Usher and Justin Timberlake draw a lot of comparisons … but Usher says he’s got a leg up on his counterpart — ’cause he beat him in a Justin Bieber bidding war.
The singer-songwriter revealed in an interview with People that, way back in 2008, he met Bieber and Scooter Braun and offered to bring JB onto his record label … but first, he said he had to pull out a thicker wad of cash than Timberlake.
Usher said he also used Timberlake’s name against him, telling Justin that — if he went with Usher — he’d be the only Justin around.
Seems like the war didn’t get too contentious … Usher doesn’t say anything negative about Timberlake in the interview — and actually compliments the guy tons.
Of course, Usher was recognized for his contribution to music by headlining the Super Bowl Halftime show … one which his protege decided to skip out on.
We broke the story … Usher reached out to Bieber directly to get him to join him for his big performance — but, while Alicia Keys, Ludacris and Lil Jon all hopped onstage with him, Justin decided to sit in his suite and spectate.
No bad blood between the two though … ’cause Usher said in an interview earlier this week that “he’s just wanting to tell a different story right now, and I understand that.”
Bottom line … Usher won the biggest auction of his life — and ya gotta wonder how Justin Timberlake feels about it.
