A sold out crowd was in full effect at the Staples Center in Los Angeles Friday night to see the 8-time Grammy award winner Usher performed hits from his 20 year plus career.

 

Around 9:30 pm the lights went off and everybody knew it was Ushertime. Fans cheered so loud that I wish I had bought earplugs. Before that, DJ Cassidy and August Alsina warmed up the crowd. Alsina, in his black diamond studded sneakers, performed hits like “Kissing On My Tattoos,” “No Love,” and “Ghetto,” all of which can be heard on his debut album “Testimony.”

 

Usher started the UR Experience with a song he put out 17 years ago. Back in 1997, when he wore a U chain, he serenaded women with his baby face, MJ inspired dance moves and extra smoothing voice. Witnessing his musical powers last night just a couple seats from the stage, I must say he hasn’t slowed down at all.

 

Hits like “OMG” “She Came to Give it to You” and “Confessions” really reminded the crowd just how multiply talented he is. With a little help from his back up dancers, Usher maintained an energy that would have rivaled Michael Jackson concerts in the 90s.

 

Midway through the show, LA fans got treated to special guest appearances from R&B’s finest. Kid Ink and hourglass body dancers were the first guests to grace the stage, adding a bit more raunchiness to the hit song, “Body Language.” Usher tapped into his ATL roots while performing strip club friendly, “I Don’t Mind,” by making it rain several times to the fans delight. Then it was Jeremih’s turn to let the crowd know just how much he cared by singing the popular hit, “Hold You Down.”

August Alsina came out again in his black diamond studded sneakers to perform his song “I Luv This Sh*t.” Many die hard August fans knew that the remix featured Chris Brown, but none actually expected for him to show up. So when this tall guy wearing a white jacket and orange bucket hat walked on stage with his head down, fans started to chant CHRIS, CHRIS, CHRIS. The chants turned to cheers as CB lifted his head and threw his hat in the air. He then went on to perform his latest hits, “Loyal” and “New Flame” alongside with Usher.

 

Usher kept things interesting and fun while performing “Superstar.” As many fans know, the song is written from the perspective of his number one fan. So as the beat slowed, he randomly selected 6 beautiful and diverse women to come on stage and showcase their love for Usher. Each of the lovely women had the opportunity to dance on stage for 15 seconds in front of not only the man of the hour, but all of the 18,000 fans in attendance. That’s a moment those women will never forget.

 

Usher’s tour is entitled UR Experience not only because those are his initials, but also because he constantly gives his fans more than what they expect. Usher closed out his show by performing “Without You” a song that expresses his love and appreciation for his fans. What better way to end the night? In the words of a young lady I sat next to “he’s such a cool guy.”

 

You can catch Usher in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand tonight, Nov. 22, as the UR Experience continues to fill joy, energy, and memories into fans’ lives.

Nov. 24	San Jose, CA	SAP Center at San Jose	Sept. 8
Nov. 26	Seattle, WA	Key Arena	Sept. 8
Nov. 27	Vancouver, BC	Rogers Arena	Sept. 8
Nov. 30	Edmonton, AB	Rexall Place	Sept. 8
Dec. 2	Broomfield, CO	1STBANK Center	Sept. 15
Dec. 4	Dallas, TX	American Airlines Center	Sept. 15
Dec. 5	Houston, TX	Toyota Center	Sept. 15
Dec. 6	New Orleans, LA	Smoothie King Center	Sept. 15
Dec. 8	Memphis, TN	FedEx Forum	Sept. 15
Dec. 9	Atlanta, GA	Philips Arena	Sept. 15
Dec. 12	Orlando, FL	Amway Center	Sept. 15
Dec. 13	Miami, FL	American Airlines Arena	Sept. 15
Dec. 14	Tampa, FL	Tampa Bay Times Forum	Sept. 15