Usher, the American R&B legend, recently shared insights into his decision to collaborate with Nigerian artists Burna Boy and Pheelz on his latest album, expressing his desire to immerse himself in the Afrobeats movement.
The collaboration marks Usher’s foray into the Afrobeats genre, with Pheelz featuring on the lead track “Ruin” and Burna Boy joining him on the album’s title track, “Homecoming.”
In a recent interview with Apple Music, Usher shed light on the role Pheelz played in facilitating his collaboration with Burna Boy.
He said, “I am all about collaboration and bringing African, you know, Nigerian culture to my own world. Their music is really popular now. I wanted to be part of it [Afrobeats], that’s why I went to Africa to make this album.
“I picked up things when I was in Ghana. I picked up things when I was in Nigeria. And working with Pheelz, he created the record [‘Homecoming’]. I just felt that Burna Boy would take it to a different level of credibility. I really do enjoy him as an artist. I just felt that this song would only be lifted better if he was part of it.”
