It's crazy to believe that 12 years have passed since the very quotable Justin Bieber inked his record deal with Island Records at the age of 14. Since then, the One Less Lonely Girl chart-topper has released five studio albums, sold more than 150 million records worldwide, and amassed over $700 million from three world concert tours.
Fortunately for the Biebs, he had some great people in his corner, who helped him juggle fame, fortune, and a successful music career. One of the most influential people in Bieber's life is the rich and famous music icon, Usher, who became Justin's mentor right before he inked his record deal. Fans often hear about how detrimental the R&B singer has been to Bieber's life, but what exactly has he done to help Justin's career? Here's what you need to know.
13 He Helped Justin Land His First Record Deal
L.A. Reid signed Justin Bieber to Island Records in October 2008, and in less than a year, the then-16-year-old had several hits on the Billboard Hot 100. There were clear signs that there was a lot of potential there that could make JB the next big superstar. Might we add that this all happened because of Usher?
12 Usher Became Justin’s Mentor
Along with guidance offered by Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, Usher was said to have acted as Justin’s mentor after the Biebs signed his recording contract. That deal apparently came about with the help of the R&B singer, who was already close friends with the head of the Island Records, L.A. Reid.
11 They First Collaborated In 2010
Justin, who frequently covered Usher’s music on his YouTube channel before he skyrocketed to stardom, landed a major hit when his mentor featured on his 2010 song, ‘Somebody To Love.’ The track became a commercial success for the pair, peaking at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. It went on to reach certified double platinum status, for surpassing sales of more than two million copies in the US.
10 He Spoke Highly Of Justin In Public
When Justin started work on his debut album out in Atlanta, Usher was busy getting the word out about his new artist in Los Angeles. According to Billboard, the ‘Yeah’ hitmaker would call Justin a "young phenomenon". He's definitely a priority for me and Island Def Jam."
The behind-the-scenes work by Usher would help Justin to establish friendships with industry peers, such as Jaden Smith, whom he collaborated with on the track, ‘Never Say Never.’
9 They Performed At The 2011 Grammys Together
When the Grammys came about in 2011, producers allowed Justin to perform a medley of his hits, which included guest appearances from Jaden Smith and Usher. The latter had been enjoying the worldwide success of his 2010 album, ‘Raymond v. Raymond,’ so to grace the stage with Bieber was a pretty big moment.
8 He Introduced Him To Music Executives
Usher, as previously mentioned, helped put Justin in contact with L.A. Reid, who is commonly known as one of the most powerful men in the music industry. After his first meeting with Bieber over the summer of 2008, it wasn’t long before discussions about getting Justin signed started taking place. Who would’ve thought Usher played such a big part in Justin’s life?
7 They Did Plenty Of Interviews Together
While it didn’t take long for Justin to become one of the biggest pop stars in the world, fans will recall how Usher would often do joint interviews with his protege, in the hopes that his public support would benefit Justin's career. But it seemed like JB was doing perfectly fine without Usher's help, with his debut single, 'One Time', peaking at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.
6 They Became Close Friends
One important reason why Usher played a big part in Justin’s success was the fact that they had become friends. They got close while Usher was helping Bieber get signed to his first record label. Usher is credited for helping the Biebs learn the ins-and-outs of the career he’s chosen. They remain close pals to this day.
5 Usher Supported Him At His ‘Believe’ Premiere
The ‘Sorry’ chart-topper released his concert movie, ‘Justin Bieber’s Believe,’ in 2013 and for the Los Angeles premiere, a handful of celebs came out to show their support. Stars who attended included Kendall and Kylie Jenner, his now-wife Hailey Baldwin, Jaden Smith, and, of course, Usher. Usher's support may have contributed to the film grossing a whopping $32.2 million with a budget of just $5 million.
4 He Covered The Hollywood Reporter With Justin
In 2011, The Hollywood Reporter had Justin Bieber grace the cover of their prestigious publication, alongside Usher and L.A. Reid - two years after Reid signed JB to his record label and turned him into the biggest pop sensation since Justin Timberlake. To cover THR with Usher and Reid is a big accomplishment, that’s for sure.
3 Justin's Career Was An Investment For Usher
Everything in the music industry comes at a cost: studio hours, licensing rights, music videos, etc. While Justin would have undoubtedly received an advance from his deal with Island Records, Usher helped invest that money into Bieber’s career, for PR branding, studio fees and other business expenses.
2 They Frequently Appeared On ‘Ellen’ Together
While some may consider this to be a stretch, Ellen Degeneres’ talk show is insanely popular, not just in the US but around the world. It generates millions of views just on her YouTube page. It’s fair to say that when they first started appearing on the show together, the exposure definitely helped Bieber establish himself.
1 Their Brief Feud Added To Justin’s Public Exposure
Justin Bieber and Usher weren’t so close when the Grammy winner had his short-lived meltdown in 2014. From his infamous arrest to reports concerning drugs being found at his LA property, Bieber was spiraling out of control and Usher had made it known to the public that he was not happy about it.
"Our relationship is more man-to-man now," Usher admitted in an interview. "He's making his own decisions and it's important to show support."