I Attended Usher’s Las Vegas Show And This Is What Happened
Ah, Las Vegas! The city of lights, magic and show-stopping performances. And one of those performances that can be added to the list of legendary is from none other than Usher Raymond IV.
The world-renowned artist, who is known simply as Usher, only further solidified his legendary status after putting on a top-tier show night after night to sold-out audiences. I had the opportunity to finally experience what everyone was talking about. While I am no stranger to witnessing the “Superstar” singer’s greatness live (I attended his 2004 Truth tour which followed his highly regarded and Grammy award-winning album Confessions), this would be my first time experiencing the fullness of Usher as a father and icon.
The Las Vegas desert heat quickly disappeared after I walked into the Dolby Live theater at the Park MGM where his Usher: My Way Las Vegas residency was held. As my friends and I sat down to wait for the show, suddenly a male figure took to the stage.
The DJ announced that the male figure was looking for ladies to join him on stage to turn up in the meantime. Little did we know, the last woman that graced the stage would break out into a seductive dance with the male figure, which kicked off the show. More dancers trickled onto the stage and finally, the man that many people traveled far and wide arrived, which sparked thunderous applause from the audience.
Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Dolby Live at Park MGM
As Usher performed hit after hit, he also told a story through each song using his dancers to illustrate his words. It was definitely giving Vegas while also mixed with what we love about the 44-year-old: undeniable talent, charming personality, and sex appeal. There’s a portion in the show where he gives a nod to his Atlanta roots by skating and having exotic dancers perform mind-blowing tricks on the pole. The icon’s smooth dance moves on and off the skates had the audience in a trance as he sang every note effortlessly. We felt every emotion as he took us from his club bangers like “Love In This Club” and “I Don’t Mind” to his popular ballads “Climax” and “Burn.”
He even shared a vulnerable moment with his fans as he reflected on his remarkable nearly 30 years in the game and even teased a new song. Usher’s “My Way” show took his audience on a musical journey that was filled with the highs and lows of love, but overall he reminded everyone why he’s the G.O.A.T. Here’s why:
Vocals
Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Dolby Live at Park MGM
There’s been a lot of discussions around who should be crowned the king of R&B and it’s safe to say that Usher’s epic Las Vegas run laid that debate to rest. His vocals are just as pristine as they were when he captivated everyone with his debut self-titled album and he’s one of the few artists with excellent breath control while performing.
Dancing
Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Dolby Live at Park MGM
Usher continues to dance into our hearts with his hypnotic steps that make the ladies swoon. From his signature glide across the floor to more seductive and risqué movements and impressive 8-counts, the decorated talent is in a class of his own.
Creativity
Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Dolby Live at Park MGM
It’s Vegas baby! So, there’s no such thing as ordinary when it comes to putting on a show and Usher made sure to give the world something to talk about. His “My Way” show was well-produced and well-thought-out. The effort he put in to create a fun, unique experience while also catering to his fans was noticeable and appreciated.
Usher didn’t just get on stage to sing and dance, he created many moments for the audience to remember such as skating, pole dancing, pouring water on his bare chest (whew!), the recreation of his viral “watch this” bit from Tiny Desk and last but not least, the crowd participation.
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Featured image by Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Dolby Live at Park MGM
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Why We'll Probably Never Hear Lupita Nyong'o Share Her Relationship With The World
Lupita Nyong'o is sharing a transparent look into her life after a recent breakup.
In a cover story for NET-A-PORTER, the A Quiet Place: Day One star shed light on the significant heartbreak she experienced following the end of her relationship with ex-boyfriend and TV host, Selema Masekela.
As a public figure, Nyong'o, 39, sought to divulge the news of the breakup in hopes of presenting a more authentic perspective on the pain that follows a separation.
"I was living in a lot of pain and heartbreak," she told the publication. "I looked at the environment of my social media and thought I don’t want to be a part of this illusion that everything is always coming up roses. Surely there is a lesson for me to learn in this, and I just want to be real about it."
The Black Panther star went on to explain that her choice to be transparent with her fans about her breakup came from the certainty she felt after ending the relationship. “In my mind, when I shared my relationship status with the world, it was because I felt sure about it,” she said.
While she didn’t know how the news would land with her fans, she found relief in knowing she wasn’t alone in her experience.
“I knew how it could be interpreted; I knew it would have a life of its own,” she reflects. “But then I started to see the comments and people were being so loving and supportive. The ones that moved me the most were other people sharing their pain and their heartbreak.”
Nyong'o and Masekela went Instagram official in December 2022, publicly announcing their relationship in a couple's video. In October 2023, Nyong'o took to her personal Instagram account to share the news of her breakup in her caption, writing, "At this moment, it is necessary for me to share a personal truth and publicly dissociate myself from someone I can no longer trust.”
She continued the vulnerable note, "I find myself in a season of heartbreak because of a love suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception. I am tempted to run into the shadows and hide, only to return to the light when I have regained my strength enough for me to say, 'Whatever, my life is better this way.' But I am reminded that the magnitude of the pain I am feeling is equal to the measure of my capacity for love."
These days, Nyong'o tells NET-A-PORTER that she is prioritizing profound self-discovery that extends beyond her career. She notes having a deliberate and unhurried approach to understanding herself.
She also alludes to keeping her relationships private moving forward after noting it was "very, very sage" of her not to talk about her private life professionally in the days before her last relationship. "I'm going back to those days by the way," Nyong'o shares of her reinstated boundaries around her personal life.
Earlier this month, Nyong'o made headlines alongside her new boyfriend actor Joshua Jackson. Nyong'o and Jackson went through public splits from their respective SOs in October 2023, with the latter splitting from his long-time partner Jodie Turner-Smith following her divorce filing from the Dawson's Creek alum.
The pair have been spotted together as early as December 2023, but nothing screamed "couple" quite as loudly as their recent getaway to Mexico for Nyong'o's 41st birthday featuring passionate displays of affection.
"Our purpose in life is to love. And so you have to get back in it," she tells the outlet, seemingly alluding to her budding new romance.
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Featured image by Taylor Hill/Getty Images