distracted and it never happened. That’s the one I actually wish would have happened.”
Despite the missed opportunity, Usher is gearing up for a headline performance at the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show on February 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, coinciding with the clash between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
JAY-Z, integral to the production of the past four Super Bowl halftime shows as an NFL consultant, personally informed Usher about the performance opportunity. Recalling the conversation, Usher shared, “[Jay] said, ‘It’s time, it’s magic time. It’s time for you to have that moment.’ It was like this was destined to happen.”
In addition to his Super Bowl appearance, Usher is set to drop his highly anticipated album, “Coming Home,” on February 9. The 20-track project features collaborations with a star-studded lineup including 21 Savage, Latto, Burna Boy, Summer Walker, The-Dream, H.E.R., Pheelz, and Jung Kook, promising a musical journey that fans eagerly anticipate.
