Título: Usher (musician)
Seção: Art and feminism
Background: Usher was born in Dallas, Texas, the son of Jonetta Patton (nee O'Neal), from Tennessee, and Usher Raymond III. Usher spent the majority of his young life in Chattanooga: his father left the family when Usher was a year old. Usher grew up with his mother, then-stepfather, and half-brother, James Lackey (born 1984). Directed by his mother, Usher joined the local church youth choir in Chattanooga, when he was nine years old.

Conteúdo: Usher developed a friendship with American record producer, Jermaine Dupri, with whom he co-wrote and produced several tracks for his second album, My Way, released on September 16, 1997. The album's lead single, "You Make Me Wanna...", reached number one in the United Kingdom, becoming Usher's first record to be top single; the record led to his popularity reaching in the country. It also became Usher's first gold- and platinum-certified single in the United States. The album's second single, "Nice & Slow", peaked in January 1998 at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Usher his first US number-one single. In February of the same year, the single was certified platinum by the RIAA. My Way has been certified six-time platinum in the United States.  "You Make Me Wanna..." won the Best Male R&B/Soul Single at the 1999 Soul Train Music Awards. In the closing months of 1997, Usher embarked on a series of tour engagements including a spot on Puffy's No Way Out tour, dates with Mary J. Blige, and the opening spot on Janet Jackson's The Velvet Rope Tour. Usher's first concert album, Live, was released in 1999, which featured appearances by Lil' Kim, Jagged Edge, Trey Lorenz, Shanice, Twista and Manuel Seal; the album has been certified gold in the United States.  Usher made his acting debut on the UPN television series Moesha, which resulted in a recurring role on the series and subsequently his first film role in 1998's The Faculty. Usher's extracurricular activities outside

user: How was Usher interested in Art and feminism?

assistant: 2014 December, he attended Art Basel Miami and participated in an art installation at JJ Brine's VECTOR Gallery

user: How did he participate?

assistant: Usher did not disclose of the reasons behind his participation, media speculations assumed it was related to art and feminism amid the release of single "I Don't Mind"

user: What album did that single come from?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: How else did he support feminism through art?

assistant: Usher is an art collector; in an interview with Vulture he said: "It's significant to where you are in your life," explaining his turn to art collecting.

user: What medium of art does he collect?

assistant: "enjoying the places I went, going to museums, understanding the nature of what artists were trying to say."

user: Did this interest help with any of his song writing?

assistant: Daniel Arsham who directed his music video "Chains" and did the cover art for his singles "No Limit" and "Crash".

user: When did those singles come out?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: What else is interesting about Usher, Art, and feminism?

assistant: Usher's third studio album, originally titled All About U, was slated to be released in early 2001.

user: Did something keep it from being released on time?

assistant: The album was subsequently pushed back and retooled after select tracks were later leaked to the radio and Internet.

user: Did they every find out who leaked the music?

assistant: After having revised and renamed to 8701, the album was released August 7, 2001 (8.7.01).

user: How did the album do?

assistant: each topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four and six weeks, respectively. 8701 has been certified four-time platinum in the United States.