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Beyonce, Fat Joe, Ludacris Guest Star At Usher Concert
03/07/2005 3:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
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One Night One Star: Usher Live! was a misleading title for the superstar's Showtime special broadcast live from El Coliseo de Puerto Rico Saturday night (March 5). That's because Usher wasn't the only star on stage during the 90-minute extravaganza that was broadcast around the world during Showtime's free preview weekend.
During the performance, Usher shot down rumors of a crazy lifestyle, saying that all he's addicted to is music and his fans. The superstar added that he's a businessman first, and said that this would be his last performance of the year so he can focus on his film career, his new record label, and his part-ownership in the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Producer Jermaine Dupri made an appearance at the concert, and Beyonce came onstage to dance--but not sing--with Usher during his song Bad Girl.
Usher really worked the Puerto Rico angle during one number, peppering his stage patter with shouts of "Puerto Rico!" and "Boricua!"--which is what Puerto Ricans proudly call themselves--while waving a huge Puerto Rican flag. Puerto Rican reggaeton star Daddy Yankee came out to sing a little of his hit "Gasolina," only to be followed immediately by Nuyorican rapper Fat Joe, who came out to sing "Lean Back.
For the finale, Usher sang his super-hit "Yeah" with rapper Ludacris joining him on stage.
During another song, the pop superstar came onstage wearing a Cleveland Cavaliers basketball jersey and cap and said, "So I guess you guys heard about the Cleveland Cavaliers deal right? We got the number one championship team in the world...we're going to take it to the top of the world, yeah." Then, to the delight of the audience he threw the cap and his sweaty jersey into the crowd. Usher joined a group of investors who purchased the NBA team recently.
Usher ended the show by announcing this would be his last live performance for the year. He said, "This last year has been amazing, all of the awards, all of the recognition, but it does not go unnoticed. And it wasn't easy, and it's not easy as you continue to move forward in your career, knowing you have so many loved fans that you may possibly walk away from when you could go to the next step of your life...I get choked up...this is my last show this year, man.
The superstar also addressed rumors of a wild lifestyle saying, "I know you hear a lot of hearsay about this and that. Some negativity, some postivity. I don't do drugs, but I'm addicted to music, I'm addicted to y'all. This is what I love."
Usher wrapped up his farewell saying, "I'm a businessman before I'm a musician. I'll be doing movies. I got a record label, Ush records, I want you to trust me when I tell you I've got some amazing artists on my label. This is not a goodbye, this is not a farewell, this is a 'I'll see you later!'"
For more news at Yahoo! Music, click here.
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